Page 35 of The Problem with Princes
Heat fills my cheeks. I’ve never liked being the center of attention. And this is even worse. I don’t like the intense scrutiny I see in his eyes. It makes me feel all squirmy. “Is this what you do for all the ladies you show around Atraxia?”
His face is serious. “Actually, I’ve never given a woman a personal tour of Atraxia. Nor have I ever brought anyone else here.” He shrugs. “Well, except for my sister, Helena.”
The weight of the effort he went through for this settles on me. He did all this just for me? It’s not his standard thing that he does for all the women he dates? I swallow. But it’s just what a friend does, right? Still, I can’t help but feel a little special and I don’t know what to say. Thankfully, the waiter comes and saves me from having to say anything.
ChapterTwelve
My phone buzzeson the nightstand next to me. I reach out and swat at it, trying to hit the snooze button. I’m not ready to get up yet. I roll over and snuggle into my pillow, thinking back over my time with Tyrone.
He’d dropped me off at the hotel later than I’d expected. After lunch we had finished the tour of the monastery and then Claire had hiked back down the mountain with us, showing us the hermitage and pointing out landmarks along the way.It was more than I had imagined.
Once we arrived at the parking lot, we drove to the back side and walked up the hundreds of steps to a smaller monastery perched on the top of a tall slender rock formation.
My shins ache and my glutes burn just thinking about all those steps.
It had been a strenuous day, but it had been amazing.
Claire and I will never be besties, of that I’m pretty certain. But I think we discovered common ground and were able to enjoy the rest of the day in each other’s company. Ty said they had grown up together. Her father is a minister or something in the government. Tyrone says they are just friends, but I know when a woman is willing to change the status of their relationship.
I put my arm over my eyes as my phone buzzes again.
It has not been ten minutes since I hit snooze. I grab my phone off the charger and crack open my eyes. Email, text messages, Facebook and Instagram notifications all stare back at me. I swipe away the Facebook and Instagram notifications. I don’t need to look at those right now.
But I click on the text messages. I hope it is from Texie to at least tell me she arrived back in DC okay. I smile when I see one is from Texie. But the other one is labeled only as HPT. That sounds fishy. Has some African prince gotten my number and needs me to send him money so he can reclaim his throne?
In spite of the risk, my curiosity forces me to open that one first. “Sorry, Tex. You can wait.”
Two messages appear. The first one came just after Ty had dropped me off.
HPT: I had a great day today. Thanks for coming with me.
I hug my phone to my chest and squeal like a little pig. It’s from Ty. But why had he named himself HPT? What does that stand for? I go back to the second message. It only came in a few minutes ago.
HPT: Beach? I know a private little cove with great views.
I hurry and text back.
Me: Sounds like fun. Just promise me there are no STAIRS.
HPT: Oh, good. You’re awake. I thought after yesterday, you may sleep until it’s time for you to go home.
HPT: Haha. I promise, no stairs today.
I grab the pillow next to me and ball it into the right position.
Me: I don’t know what you’re talking about. I feel great.
I add a Pinocchio nose faced emoji at the end because every muscle in my body aches. In fact, there are pains in places I didn’t even know I had muscles.
HPT: You’re in better shape than I am then. My whole body hurts. Crying face emoji
I laugh.
Me: Lol. So does mine. I just didn’t want you to think less of me.
HPT: No worries on that. I think you did amazing! How about I pick you up in an hour?
I hug my phone to my chest, all thoughts of sleep gone.
