Page 36 of The Problem with Princes
He thinks I did amazing. What is wrong with me? I only met this guy a few days ago. How am I letting myself get all fluttery about him? What happened to just being friends? I close my eyes and focus on that idea. Friends go to the beach together. Texie and I go all the time. Okay, not all the time. But several times a year.
I breathe long and deep. I’m not here much longer. Then I will go home and be regular old Grace again. I channel my inner Texie. There’s no harm in letting myself enjoy these last two days, right?
Me: Sounds like a plan.
HPT: Can you bring something to change into?
Me: Like my dinner at the palace clothes or your parents’ dinner at the palace clothes? I put a thinking face emoji at the end of my message.
He sends a laughing with tears emoji.
HPT: What would Hallmark tell you to wear?
Me: Uhhh. As we have already established, Hallmark leads me astray. I’m not following their lead anymore.
HPT: I am sure whatever you wear you’ll look amazing.
My face is surely crimson by now.
Me: How about you just tell me what to bring so I can look amazing and not feel like an idiot?
HPT: I’m sorry you felt like an idiot.
My phone dings and I see another message from Texie come in. I hurry and switch over to her, telling her I will call her in a few minutes. Then I switch back to Ty.
Me: It was my own fault. I’m pretty sure your mother mentioned it. But I wasn’t listening.
HPT: How about we just say nice casual?
Nice casual? What is nice casual? Is that like business casual?
Me: So no daisy dukes and tank tops? Or are we talking slacks and a blouse?
HPT: Daisy dukes????
I send him a gif ofAmerican Dadthat says, ‘Who wears short shorts?’.
Me: Shorty short cut-off jeans. Sorry. It’s from an old TV show.
He sends a gif of Ryan Reynolds raising his brows.
HPT:It may be worth you feeling like an idiot for me to see you in those.
Me: Sorry. I don’t even own a pair of Daisy Dukes.
He sends back the crying face emoji.
HPT:Why did you ask if you don’t even have them? Are you a tease?
I scoff. I wouldn’t know how to be a tease, even if I wanted to be one.
Me: Just trying to gauge the level of casualness.
HPT: No formal wear.
Me: Deal. See you in—I look at my watch. Crap. I have just used ten minutes—Fifty minutes.
HPT: While I can’t wait to see you, I can give you back the ten minutes if you need them.
