Page 73 of The Problem with Princes
“I went to your work to grab you for dinner, but they said you don’t work there anymore.”
I stay curled up on my pillow with my back to Texie. My jet lag has fully set in, and I am too tired and brain dead to think about what has happened.
“Is it true? Did you get fired today?”
I sniff and nod my head into my pillow.
“Why? They can’t possibly have cause.”
“They said they can’t trust me. And there is no place at the company for someone with no integrity.”
Texie sits down on the edge of my bed, making me slide toward her. “Why can’t they trust you?”
I finally turn toward her, ready to tell her the whole story, if for no other reason than to get her to leave. I use my fingers to pry my lashes apart. Interestingly enough, it doesn’t increase my vision all that much. “They saw the pictures of Ty and me in the paper. Mr. Wainwright doesn’t believe that I was forced to stay in Atraxia. He thinks I lied about it so I could stay longer and play.” I use air quotes on the last word.
“But that picture was from before you were told to stay.”
“It’s my word against his.” I bury my head back into my pillow. Apparently, the wells refilled while I was sleeping.
“Oh.” She is silent for a minute. “I can file a lawsuit for wrongful termination. I bet Tyrone and Sander would testify that you are telling the truth.”
I shake my head. Man, it hurts so bad. “They’ll just think he is lying for me. They may give me my job back, because you don’t say no to royalty. But their impression of me is set. It doesn’t matter what Ty or Sander say. Wainwright will still think I lied.”
“You look terrible.” She scrunches her nose up.
“You already said that.”
“Sorry.” She sits back. “What can I do?”
I grab the decorative pillow laying on the other side of my bed and hug it to me. “Maybe when I’m done moping, you can help me beef up my resume?”
“Of course.”
I sit up and push myself back against my headboard “Tex, what am I going to do? No other firm in the area will hire me after they talk to HCF.”
Texie climbs onto the other side of my bed and pulls the covers over her. “Have you told Prince Tyrone?”
I shake my head. “No. And I don’t know that I will.”
“Something will turn up. You just need to have faith.” It’s weird hearing this lecture from her, because I’m usually the you-got-to-have-faith girl. Not Texie.
One side of her mouth quirks up. “Now, you need to tell me more about that kiss.”
I bite the side of my lip. “What is there to tell? It is all right there in color on the front page.”
“Come on. That picture didn’t tell me how it was.” She looks away. “None of them did.”
“You saw them all?” I grunt, but a small grin turns my lips. “Oh, my heck, Tex. It was so good. Every time he kissed me it was different from the last, but each one was amazing.”
“Each one?” Texie squeals. “How many were there?”
I put my finger to my lips. “Three, I think?”
“You think? How could you forget even one?”
I shrug. “My brain is pretty addled right now.” That’s only partially true. My mind is addled, but I fully remember the details of each and every kiss.
Texie rolls over onto her side and watches me. “So where does this leave you two?”
