Page 75 of The Problem with Princes
“You’re such a doofus.”
She swings her pillow at me, and I dive under mine for protection. “Whatever, Gee. You’re the one who is in love with a prince and came home anyway. I think that makesyouthe doofus.” She sounds like Elaine fromSeinfeld.
I laugh, peeking out from under my protection. “I am not in love with a prince.”
Texie smiles and wiggles her brows. “Yet.”
ChapterTwenty-Three
My phone ringsand I moan. How can my head still hurt this bad when all I have done is sleep for the last sixteen hours? I pick up my phone and see my parents’ phone number. It is the fourth time my mom has called, and I have sent them all to voice mail. If My mom hears my voice, she will know something is wrong. And I just don’t know if I can bear the disappointment I’ll hear in her voice. But I also know that if I put it off much longer, it’s likely the next time she rings, it will be my doorbell.
“Hey, Mom.” I try to sound chipper.
“Hey, honey. How are you?”
“I’m good. How are you and Dad?” I quirk a brow. I may just sound convincing.
My mom sighs.
Dang it.That is hersomething is wrongsigh. “Sweetheart, is everything okay? You sound stressed. Or maybe it’s sad? I’m not quite sure.”
She isn’t sure, my hiney. I have no doubt that she knows that it is both sad and stressed and several others, besides. She is generally all about letting me open up when I’m ready—unless I take too long. Then she will play hardball.
“It’s just been a long week, Mom. Plus, I’m still suffering from jet lag.”
“So it doesn’t have anything to do with the pictures of you on the internet with that prince?”
Double crap. “You saw them, huh?” Ugh. My mom is completely old fashioned about everything except the internet. While most of the people in their small town still take one of the printed Salt Lake City papers, my mom goes to the internet for her news. She probably has seen stories I still haven’t.
“Yep. The Deseret News picked it up from the Associated Press.” She lets her words marinate in my head. “There was also a piece just about you, because it’s not often a local girl meets, let alone dates, a prince.” She gives an uncomfortable laugh. “I wish you would have told me about it sooner. I felt a little out of the loop when they interviewed me.”
They interviewed her. Well, Peter, Paul and Mary, this is not what I want to hear.
“What did you tell them?”
“What could I tell them, dear. I don’t know anything. I just said it was all very new and that I had no other comments.”
“Thanks, Mom.” My head throbs behind my eyes. Why can’t I deal with this in a few days when I have found some level ground. Or at least after I’ve heard from Ty again. He hasn’t texted me since yesterday morning.
“So is he your boyfriend?” She wants to know more, I can tell, but probably doesn’t want to seem nosy.
“Yes. I mean, no.” He called me his girlfriend before I left. But I’m not sure what he considers us after the interview with the king and queen. In his last text, he asked if we could at least be friends. What exactly does that mean? “I thought that maybe he could be, but then this whole picture thing makes it weird. So now I think we’re just friends.” My voice sounds normal. She’s gotten information that she can think is causing my problems. I may just get out of this call without—
“So then why do you sound so upset?”
Oh, hellfire and damnation! How does she know? It’s like the woman has a sixth sense. Why do I never learn? I should just tell her everything from the beginning.
“Fine, Mom. My boss thinks I lied to him about the reason for extending my trip because of the picture and so he fired me. I have no job. I’m unemployed. I’m a failure.” Tears spring to my eyes. How is there any water left in my body?
“Oh, sweetheart.” There is no disappointment, just the comforting voice she’s used whenever I have a problem. I should have known she would be this way, and not avoided her. “You’re not a failure. It’s a misunderstanding. I’m sure once your boss talks to the prince or someone over there in Atraxia, he’ll understand, and you’ll get your job back.”
I shake my head. “No, Mom. I won’t because he will never talk to someoneover there.” Everyplace in the world isover thereto my mom. I gave up trying to make her pinpoint things better a long time ago.
I can practically see her chewing on her bottom lip. “Things will work out in the end, Gracie. They always do. You just need to have faith.”
I sigh. “I know, Mom.” I close my eyes, just wanting to go back to sleep. “I better go. I’ve got to start looking for jobs.”
“Remember that your dad and I love you, sweetheart. Andweare proud of you.”
