Page 63 of A Royal Arrangement
She looked back at her friends, waiting for them to ask their next question, to find them grinning at her in utter delight.
“What?” she asked, snapping them out of their Cheshire grin dazes.
“Oh, nothing.” Charlotte winked at her before turning her attention to Colin. “Next question. Favorite moment you’ve spent with Rosalie so far?”
Colin nodded thoughtfully before answering. “Our weekly chess games. It’s fun watching her concentrate so hard as she tries to beat me.” His lips tilted at the corners as he glanced at her. “And her victory dance is really something.”
Heat climbed Rosalie’s cheeks as she smiled back at him, her memories going back to the almost kiss that had occurred after she’d completed said victory dance.
Charlotte took a bite of chocolate cake and sent a conspiratorial smile her way while mouthing, “You’re welcome.”
“My turn,” Sienna said. “Favorite memory from childhood?”
“The one memory I have with my mom that is truly my own. One day, my father was supposed to have a bunch of meetings, but he played hooky instead, and the three of us went to the beach together and spent the entire day playing in the ocean, building sandcastles, and throwing around a beach ball. I remember how happy we were and how I thought it was so cool that my mom had convinced my dad to miss all his meetings to spend the day with us.”
“I’m glad you have that memory to hold onto,” Charlotte said, a sad smile on her lips. “Would you mind sharing more about your parents?”
Colin took a deep breath, but he still dipped his chin, acknowledging that he was willing to share. “They got married in their early thirties, and it took a long time for me to come along. By the time I arrived, they couldn’t have any more children, so I was their whole world. They didn’tact like a king and queen around me. They were simply a loving mother and father.”
The small smile on Colin’s face and the way he talked fondly about his parents left Rosalie melting. It was nice to see him talk with so much feeling, but it also left her stomach aching at the thought of how young he lost both of them.
“My mom loved being active, whether it was going on a walk or playing tennis. You could almost always find her outside. Most of what I remember about her is just from stories my father told me. We lost her when I was six to an illness that came on much too quickly and severely. Then it was just my dad and me. He was a great king and taught me so much about how to lead a country—but also how to be a good father. The number one thing he instilled in me was the importance of family, of being present, even when I have a demanding job.”
Bridgette, who was sitting next to him, leaned over and patted his arm. “I’m so sorry you lost both of them so young. No one should have to go through everything you’ve gone through.”
“Thank you. I wish things were different, but it has made me who I am today.”
Charlotte took the final bite of her cake. “Okay, time to lighten the mood. Favorite characteristic about Rosalie?”
“Her sunshine personality,” Colin said without missing a beat.
“We love that about her too.” Charlotte smiled.
“What do you think of the three of us?” Sienna asked, and all of Rosalie’s friends looked at Colin expectantly.
“I think Rosalie is lucky to have such caring and loyal friends.”
“Good answer,” all three of them responded in unison.
Rosalie shook her head. “Okay, enough interrogating my husband. We have an early morning tomorrow, so we should call it a night.”
Her friends groaned but allowed Rosalie to usher them out of the room. Turning back to Colin, she let out a long breath.
“Sorry, they can be a bit much sometimes.”
“Don’t apologize. I invited them here knowing full well that I would get interrogated at some point.”
Rosalie moved closer to him, her hand itching to grab his, but she refrained, not wanting to scare him away. “I learned a lot of new things about you tonight.”
“Is that so?”
She nodded, looking up at him. “I still can’t believe your favorite animal is an African pygmy hedgehog.”
He let out an exasperated laugh. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
“Not a chance.” Rosalie shook her head before she started walking toward the door. “Goodnight, Colin.” She wiggled her fingers at him, a smirk on her lips.
“Goodnight, sunshine,” Colin responded, sending her stomach fluttering at the use of the nickname he had chosen for her.
