Page 30 of A Royal Promise
Drew sat down on a stool and got to work, creating a flower crown with the assistance of two young girls who ran the booth with their teacher. She watched as he bit his tongue in concentration when picking out the specific blooms he wanted and the careful way he arranged them.
After a few minutes of watching him, the teacher pulled Bri aside.
“I’m Eliza.” The brunette stuck out her hand, and Bri gave it a gentle shake. “I wanted to offer my congratulations to you and His Royal Highness. It’s about time we had another royal wedding to celebrate.” She smiled brightly at her. “But really, I want to thank you both for coming.”
Eliza glanced over at the booth where Drew was still working on her flower crown. “I can’t tell you how much the support of the royal family means to our school system. I teach art, andit’s the favorite subject of so many students—like the young girls helping His Highness.” She swiped at the tears in her eyes. “Allowing us to raise the money to continue teaching art and music classes and offering extracurriculars in the arts not only lets us teachers keep our jobs, but it ensures students will continue to have a creative outlet.”
Bri pulled Eliza into a hug. “You don’t have to thank us. We’re happy to help.”
Eliza nodded over toward Drew. “It looks like your fiancé finished his craft.”
Bri turned as Drew approached her, almost sheepishly, with a flower crown in hand. He’d chosen an arrangement of cream spray roses, pink strawflowers, and some greenery.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
He smiled at the compliment. “May I?”
“Of course.”
Eliza went back to the booth as Drew stepped toward her and set the crown on her head. She turned around, and he tied the ribbons into a bow in the back.
“What made you select these flowers?” she asked when she faced him again.
“They reminded me a little bit of the gown you wore to our engagement ball.” He looked at the ground.
Bri blushed at his words, grazing her fingers over the crown. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard you say. I didn’t know you were such a romantic.”
She bit the inside of her lip as soon as the words were out.This is fake.Itwould’vebeen the sweetest gesture—if it were real. If they were dating and he said that, it would’ve made her heart melt. But this wasn’t real. He was just saying it for the sake of those who might overhear their conversation.
“Looks like you’ve still got a lot to learn about me.” He raised his eyebrows in a challenge. “Are you ready to keep exploring?”Drew asked, and she nodded. She waved a quick goodbye to Eliza and wrapped her arm through his.
They bought a variety of things from the different booths supporting local schools, giving the items to a palace staff member standing by Bastian, who Bri just now realized had been trailing them the whole time.
When they reached the carnival rides, Bri squeezed Drew’s arm. “Ooh, can we ride the Ferris wheel?”
“Anything to make you happy.”
Bri’s smile faltered. There he was, saying something sweet and flirty again, and he seemed so genuine that she couldn’t tell whose benefit it was for—hers or all the people around them who needed to be convinced their engagement was real. Had he been saying things like this to her all along, and she hadn’t noticed?
She put back on her bright, royal smile as they reached the front of the line. Drew waved off their guards, and they sat down together in the seat.
The ride attendant secured the safety bar over their laps, and then they were slowly moving up.
Bri was looking out at the view of Glencrest when she heard Drew’s shallow breaths. She turned to face him and noticed his white-knuckled grip on the bar at his lap.
“What’s wrong?” She rubbed his shoulder.
He sucked in a long breath at her touch. “Heights.”
She let out a small laugh. “You climb the ladder to our treehouse with one hand.”
When he didn’t laugh with her, her chest tightened. He was seriously anxious right now. Bri reached over and placed her hand over his. He let go of his iron grip and intertwined their fingers, squeezing her hand like it was the only thing keeping him on Earth.
“Hey.” She turned sideways and gently cupped her other hand to his cheek. He leaned into her touch. “You’re going to be okay.I’m right here with you. We’re perfectly safe.” She dropped her hand, letting it rest on his arm, rubbing up and down in soothing motions.
“As safe as a carnival ride can be,” he muttered, pulling a laugh out of her.
“How am I just now learning you’re scared of heights?”
