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He and I share a look. With the age gap between us, I for one have never been especially competitive with him, despite the fact our father tries to push us into it.
“What’s going on with you and the new princess?” Max asks as he pulls on a pair of shorts.
“We’re getting along, that’s all,” I reply evasively.
“I saw you kiss her hand and look at her like she’s a bowl of chocolate eclairs,” he replies.
“It’s all part of the charm offensive, lad,” Father replies. “Your brother needs to impress.”
Max pulls his lips into a line. “Lucky him. I don’t get to go around kissing new princesses.”
I suppress a smile. That’s exactly what I hope to do soon myself. Kiss the new princess.
“Get a hurry along, you two. We need to get to the event,” Father instructs.
Ten minutes later, we’re on a grassy hill where the spectators and competitors alike have congregated, changed and ready for one of the silliest races of The Games. Actually, it’s probably the second silliest after wife racing, but I have a plan for that race, and it’s one I’m very much looking forward to enacting.
Not for the first time today I think of how Maddie has emboldened me with Father.
The best part of the cheese rolling race is that not only is it in the name of fun, but Sofia, Amelia, and Max are also competing, which makes it a real family “sport”—if rolling a wheel of cheese down a hill can actually be considered a sport.
What’s better than that?
Maddie’s competing, too. That’s what.
She grins at me as she lines up at the top of the hill beside Amelia. If I thought she’s looked sexy before, it has nothing on the way she looks right now. Her long hair is caught in a high ponytail, her face alight with the excitement of the game. She’s in a Malveauxian blue polo top and a pair of white shorts, which she’s teamed with a pair of blue and white striped knee-high socks. She looks like a gorgeous, hot soccer player, and I’m finding it hard to keep my eyes off her.
I move so I’m standing beside her, wanting nothing but to be in her orbit. Max shoots me a knowing look, and I nudge him with my hand.
“Looking good, Texas,” I say, when really, I want to tell her she looks incredible and to forget this whole silly cheese rolling game and instead run away with me and be mine.
One step at a time.
“She looks hot,” Amelia says. “Have you done this before, Maddie?”
“Roll some cheese down a hill? Weirdly, no,” she replies on a laugh, the tinkling sound pulling my lips into a grin.
“Do you need any tips? Alex is extremely good at this,” Amelia replies.
“Of course he is,” Sofia says, not one to be outdone by her sister.
“Alex is extremely good at everything,” Max moans. He reaches a hand out to shake Maddie’s. “I’m Max. I’m the much better looking and significantly more charming younger brother.”
I shake my head at him in good humor.
“It’s great to meet you, Max,” Maddie replies with a broad grin that tugs at my heart as an unfamiliar spike of jealousy pierces my thoughts.
Is it selfish that I want her to only smile like that at me?
I don’t care. I want all of her smiles. Every last one.
“Any tips will be greatly appreciated,” she replies, her eyes flashing to mine.
“It’s not like the famous cheese rolling in Gloucestershire, England,” Sofia explains.
“Is it bad that I didn’t know there was cheese rolling in England?” Maddie asks.
Sofia laughs. “Not at all. It’s a rather obscure sport.”
