I swoon so hard Ialmost forget the event photographer is following our every move. Iask him the same stupid thing I’ve asked him about a dozen other times. “Are yousureyou’re not a real prince?”
He smiles and counters, “Are you sure you’re not a real princess? Princess Matilda of the Morningstar line?”
I blush and say, “Maybe.”
“You sure you have to hop on the first plane home tomorrow? I’m going to miss you, you know.”
I didnotknow, and my heart explodes in my chest. “Um, of course I’ll miss you, Ace, just need a little family time with how long I’ve been away.”
He nods, “I understand … it’s just … are you sure you don’t want company? I’d quite like to meet them.”
I feel like passing out is arealpossibility right now. Imumble things that aren’t even words for longer than I’d like to, and then finally, “Youwould?”
“Yes, Iwant to meet them, and I’d like you to meet mine; Is that quite all right?”
My knees give out, and he holds me up. “Y-yeah, more than all right, Ace.” He kisses my hand and smiles so sweetly that it takes me a moment to notice the band has stopped for a break. “There’s one family member right over there, actually. Care to meet Jett?”
Ace follows me towards the stage. “Jett Raven, you mentioned him. What’s his relation exactly? Blood?”
“Rock and roll,” Igrin, leaving Ace thoroughly confused.
“My Mads!” Jett jumps off the stage and wraps me in his arms, mask resting atop his dark hair peppered with platinum, as he hugs and rocks me back and forth. It’s somehow ten times more comforting than when Kel did it upstairs, and the feeling of home washes over me as Imelt into his embrace. “We’ve missed you so much at home, Baby! Beverly Hills is so boring without you.”
Ace’s eyebrows jolt up when Jett calls me that, but Idon’t have time to explain it away. Clearly Ienjoyed leaving my immature nickname and the infantile way I’m treated back home in America.
“Jett, you have no idea how much it means that you’ve been keeping Mum and Dad company while I’ve been here!” Idrop a kiss on his temple, “Thank you!”
“Anything for my Morningstars! Mads, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, AnnaBella.”
“It’s so good to meet you.” Ismile at her and give her a quick hug. She smiles back, but it doesn’t quite reach her sharp, baby blue eyes. Her mask glimmers on her head, and her long, blonde hair streams down to her waist. Irealize she was playing drums for him.Duh.“You guys sound absolutely incredible!”
“Jett doesn’t stop talking about you and your parents, Matilda! Are you sure Jett and your dad haven’t been working up adoption papers while you’ve been away?”
“That wouldn’t surprise me at all! Jett, AnnaBella, this is Ace.” Ipull Mr. Princely towards them, and he shakes their hands stiffly. “My…”
The word co-star can’t come out of my mouth because Ace says, “Boyfriend,” rather matter-of-factly instead.
Jett’s face is unreadable for a second before he leans in to slap Ace on the shoulder. “No fuckin’ way, mate! Congrats, man. Baby, you finally met your prince?”
I try to take a steadying breath, but my voice still shakes. Ididn’t, not for a second, expect that word to have flown out of his princely little lips. “Yes, yes, Ihave!”
Chapter 8
Maddy
I’m twenty-five now, and it’s been three months since Ifinished filming season two of the smash hitPalace of Lies: The Princess’s Repentance. Exactly one month since Ace Archer, whom Ispent most of the last two years catering to on setandin our shared flat in London, ripped my heart out of my chest when Iwas expecting an engagement instead.
The idea of getting renewed for season three makes me vomit, literally, but not enough obviously, since I’ve gained ten pounds of misery weight from ice cream and pinot alone since I’ve been home and thoroughly dumped. Lola and Jude invited friends over for an impromptu pool party to cheer me up, but I’ve planned a little cheering up for myself today, too.
Currently, I’m in the pool house bathroom stuffing myself into a plunging-neckline black one-piece covered with white bats from my mum’s new goth swimwear line when Ihear a little rap at the door: “You all right, Maddy?”
It’s the sexy, low but still playful voice of Gage Carter, a fellow TV star who plays the main warlock on the most popularwitchy academy-typeshow on streaming. We’d messaged back and forth last week on Raya, and I’d drunkenly asked him if he was okay with being my rebound buddy, yes, Ireally fucking said that!
Ugh, Ihate dumped Maddy almost as much as Ihate Ace and his new girlfriend, Imogen, the one he cheated on me with. Imay have gotten really pissed and told a couple of news outlets he was fucking her for weeks before we broke up, because hewas,but really just to try and soften the blow formyself. Tarnishing Ace’s gentlemanly reputation made me feel a little better. But still, this month has beenrough.
“Of course!” Ilie. Ihaven’t feltall rightin quite some time. “Be right out! Go jump in. I’ll meet you out there.”
“‘K, I’ll get you a margarita,” he says, and Ihear the door shut.
