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“You look great,” Elin said, not looking up at her as she filled her teacup to the brim. Then, she stopped. “I just meant that you weren’t exactly expecting to stay the night.” The teapot clanged against the tray as Elin attempted to place it back down. “Another coffee?”
“I’ve taken two sips of this one,” Ingrid replied.
“Right. So, no,” Elin stated. “The press release, then?”
“Yes,” Ingrid said, setting her cup down on the table. “Do you have it?”
“I printed out what they want to go out.” Elin picked up a piece of paper and a red pen. “Here.”
Ingrid leaned over, took the pen and paper, and Elin settled back against the sofa a little closer than she had been a second before. She smelled divine, like the tea she was drinking and roses somehow.
“Is it just me, or is it too clinical?” Elin asked.
Ingrid read it and said, “Yes, it’s a little too much about the injuries and not enough about his recovery.”
“So, I’m not crazy?” Elin asked.
Ingrid turned her head, and Elin was right there, looking back at her. They were centimeters apart. Ingrid swallowed. Then, her mouth opened a bit. Her eyes bore into Elin’s blue ones, and she had a very dangerous thought as her stomach turned over pleasantly, indicating that she’d definitely been right about her feelings for the Queen.
“You’re not crazy,” Ingrid replied softly.
“I should… I should probably… I need to just finish this and then…” Elin stood but managed to trip over the shoe she’d left between the sofa and the table and promptly fell back against the sofa.
“Are you okay?” Ingrid asked, trying not to laugh at her.
“I’m fine.” Elin laughed. “I’m tired and worried about my mother and my fatherandmy country because I’m not the one they thought they’d get, and I come with a lot of baggage, and–”
“Baggage?” Ingrid asked.
“Baggage is probably the wrong word,” Elin said.
“What’s therightword?” Ingrid brought her coffee to her lips.
“Gay,” Elin stated.
Ingrid choked and spat out her coffee.
“Oh, my God! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have just blurted that out like that. Ingrid, I–”
Ingrid coughed a little more, but Elin’s hand rubbing her back helped the cough subside.
“Are you okay? I’m so sorry,” Elin said.
“I’m fine,” Ingrid replied with a scratchy throat.
“I can’t believe I just said that.” Elin laughed some more. “And I made you almost choke, and I’m laughing about it. I’m sorry for that, too.”
Ingrid smiled at her and said, “It’s okay.”
“Is it?” Elin asked before she removed her hand from Ingrid’s back. “Because I’m lucky, I guess. I have Elizabeth and Palmer. And Alex is out, too, so that helps, but I’ll still be the monarch no one wanted, and I’m also gay and don’t plan on having kids, so I’m basically the worst choice in the world for their Queen.”
“Elin, you’re thebestchoice for Queen. I’ve said that to you before, and I believe it,” Ingrid told her. “The country loved you before you took over for your father, and they still do. I’ve heard that people are planning to line the streets for your consecration. They’ve already made T-shirts, plates, blankets, and other trinkets with your face on them. They’re calling you ‘The Queen that will bring the monarchy into the modern age.’”
“There are T-shirts with my face on them?”
“Yes, I was thinking about buying one, actually,” Ingrid joked.
“Please don’t.” Elin shook her head.
