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“Ah, I see. Are you a list-maker, or do you like to wander?”
“The list is all in my head.” She smiled but realized for the thousandth time that despite them both spending their days at the same gym and pursuing the same dream, their lives and worlds were entirely different. She rarely deviated from her standard grocery list because she often didn’t have any extra money. It was important that she and her mom eat as healthy as they could afford to, her for her career and passion to succeed at ninja warrior, and her mom to fight the MS with any tool they could utilize.
“All right. I’ll just push the cart and observe the master shopper at work.” He released her waist to get a cart.
Prince Derek was pushing her shopping cart. Surreal.
As they made their way through the produce, meat, and dairy sections, she was amazed that people stared, whispered, even took pictures, but nobody walked up to them. It may have been the hulking bodyguards, who looked intimidating in their black suits with serious looks on their faces, but it may have also been because people didn’t know how to approach a celebrity like him.
She’d gotten so used to Derek at the Warrior Gym that she’d pushed away the reality of Prince Derek in another public setting. The gym crowd was used to a prince in their midst. The men often spoke to him and the women constantly flirted with him. Here, people stared at him like the royal novelty he was and kept a respectful distance. She imagined she’d do the same if Jason Momoa or Chris Hemsworth walked into the Market Basket while she was choosing the least moldy-looking cauliflower head.
She had all the fresh food she needed, but she had to pick up a few non-perishables. They were in the cereal aisle, grabbing the granola her mom liked, when she felt the security guards ease closer.
Glancing around, she saw a darling little girl with black braids wrapped around her head like a crown, and a nervous-looking young mom shadowing her.
“Excuse me, Mr. Charming Prince?” the girl said, stopping ten feet away.
“Hello,” Derek said, releasing the cart handle, easing around Ellery, and walking up to the girl. He stuck his hand out, smiling at her and bowing slightly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss …”
“Jasmine,” she squeaked out.
Her mom looked faint and very, very relieved that Derek was being so kind to her daughter. A small crowd gathered at the end of the aisle, watching, but again, nobody broke ranks and approached them.
“Princess Jasmine.” Derek shook her hand, then went on one knee in front of her so he was on her level. His high-dollar pants would get dirty, but he didn’t seem to care. “It is an honor to meet you.”
She giggled. “I’m not a princess.”
“With that name, such a beautiful face, and your hair done like a crown, you have to be a princess.”
She giggled louder and looked back. “Mama, he thinks I’m a princess.”
“You are, angel. You are.” The lady’s dark eyes were bright, and Ellery fought emotion herself.
“Thank you, kind prince.” The little girl pointed at Ellery. “Is that your princess?”
“Someday soon, she will be.” Derek glanced back at her. The warmth in his gaze and confidence in his words had her leaning into the grocery cart. “Princess Jasmine, this is Princess Ellery, but I like to call her Elle.”
“Princess Elle is much better.”
Ellery walked over to them. Derek straightened and wrapped his arm around her waist. Ellery noticed some of the crowd videoing, but she could only focus on how appealing it was to watch Derek interact with a little one and the exhilarating feeling of him holding her close to his side.
“It’s very nice to meet you, Jasmine.” Ellery shook the little girl’s hand.
“You are a very beautiful princess, but you should wear a pretty dress and not have your hair in a pony.” Jasmine tilted her head to Derek. “He looks more handsome than you do.”
“Jasmine,” her mom reprimanded.
Ellery laughed. “Prince Derek is such a pretty boy.” She gazed up into his blue eyes. “He’s more handsome than anyone, so I don’t mind you saying so.”
“No one is as beautiful as you, Elle.” The look in his eyes was sincere. She lost any ability to tease.
“Bye,” Jasmine called out, skipping happily back to her mom, taking her mom’s hand and tugging her down the aisle.
Her mom waved to them, mouthing, “Thank you.”
“Goodbye, Princess Jasmine and her mom,” Derek called out gallantly.
Ellery snickered and pulled away, thankfully breaking the mood. “You’re so smooth. No wonder you have all the women chasing you.”
