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“Sure. You’d better …” The man pointed at Ellery, then headed back for his truck. He must not have his phone on him.
“Yeah.” Derek squatted down next to her. “You’re not hurt?”
“No. I mean, the air bag didn’t tickle.”
He smiled at that.
“But I’m just mortified. I failed at driving, and I wrecked your million-dollar car.”
“Elle. I don’t care about the car.”
“I do.” She coughed and then let out the saddest sob he’d ever heard.
Derek shoved the airbag to the side, took her arm, helped her out of the car, and gently turned her to face him. She looked really cute and sad with the white powder everywhere and the wet streaks from her tears.
“Elle. It’s just a car, sweetheart. You’re all right, and that’s all that matters.”
“It’s … it’s … just a car?” Her voice pitched up. “It’s a Porsche!”
The man trotted back into the field. Ellery stepped away from Derek and folded her arms across her chest. Why was she so upset? A car could be fixed. Maybe because she hadn’t driven before? To wreck on her first drive wasn’t ideal, but they were fine and that was all that mattered.
“The tow should be here in about half an hour. They have to come from Traverse.”
“Thank you,” Derek said, shaking the man’s hand. “You don’t need to wait. We’re fine.”
“I could give you a ride back to the castle,” the man offered. “Once I told the tow truck operator who you were, he said to tell you they’d pick up the car and take care of everything. You can wait for them to give you a ride, but I don’t mind. I was heading home to Greenville anyway.”
“Thank you.” Derek wasn’t sure who this man was, and he probably should know. “Mr. …?”
“Yancy Morales. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Derek, and you as well, Miss Monson. My girls and I are huge fans.”
“Thank you.” She smiled at the man, obviously trying to hide that she was upset.
They all loaded up in the man’s truck, Ellery in the middle. She was suspiciously quiet. Derek chatted with the man about his work as an electrician, most of his projects being in Traverse, and his wife who had taught at the grade school in Greenville for almost twenty years. Derek actually knew the man’s wife. She’d taught Malik. They usually tried to separate the twins in school to keep their classes calmer. It wasn’t a far drive, and soon they pulled up to the guard station.
The guard held up a hand as Yancy rolled down his window. “I can’t allow you access … Prince Derek?”
Derek leaned around Ellery and Yancy. “We had a little accident.”
Ellery grunted at that. He hoped once he explained that the car could be easily fixed, she would relax a bit. Most people assumed that airbags deploying would total a vehicle, but with one as expensive as that Porsche, it was a minor fix. Maybe some work on the front fender. Since the car was electric, the motor wouldn’t have sustained any damage.
“Our friend Yancy helped us out and gave us a ride. Can he drive us up to the castle?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but he can’t. General Raymond’s orders. I can take you in the Razor.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He reached around Ellery and shook Yancy’s hand again. “Pleasure to meet you, Yancy. Thank you for all the help.”
“My pleasure.”
“Nice to meet you. Thank you,” Ellery said.
“Of course, ma’am. My girls will be so excited to hear I met you.”
“Thank you.”
Derek slid out and took Ellery’s elbow. She didn’t shake him off, so that was something. Was she just beating herself up about the accident and their ruined date night? Was she terrified about the wreck? He could understand that because it was her first time driving. Come to think of it, she probably hadn’t been in a smaller personal vehicle very often if she walked or rode the bus. That could explain it.
The ride up the hill to the castle was quiet. The guard, Joseph, seemed like a nice guy, though he was professional and definitely didn’t want to hold a conversation. No matter what question Derek asked, he gave a quick answer and never asked any questions back.
