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“Why should you bear the weight of your nation’s future when you had no choice in the circumstances of your birth?” I chimed in, my empathy for Oliver clear. “It hardly seems fair that they just dump that on you.”
Aunt Honey added her two cents. “She’s got a good point.”
“You should marry for love!” Renzo interjected.
Oliver appeared lost in thought, running his fingers through his hair. He looked at the restaurant’s back door as an employee emerged. “You make valid points, but this isn’t the place for this discussion. Who’s hungry?”
“I am,” everyone chimed in unison.
“Does this mean we have to leave already? After we eat?” Renzo asked.
“Don’t worry—you can ride all the rollercoasters you want,” Oliver chuckled. “I’ll just need a change of clothes before heading back into the amusement park. And find new sunglasses and a hat.”
“Let me take care of that for ya—I know just the place,” Aunt Honey said. “Order me a cheeseburger and fries, if you don't mind, and I’ll be back in a jiffy. Oh, and after we eat, we need to go visit that tarot card reader.”
“That is not necessary,” Enzo said, grabbing her hands before she could walk away. “I see my future in your eyes.”
Aunt Honey batted her eyelashes. “You really are a smooth talker.” She licked her lips. “I am going to eat you up.”
Enzo’s grin grew wider, and he pressed both his hands against his heart. “That is my greatest wish.”
“Be right back, y’all,” Aunt Honey said, disappearing inside the building.
Janice, the employee we had met upon our arrival, came out of the back door. “So sorry for the trouble, Your Highness.”
Oliver shook his head. “Don’t be—it was one-hundred percent my fault.”
“Is there anything I can do for you at this point?” she asked. “Perhaps I can shut down the restaurant while you and your guests dine here.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Oliver said. “I don’t want the amusement park to lose money on my account. We can eat right over there, if that works for you.” He pointed to a cluster of white picnic tables under the large canopy.
“Of course,” Janice said. “I’ll be right back with some menus.”
We sauntered over to the tables and waited for Janice’s return. After we ordered the food, Enzo and Renzo shared a little about their lives in Italy and about their olive oil business.
“Most people do not know this, but most of our olive oil comes from Spain,” Renzo said.
“I’ve got an even better secret,” Aunt Honey said, approaching with two bags. “My eyelashes are environmentally friendly, and are made from recycled plastic milk jugs.” She batted them and smiled. “Anyhoo, Oliver, sugar, I got you something to help you go incognito.”
“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Oliver said, starting to open the bag.
“No peeking,” Aunt Honey said, pointing toward the employee bathrooms. “Go change and then come back to show us. We’ll be waiting.”
Oliver hesitated for a moment, eyeing the bag with suspicion, but eventually agreed and walked over to the employee restrooms to change.
“Grace, honey, you’re next—here you go,” Aunt Honey said, handing me the other bag.
“Me?” I asked. “I don’t need to go incognito.”
“Oh yes, you do,” she said. “Everybody has seen you with the prince. You’re easy to identify now, especially with that face paint of yours. Go wash that off, then change. And don’t you peek in the bag, either.”
I hesitated, then said, “Okay then . . .”
I felt a little guilty as I washed my face in the bathroom since I adored what Oliver had painted on me, but most of it was now smeared and unrecognizable, thanks to one unforgettable kiss.
I dried my face with paper towels from the dispenser, then glanced inside the bag. I smiled as I pulled out a cute pink T-shirt with the Atomic Adventures amusement park mascot on the front, an aardvark.
I slipped the T-shirt on—which fit me perfectly—then dug into the bag again, pulling out a voluminous blond wig with glamorous curls. Where on earth had she gotten it from? I had never worn a wig in my life, but reminded myself I was doing it for Oliver as I slipped it over my head and adjusted it in the mirror.
