Chapter 23

23

ISAAC

The coffee in the break room sucks. I planned to stop by the Coffee Hut to get something worth drinking, but I ran out of time. Simon complained the entire time about cutting our vacation short, but I need to work. To think about something else. I compromised and let Simon hang out with Uncle Zye. And I could have stayed and helped Zye—there's plenty of work to do now that his business is taking off—but his understanding eyes made me want to stab him with his purple gel pen.

I should have borrowed it. A gel pen to the eyes is just what Paul needs.

"Long night?" He gives me a knowing smirk as he adds gallons of creamer to his coffee. That's when it hits me. He's seen the reports. Read the articles—or whatever is out there. He chuckles as he wanders to the other side of the room.

My humiliation is complete.

"All right there, Isaac?" Macy obstructs my view of Paul, and some of the tension leaves my body. Her smile gives me the impression that it was intentional. She sips her coffee out of a mug that reads I AM CURRENTLY UNSUPERVISED. I KNOW, IT FREAKS ME OUT TOO , and I laugh.

"New mug?"

"Yeah. I found it at a flea market in Jasper." She pauses. "How are you doing, love?"

"Fine. And you?"

"Smashing. Now, fuck off with all that rubbish. I want the real scoop." She leans in. "What was the palace like? Prince Adrian is so dreamy. I can't believe…"

The smile drops from my face. "I don't—I can't talk about that. About him." I shake my head, blinking back the rush of emotion. I can't cry at work. Not in front of Paul, for fuck's sake.

"I'm sorry, love," she says, squeezing my arm. And seriously, I'm about to break down. "This is all my fault."

I sniff away my tears, and then her words make it through my sadness-soaked brain. "None of this is your fault. Unless you leaked the info." I chuckle at that, but Macy glances away, and my heart stops working.

"Isaac…" She bites her lips, staring at the coffee pot behind me.

Setting my cup down, I take her arms to get her to focus. "Macy?" She still won't look at me. "Did you do this?" I can't believe it.

"No. But I might as well have."

"What do you mean?"

Guilt is written all over her face. Her chin quivers and she dashes at the tears in her eyes. Paul laughs, and it reminds me he is still there. In the background, talking to one of the real estate agents. I can hear her laugh too. It sounds like a donkey braying. That's what Paul used to say… Why did I ever date him? Doesn't matter. I shake all that off and focus on my friend. I hope she's still my friend.

"Macy?"

"Jane called for you. It was before the prince showed up here."

Was that just last week? And I'd flown to another country with him. With my son. I push my negative self-talk away. Plenty of time to beat myself up later. I focus on Jane calling my work. After the countless times I asked her not to do that.

"I didn't take the call. Paul did. I meant to tell you straight away. But then your handsome prince…I got distracted."

I don't really understand what one thing has to do with the other. "Don't worry. She found a way to get to me. We talked."

She shakes her head. "No, Isaac. You aren't getting it. Did you read the article? Or watch the news?"

"No point. I know what they say. I'm a terrible father. Fucking around with a prince and keeping his son from his mother." I shrug and give her a sad smile. "I can't do it."

"What about your friends? Didn't they say anything?"

"No. What do you mean?"

She grits her teeth and grabs my face, squeezing a little too hard. "Isaac, Jane didn't go to the reporters."

"I know she says that, but can I really trust her?"

"The article isn't about your parenting. It barely mentions Simon at all. That should tell you straight away who the source was."

Paul laughs again, and I can't get my brain to work. I'm cold all over and my stomach churns the half bagel I had for breakfast. "Paul did this?"

She pats my cheek and pulls out her phone. When she finds what she's looking for, she looks up at me. "Do you want to see?"

I nod. I need to stop hiding. The first thing I see is a picture of Adrian, Simon, and me in front of the palace. Adrian is laughing at something Simon has said, his face turned down. My heart aches, but I'm also smiling because this man is so beautiful. Inside and out. Macy coughs, and I move on to the article. A tell-all on the prince's new distraction. New boy-toy. From the perspective of his ex-lover. "Oh for fuck's sake." I finish the article, shaking my head the entire time. "Are there more articles I need to look for?"

"Nah. No sense in torturing yourself. They're just variations of the same." She accepts her phone and squeezes my arm. "Paul is a right prat. But it's just noise, Isaac. None of it matters. What matters is how you feel. And you don't have to tell me. Just looking at the man's picture had you grinning and moony-eyed. If it wasn't so cute, it'd be disgusting." She beams at me. "You, Isaac Brandt, are in love with a prince."

"According to that article, millions of people are in love with him." The joke lands flat, and Macy narrows her eyes.

"But I doubt your prince cares about them. He's in love with you."

I'm already shaking my head before she even finishes. "This isn't a fairy tale, Macy. You can't possibly know that."

"You're right. I don't." She shrugs, her smile never wavering. "But I'm guessing you do."

"Break time over. Everyone back to work," Paul says in a commanding voice. He's talking to everyone in the room, but his gaze settles on me.

I turn back to Macy. "Thank you. Can we talk at lunch? I need a plan."

Her eyes light up with excitement. "You've got it, love."

Grabbing my coffee, I walk over to my ex and look him directly in the eyes. "Fuck off, Paul." His mouth drops open, and I walk out with energy in my step and a smile on my face.

Throwing myself into work, I forget about everything except numbers and spreadsheets. It's a relief. But I'm also ready when Macy and I meet for lunch. I suggest going outside. There's a shady area we sometimes go to. It's far away from Paul, which is the biggest draw.

I wait until we're about halfway through our lunch before I spring it on her. "I'm quitting."

She gapes at me. "Really?"

The small area has a few picnic tables with trees and umbrellas for shade from the hot August sun. Cars zoom by on the highway next to the building. A large truck with obvious penis envy revs his engine as he passes. Rap music comes from another vehicle. Do they realize that, in ten years, they're going to have severe hearing loss? A breeze blows and cools the back of my neck.

Macy taps my leg, smiling sadly at me.

"I don't have to work two jobs anymore. Not really. And I can't deal with Paul's toxicity. I hate coming to work here. But I'll miss you."

"You've got to do what's best for you." She side-eyes me. "But is that really the reason?"

I bite my lip and shrug, but I keep the grin off my face.

"Oh. My. God. Really?"

"I can't work here if I'm with Adrian. Paul will feed every scrap to the press."

She squeals. "This is amazing."

"Hold on. I was horrible to Adrian. He might not want me."

"Do you think he'll believe what's in the article? Surely, he knows?—"

My laugh cuts her off. "No. Paul complaining about how terrible a lover I am? Docile. God, that was more about him than me. And telling the world I have a tiny dick? Adrian—" I duck my head. "He already knows better." My face heats, and it's not from the August sun or the humidity.

"You slept with a prince?" she asks in awe.

"I don't think of him as a prince, Macy. He's just Adrian." The goofy looks he gives me. His eagerness to learn how to use a knife. And more. The generous way he gives all of himself. His love for Simon. "My Adrian."

She sighs dramatically, and I laugh. "Will you still call me to hang out?"

"Of course."

Her gaze shifts to the office building and back. "Every day?"

"Boundaries, Macy."

"Fine. How about an invite to the palace?"

"One step at a time. How do I prove to Adrian that I'm ready to do this? That I won't run away every time the press gets involved or things get hard?"

"Are you ready for that? Have you thought this out?"

"Did I make a spreadsheet weighing all the pros and cons and planning our life for the next five to ten years? No. And yet, I've never been surer of anything."

She claps her hands and squeals. "Do you know what we need? Zye and his whiteboard. Time to get you your prince."

The planning meeting is chaotic in all the best ways. I put in my notice and promptly took off the rest of the day. I arrive at my second, soon to be my only job, and I'm excited to get everything started. Macy took the afternoon off and will be here soon.

I smile at Zye as I take my seat behind my desk.

"What is happening?"

"What?" I shake my mouse to wake my computer and enter my password. A picture of Simon and me lights up the screen. It always brings a smile to my face.

"You're happy."

I laugh because it wasn't that long ago that I was calling Zye out for being happy. But he was sleeping with Miles, who was part of the wedding party at the time, so my ire was justified. "Where's Simon?"

"Miles has him. They went to pick up Justine."

I chuckle at the frustration in his voice. He really doesn't like emus. But I think Justine might be growing on him.

Thankfully, Miles is the owner of his mechanic shop and was able to take off a few days to help with Simon. He insisted he wanted to do it. I have some pretty great friends.

Zye sighs, sounding frustrated. "Tell me why you're happy." He leans his hip against the desk and crosses his arms.

I grin. "I'm in love with Adrian."

"I already have that memo. What else?"

Chewing on my bottom lip, I say the words I'm afraid to speak aloud. "I think Adrian loves me too."

He throws his hands out. "That's not news to anyone but you . And?" He rolls his hand in a get-on-with-it gesture.

"And…" I glance away. "I'm putting in my two-week notice."

When he doesn't say anything, I look at him. His jaw hangs open, and his eyes are wide with…panic? His mouth snaps shut, and he lifts his chin. "Isaac, are you moving to Lutiana?"

"What? No, idiot. I'm quitting Anderson so I can work full-time for you."

His body relaxes, but he still has a worry line between his eyes. "If you and Adrian are together, he's going to want you to move."

"One thing at a time, boss. I would never leave you hanging. So before you ship me off to another country, I need your help. And it might necessitate using your whiteboard."

A smile takes over his face, and he claps his hands. "We're making a plan?"

"Yes. Macy will be here soon."

"Do you want me to have Miles distract Simon?"

I consider this. "No. But thanks. I think…Simon needs to be in on the planning."

"Even though it might not work? Although, for the record, Adrian is crazy about you, so it'll totally work."

Causing Simon more pain is one of my fears. "He's already heartbroken."

"Then we need a really good plan. Operation: Get Isaac a Prince of his Own is back on track."

We gather in Zye's office with the big whiteboard—the one on rollers—in the middle of the room. Zye has a marker in hand and is listing our ideas. Simon and I are seated next to each other on Zye's office couch. Miles is perched on the corner of his desk. Macy rolls around in the desk chair as she shouts out ideas.

"A flash mob, Macy?" I ask, getting frustrated already. "Really?"

"Well, it worked in that one movie?—"

" Friends with Benefits ?" Miles says, and Macy snaps her fingers and points at him.

Zye glares at his boyfriend, who motions for him to write it down.

"I can't hire a flash mob to serenade the prince of Lutiana."

"Not with that attitude," she quips. "You said think outside the box."

"But not outside the realm of possibility."

Zye gives up and writes it down next to skywriting.

Jesus, these people are no help.

"Daddy?" Simon asks, tugging on my shirt.

"Yes, honey?"

"We could call Prince Adrian. Tell him we're sorry for leaving and we love him."

Grand romantic gestures are lost on him. "What if he doesn't believe us?" I blink away the emotion that follows that question. Don't break down in front of your kid, Isaac . Again.

His eyes widen, and he smiles. "We can tell him when we see him on my birthday. He promised he'd come."

I don't want to squash his ideas, but it isn't likely Adrian is still coming. Not if he thinks we don't want him—and maybe that's the answer. "Write that down, Zye. I think Simon is right."

Simon beams, and I give him a quick hug.

Zye erases everything else and puts down Simon's idea. "But how do we tell him? How do we get him there?"

Miles stands, and everyone looks at him. "Have y'all ever seen Never Been Kissed ?"

Zye frowns. "Again with the rom-coms? You said you didn't like them."

"I have a few favorites." He winks at Zye and pulls him in for a kiss. For once, I'm not irritated by their display of affection. Not jealous.

"I love that idea, Miles," I say, thinking through the possibilities. "Except, most of the world thinks Adrian's straight. I would never out him."

"How is that possible with all the rumors? All the pictures of you guys."

"I guess no one wants to believe it. They think we're just friends, or I'm making it up, thanks to—" I stop there, remembering Simon is in the room.

"But that's perfect, innit?" Macy rolls up to me in the chair, and Simon narrows his eyes. Is he remembering the hundreds of times we've told him not to play in Zye's chair? Macy smacks my leg. "Just play into that. Say the reports are rubbish. You and the prince are friends. And you'd love to see your friend again."

"That could work." I dig my phone out of my pocket. "I just need to call Jane."

"Mommy?" Simon asks with hope in his eyes. And for once, I'm okay with it. I can't protect Simon or myself from everything.

"Yes. Mommy is doing better. She's…actually been helping Daddy."

The hope dims a little. "Does she—" His eyes fill with tears, and he doesn't need to ask the question.

"She's been asking to see you, bud." I lean down to catch his eyes. "We just need to work out the details."

He smiles, and God, I hope Jane doesn't relapse. It'll break his heart. But love is hard. And sometimes you have to take chances.

"Wait, why are you calling Jane?" Macy asks, and thankfully, the focus is back on the plan.

"I have a certain reporter to contact."