"One does not have to preclude the other," she said with asperity.
"I can skip my trip to the palace and come to visit you in New York, if you prefer."
Her gasp was loud in his ear. "You can't do that!"
"I assure you, I can."
"But, Tor, they're your family!"
She was his woman, not that he expected her to acknowledge that truth. She hadn't in two years.
Their time was coming though.
Because Blythe was right about one thing. Tor had his own share of princely confidence. He knew they belonged together.
Convincing the prickly woman she was destined to be a princess would be a challenge, but one a hell of a lot less dangerous than the ones he faced currently.
"Be there," he said one last time.
Her sigh sounded her capitulation. "If Janne figures out we're sleeping together I'm going to blame you."
"Have you considered that hiding our relationship from her has more potential to damage your relationship with Janne than just telling her the truth?"
"We don't have a relationship."
Over her denials, Tor said, "I have to go."
"I didn't mean…" Blythe's words trailed off, like she didn't know where to go from there.
"Goodbye, Blythe."
"No, wait, please…Tor, I'm sorry, okay?"
"Okay."
"Of course we have a relationship. We're friends."
Janne and Else were his friends too, but he wasn't texting them as often as he could. Neither were upset when they didn't hear from him either.
Tor said none of that. "I will see you in November."
"I'll be there."
He hung up. It was two days later before he had a chance to check his phone again. There were about a half dozen texts from Blythe, none of them coded for an emergency.
HavePassportWillTravel: I don't like how we left things on the phone.
HavePassportWillTravel: You probably think that's hypocritical to say.
HavePassportWillTravel: Where r u?
HavePassportWillTravel: Are you blanking me?
HavePassportWillTravel: R U OK?
Exhausted and in no mood for another round of push pull with his infuriating girlfriend, whatever she liked to call herself, verbal or otherwise, he texted back a short reply.
SoldierPrince: Fine. TTYL