“I’m worried about my business back home.”
“In Seattle? With the food truck?”
“Yep. I talked with Hailey a couple of days ago about how everything’s going. She said she’s fine but I can tell she’s running herself ragged. And I feel terrible because not only am I not there, but I am barely able to talk to her with the time difference.”
“That must be difficult,” she empathized.
She went about making notes on a small pad of paper as she looked over the dress, waiting for me to continue.
“Is that all that has you preoccupied?”
“It’s Luc,” I blurted out without thinking.
Kinley stopped her work, her hands in midair as she looked up at me with eyebrows arched in surprise.
“Lucas?” she asked, tentatively returning to the fitting. “What about him?”
How could I explain while leaving out the most important part of the story?
“It’s just… he was the first person I got to know when I first arrived. He found me in Seattle, brought me here, showed me the ropes. And he’s always just been there, you know? All of a sudden, it’s like he’s washed his hands of me and I’m confused about it. Did I do something wrong?”
She shook her head. “It makes perfect sense, Princess, that you’d be concerned. You’re in a completely unfamiliar situation, which means you’re going to value whatever familiarity you have—even if it’s in the form of a grumpy man like Luc.”
I smiled, pleased that she understood. Kinley paused her fitting and glanced away, as if something had occurred to her.
“Now, I can’t speak to why Luc might be keeping his distance from you. Believe it or not, he’s not the sort of man to be forthcoming when it comes to his emotions.”
“Oh, I can most definitely believe that.”
“All the same, he’s been acting different lately.”
“Different? How?”
“It’s hard to say. I can’t believe that I’m using a word like this to describe Luc, but he almost seems chipper. Like there’s a spring to his step that wasn’t there before. And I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Everyone on the staff is wondering why Luc is acting the way he is.”
It took all the effort I had to suppress a smile. After all, I had a very good idea why he might be acting a little happier.
“It’s as if the chip on his shoulder has become smaller,” she said. “It’s so odd.”
“What’s with that chip, anyway?” I asked. “I mean, the guy’s living in the royal palace, has one of the best jobs in the country. You’d think he’d be a little more cheerful instead of grouchy and closed off.”
Kinley opened her mouth to speak but hesitated before any words came out.
“Sorry, that was prying a little,” I conceded. “You don’t have to say anything. Butifyou did, it’d stay between the two of us.”
Kinley smiled. “I know. I trust you. But before I say anything, I have to make it super clear that this is just my own suspicion.”
“Of course.”
She formed her mouth into a flat line as if trying to decide where to begin.
“What I think is that Luc is a man who has given so much of himself away in the service of the king. And with him, the king isn’t just the king, right? He’s his best friend. I’m sure it’s nice for him to have such a relationship, but at the same time, I would imagine it comes with many complications.”
“Yeah, I can imagine it might blur some lines.”
“He’s spent two decades working for King Alaric. He responds to every order without question, valuing loyalty to his king above all else. It’s admirable, but at the same time…”
“He’s had to put aside whathewants to do.”