“We’ve most definitelybeen together.”
“Well, I can’t say I blame you. Even though he’s quite stuffy, Luc is a very good-looking man.”
I nodded. “Yes, a very good-looking man who happens to be the right hand of my father, the king. He’s going to kill us both, isn’t he? I asked, feeling ill all over again. Kinley raised her palms. “First thing’s first— we need to figure out if you’re actually pregnant. Lucky for you, there are a few tests here in the palace.”
With that, Kinley sprang up and hurried out of the room. I couldn’t believe what was happening, couldn’t believe that there was even achancethat I was pregnant.
What if I was? What if my father were to find out? What would happen to Luc?
Thankfully, Kinley didn’t keep me waiting long. She hurried into the room with a small bag of cardboard boxes.
“These are the fancy ones,” she said, handing the bag over. “Supposed to have results in seconds.”
“Thanks, Kinley,” I said as I took the bag. “I mean it.”
She smiled, and I hurried to the bathroom and shut the door. With shaking hands, I took out one of the boxes and opened it, reading the instructions, which were simple enough—pee on a certain spot and then wait thirty seconds.
My stomach tense with anxiety, I did the deed. Once it was taken care of, I set the test on the counter and watched. The readout was electronic, and I tensed up even more as a word slowly formed on the little screen.
Positive.
I was pregnant.
I took a few deep breaths, trying to give myself a chance to not totally freak out. There were more tests, however, and I felt like I needed to be completely sure. Time for round two. I opened another test and repeated the process. My heart going thud-thud-thud, my blood running fast, I watched as the screen brought up the same word.
Positive.
There was one more test, but I didn’t need it. Instead, in a daze, I made my way out to the bedroom.
“Well?” Kinley asked with eager eyes. “What did it say?”
I placed my hand on my stomach. “Looks like I’ve got a little prince or princess growing in here.”
Kinley let out a squeal as she hurried over to give me a hug. I hugged her back, but in that moment, I wasn’t exactly in a celebratory mood. Kinley stayed with me for a little while, calming me down. A text from Hailey came during our conversation, and Kinley left in order to both give me a chance to talk to my sister and to let Giselle and Oscar know that I was going to be running behind for our lessons.
“Yo!” Hailey said. “What’s up, sis?”
“Um, not much. What about you?” It took all the restraint I had to stay cool and calm.
“Oh, just finally finishing up after a night working the truck downtown. Business was killer… hold on. ‘Hey! Donotpour the oil there! Are you kidding me?’ Sheesh! OK, sorry—some issues with the newbies.”
I smiled. Hearing about the truck, even from thousands of miles away and over the phone, was enough to make me happy.
“Anyway, as I said, we are just cleaning and getting ready to close up shop for the night after we prep for tomorrow. How are things in Disneyland?” I opened my mouth to speak. Before I could get a single word out, my lips began to tremble.
I couldn’t help it. I started crying right then and there.
“Woah!” Hailey called out. “Hold on.” She yelled out something to the staff before shutting a door, the background noise on her end vanishing. “Now, what’s going on?”
I filled her in. I told her all about Luc, told her about life at the palace. And when she had all of the basic info, I hit her with the news I’d just learned.
“Pregnant? What?”
“Pregnant. That’s what.” I leaned back against the nearest wall, slumping down into a heap. “I… I don’t know what to do. I mean, how the hell is it even fair to find out that I’m a princessandpregnant all in the span of a single freaking month?”
“Alright listen, first of all, everything is going to be OK.”
“How can it be OK? The dad is the king’s best friend and right-hand man, and I’m already on the verge of getting thrown out on my royal ass for not being able to walk down a flight of steps with the proper level of grace.”