Imaginary boyfriend
1635 Words
Lily
“Your Majesty. Lily,” Paul greets while Vince and I exchange looks. Vince’s eyes sparkle and I know that he is up to mischief.
“Help me here, My Love. Maybe I am losing my memory, did we not meet this guy earlier today?”
I want to giggle as I nod. “Not at all. You were cocky, something unacceptable for the ship’s Santa. You obviously could not afford any of this. He basically paid your salary and could get you fired,” I repeat Paul’s words while he casts down his eyes.
“Yes. Now I remember!” Vince beams. “He was going to get his father’s friend, the king, to kick us out of the cruise.”
“That’s right.” I place my index finger just below my lower lip as if in deep thought. “I wonder how that is going.”
“Well, he is right here, maybe he can update us on his progress,” Vince suggests and we both turn to the man who can’t even look at us.
“I think he is deaf, My love. What is his name again?”
I want to laugh so badly as I respond. “Paul Smith.”
“Of course! Your imaginary ex. You know what? I should thank him for being an ass. I wouldn’t be having you.”
I am now blushing because Vince’s piercing eyes are looking tenderly at me, making my stupid heart gallop. This is all an act to get to Paul, but I can’t help it.
“The VIP section is ready for you, Your Highness,” Tim, one of the ship’s crew tells us and leads us through the crowd. Paul is still standing where we left him. He obviously needs to make amends with Vince because of his company. I still wonder what was the end game in him pretending not to know me and all of them pretending that I was delusional.
The VIP section is a level higher than the rest of the entertainment area. We get to be part of everything, but have comfort of couches and personalized service. We have just settled in when Prince Alfred shows up. Vince’s expression does not change, but I can feel his body tensing next me. I get up and pull him up the moment his brother takes a seat and gives the crew his order for refreshments.
“The crowd is doing a line dance. Come dance with me.”
Vince squints his eyes on me as he slowly gets on his feet. Now I feel like I am under investigation.
“What?”
He curls his sexy lips.
“You think I can’t dance that type of a dance.”
I frantically shake my head and laugh. I am getting him away from his selfish brother, but I was wondering about that too.
“I did not say that.”
“You don’t have to say it, Lilian. You are an open book to me.”
I give him my innocent expression.
“I just want to dance with my man. Is that hard to believe?”
“I may be royalty but believe me,Babe, I fit better there than here.”
This man is so charming. I really don’t understand why any sane woman would cheat on him, especially with his arrogant brother.
“Oh, really? Show me what you got,” I challenge and lead the way to the common entertainment area. We leave the VIP section without saying a word to Prince Alfred, but I can feel his eyes on us as we leave.
I can’t hold back my laughter when twenty minutes later, Vince is the one leading the line dance. Not only is he leading, he is coaching others how to do the get downs and turns. This man is a party animal and a free spirit. Just watching him laugh and dance makes my heart dance.
Everyone is exhausted and slouching on their chairs when he decides it’s time for our dance. I am pulled to his arms. I am so tired, I just rest my head on his chest and let my body move with his.
“Did I pass your test, Lilian?”
That husky voice gets me looking up, meeting those alluring eyes of his.
“You are a great dancer, Prince Vincent and it was not a test.”
“No, you were getting me away from Alfred and curious to know if I could dance anything other than royal stuff, hence you suggesting the line dance.”
“The crowd was already dancing the line dance,” I say defensively.
“You can’t possibly refer to four people as a crowd, My Lady. You were saving and testing me at the same time. Did I pass?”
He has stopped dancing but gazing at me. I suddenly feel bare, like I can never hide anything from him.
“Fine. Yes, with flying colors.”
He licks his lower lip and intensifies his gaze on me, making my knees weak.
“Nerissa is here,” I tell him when his head drops, his intentions clear. I saw his fiancee walking in earlier.
“I don’t care. What is my reward for that dance?”
I can’t help but laugh. “You had fun, isn’t that a reward enough?”
“You are a cheat, My Lady. I want something more special, like an unforgettable kiss from my woman.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down. My heart hammers against his chest when our lips meet. My toes curl and butterflies fill my stomach. He studies me when we finally break off the kiss.
“This feels so right.”
“Because it is not real,” I remind him, more like myself. I am smart enough to know that I would really be delusional to think otherwise.
He laughs and shakes his head. “I think we should head back upstairs. Mother likes us to be together during the festive.”
I let him lead me out and back to the premium floor.
We find the Queen, Nana and Naomi sitting in the lounge.
“I have been wondering why you feel so familiar. It’s been years since she passed, but you, My Dear look like my mother. Are you sure you don’t have roots in Lore?” Nana asks and I deduce that she was originally from Lore and married a Noan king.
I shake my head. “I don’t really know my mother, but she had no royal roots.”
I don’t know if my mother was indeed the shameless w***e, I have heard about my whole life, but she could not possibly be royalty. The social workers would have taken me to her family if she had any, rather than taking me to Jerry, who did not want me.
“How old are you?” Nana asks.
I look at Vince, hoping he could explain why his family seem so interested in this, but he is too tense to notice.
“Twenty-one, Your Highness.”
My answer seems to make whatever is going on here, worse.
“How do you know that she was not if you don’t know her?” the queen asks while Vince shifts uncomfortably next to me. I wonder why. Even Naomi seems shaken for some reason.
“She had me with a married man. I had to live with him and his family when she died,” I explain.
I don’t know if I am imagining it, but I can see relieved expressions on both Vince and Naomi’s faces. I must remember to ask him about this when we are alone.
“Coincidence then. I just like you,”Nana concludes.
I flash her a smile. I love old people. They are unassuming and kind. Even back in Asherway, the old age home residents and the hospice patients where I did my part-time jobs, were the only real family I had. Being with them gave me a lot of joy.
“Is this interrogation over? Can I take my woman to rest before supper now?”
“So protective! How romantic!” Nana exclaims mischievously. This old woman!
“I thought you wanted to spend time with your family,” I remind Vince when we get to my cabin and he slouches on the couch and turns on the television.
“You are more fun.”
“Nice try, Charmer boy. You are watching television, not talking to me. What was that about?”
He looks at me and does not say anything for what seems like forever. I am now feeling self-conscious.
“For a moment, it sounded like you were someone else.”
“Okay?”
“It would have been my worse nightmare,” he continues.
“Who and why?” I ask. He is not saying anything I can understand and piquing my curiosity.
“Alfred’s betrothed.”
“What?” Now I am stunned. “He is married to Naomi.”
“It is a long depressing story. I don’t want to talk about it.”
I don’t push him, but ask something else I have been curious to know.
“How come Naomi has no title? Shouldn’t she be Princess Naomi since she’s married to your brother and the future queen?”
“That’s just Alfred being an ass!”
His jaw and fits clench as he says this.
I don’t press him on this either. This obviously makes him angry. This family is really complicated.
Four hours later, Vince has called it a night. it is just my luck that I decide to go to the balcony for fresh air and find Prince Alfred there…
- Writer
