“I told you not to fall in love with him,” he says gently.
I shake my head, looking away only to have my eyes snap back when he adds, “I would have been wrong.”
“No,” I say, and even to my own ears, I sound defeated. “You were right.”
“It’s better to have loved and lost…” Daniel quotes.
"Bullshit."
He laughs and pulls me into a hug. Despite myself, I relax against him. It feels good. I haven’t had a hug since before the break-up.
“Are you here to check if I’m still alive?”
“Something like that.” He ends the hug and salutes Sir Fred in the corner. “Have you left the house since…”
I press my lips together and shake my head.
“I thought so. Come now, Lady Misery. Let me take you out.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because it's time. There's a movie playing in the park. Fireworks after.” Two brown fingers stop my protest. “Elvis will be okay for a few hours.”
I nod because Daniel’s right. What the heck. It’s time for me to start living my life. Even if I really don't want to.
Chapter 15
Frankie
My first surprise comes when we pull into the park. “Here?” I ask. There’s the outdoor theater Benedict and I passed the time we fled the paparazzi.
“New public initiative. Summer movie nights in the park.” He tugs my hand. I duck my head as we pass people, but I’m in disguise. Daniel waited for me to dress, then he did my hair, and handed me a pair of huge sunglasses and a headscarf. I look like Sofia Loren.
But that doesn’t stop someone from recognizing me. “Over here!” A young Latina woman with a big grin waves from the front row. She looks familiar.
I pull off my sunglasses. “Mina? What are you doing here?”
My internet friend rises. She’s smaller than I realized—petite, and curvy. I've never met her in person.
“Somebody invited me out.” She winks at Daniel. “I figured it's time for me to come and meet you in person.” She turns to Daniel and explains, “I'm her best friend. Mostly because I'm her only friend.”
“You are not my only friend.” I laugh even though she's right.
“Elvis doesn’t count.” Mina waggles a finger at me.
“I'm her friend too,” Daniel says in a hurt tone.
“Yes, you are.” I'm glad that losing Benedict didn't mean I lost Daniel.
“Shall we?” Mina motions to two empty seats next to hers. She must have saved them, because the rest of the theater is filling up. The sun is setting, but people are still wandering about the park, strolling with friends or walking their dogs. There’s a game of frisbee in a nearby field. On the hill behind the formal seating, people are spreading blankets out and picnicking.
“I thought that this would be a great place to have old movies nights,'' I whispered to Mina.
“So you did,” says Daniel. “Maybe someone paid attention.”
I peer at him, but he smiles at the stage in front of us and doesn’t elaborate.
“Does anyone else smell popcorn?” Mina asks.
“Yes.” Daniel rises. “I’ll get it. Stay here and catch up.”
I turn my frown to Mina. “What are you two up to?”
“Nothing.” She blinks, all innocence, but she can’t stop grinning. “Just remember, it’s not over until the fat lady sings.” She leans in and stage-whispers, “And I’m the fat lady.”
“What?”
“What?” She flutters her long lashes again.
“Ooo-kay,” I say. Weirdness is part and parcel with Mina. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You will soon.”
“Popcorn!” Daniel comes back carrying a big bag, and hands it to Mina. “And settle down, kids, the movie’s starting soon.”
For a few minutes, Mina and I gossip together, catching up. Apparently Daniel did find and fly her over, just to spend the weekend with me.
The light in the park is dwindling to twilight. But the lights over the stage are on and lending enough light for people to find their seats.
Mina lifts a newspaper and spreads it out as if she can read it. “Have the paparazzi given you any more trouble?” she asks, out of nowhere.
“No. Probably because I stayed inside for two weeks.”
“Hmmm,” Daniel says. “So I take it you haven’t been watching the news?”
“No,” I say. I banned all media more recent than a Hitchcock film from my life. No men but Cary Grant and Elvis. I told myself I didn’t want to risk seeing someone’s horrible opinion about me but really, it's because I can't bear to see another picture of Benedict.
“Really? I think you should read the front page today. It's very interesting.” Mina pushes the paper into my lap.
Benedict’s face in profile catches my eye, but there’s also a picture of the outside of the palace. With the blurred figure of a falling person.
I gasp at the headline: DUKE DEFENESTRATES VISCOUNT’S SON.
My eyes flash over the first paragraph and my mouth falls open. Benedict pushed Chadwick out the window?
“Isn’t it epic?” Mina says. “Benedict punched him. They fought, and Chadwick-the-Dick Cawthorne ended up going head first through the window.”
“It was an old window,” Daniel puts in. “Chad wasn't badly hurt.”
Mina takes the paper back and shows me a column below the fold. “See? He fell into a hedge.”
“A hedge of thorns. The queen's prized roses, I believe,” Daniel says.
The lower half of my jaw sways gently in the breeze. Mina and Daniel reach out together, and lift my chin to a more respectable position.
“By why did he do it?” I croak when I find my voice.
Mina snorts.
Daniel cocks a brow. “You have to ask?”
“He did it for me,” I whisper.
“Yes. Not only that; he told the entire government he was a bastard, and renounced the throne,” Daniel says.
“No,” I gasp.
“Yes.” Mina crunches on popcorn, watching us with obvious enjoyment, as if we’re the movie she came to see. I would enjoy it more if the plot wasn’t my life.
“He can't do that.” I grab Daniel’s arm. “You have to stop him.”
“Frankie, it's done.”
“But… why? He can't throw it all away… He’s worked so hard!” My voice is rising.
“Shhh,” Daniel murmurs, but now people are watching. “In his eyes, he's not throwing anything away. He told me he’s gaining something worth any price. Or someone.”
Mina sets aside the popcorn and dusts off her hands. “Let me,” she says to Daniel, and he nods and sits back in his seat.
“Real talk, girlfriend,” Mina says, and turns me to face her. Full frontal—I know she’s serious. She’ll pull no punches. “Douchey McDouche Face and his family hurt you.” Douchey McDouche Face is Chadwick Cawthorne. “And you ran away from society for eight years.”