Don't Break: Everything's Fine, Nothing's Alright (Chapter 5)
Book: The Royal Romance
Series Summary: Kelly Carter, a celebrity socialite from New York City, and the Prince of Cordonia have shared an intimate relationship with one another over the past six years. But after everything in her life is suddenly turned upside down, both her strength and ties to the prince are put to the test, when she travels to Cordonia and agrees to join his brother’s social season.
Catch up here
Characters belong to Pixelberry
Music Inspiration: Nothing's Alright by Hannah Miller
A/N: This series will loosely follow canon, mainly the social season in TRR, Book 1. There will be multiple flashbacks throughout this series, but each will be marked clearly with the year or time that they took place. Please note: There is only a three year age difference between Leo and Liam in this series.
A/N #2: This chapter was NOT pre-read or beta'd. PLEASE EXCUSE THE COUNTLESS ERRORS. Your girl loves a good run-on sentence; try to embrace it.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE STUCK WITH ME AND THIS STORY.
Warnings: Adult language Please do not read this if you are under the age of 18.
The elevator rocked gently, and a silvery bell chimed as it lowered to a complete stop. Maxwell sighed from the corner of the lift-car, pulling the phone from his ear just before the mirrored doors slid open. He slipped the device back into his pocket and waited for the other passengers to exit before he followed them into the hotel lobby.
“Woah—” His eyes widened; the lobby was packed.
It only took a few seconds for Max to join in the bustling tempo of the room, and he quickly began finagling his way further into the crowd, scanning over the sea of faces as he went. He weaved through the hordes of overdressed guests with rhythmic ease while keeping his pace steady and fast; they were leaving for the airport in a matter of minutes; there was no time to dilly dally. Max slid past a young lady wearing an exceptional pair of Louboutin boots, and barely managed to swerve around the overstuffed man on her left before another petite-framed woman side-stepped directly into his path. He swung his hip out to the side and dipped his shoulder to avoid the back of her head, but his forward momentum immediately spun him around to face her. He looked down at the four-foot-nothing woman that he’d almost just taken out; she hadn’t noticed a thing. Max receded slowly, and spun back around just in time to dodge a group of four strategically-placed velvet slipper chairs before he finally spotted–
“Bastien!” Max clapped the tall guard on the shoulder. “My man….”
“Maxwell…” Bastien’s eyes slid to the young lord’s hand.
“I – uh, “ Max chuckled, quickly dropping his arm. “I wanted to find you before we left… Just so I, uh-- just to let you know about a quick stop we have to make on the way to the airport.” Bastien’s heavy brow lifted. “You know Kelly and Shannon, right?” The guard replied with a single nod. “Alright, cool, cool. So we just have to pick them up on the way to the jet…Cause they’re coming back with us!” The enthusiasm in Max’s expression went unreturned. “To Cordonia, Bas!”
“And the princes are aware of this?”
“Of course,” Max lied. “Leo’s the one who wanted me to tell you…You know, ‘cause he’s on that call with his dad?” He made a fist inside his pocket to keep from fidgeting; he still hadn’t been able to reach either of the Rys brothers.
“I’ll have to call Antonio to confirm…” Bastien’s gaze narrowed, but Max’s face remained uncharacteristically calm.
“The hell do you have in these bags, Liv?” Drake’s voice sounded from behind, and Bas quickly moved around to assist him with the heavy luggage cart.
Maxwell blew out a rush of air before pulling out his phone and dialing Liam’s number…again.
******************
Whitney Houston blared throughout the Fifth Avenue apartment as the girls ran back and forth between their bedrooms, attempting to pack far more than physically possible into their suitcases.
Shannon padded down the hall with two pairs of strappy heels dangling from her fingertips. “Can you fit these—” She stopped short in the doorway, scrunching up her face. “Apparently not,” she chuckled, watching Kelly struggle to stay balanced as she kneeled on the top of her suitcase. “Did you actually fit everything?”
“Everything but my dignity,” Kelly grunted, and yanked the zipper the final four inches before sliding onto the floor with a huff. She looked up, and Shannon immediately pulled her lips between her teeth to hide her smile.
Back at the Plaza, the girls hadn’t even made it onto the elevator before Shannon had asked how things had really gone with Liam that morning… They'd made it a whopping three floors down before Kelly had let it all slip.
“Kel…” Shannon arched her brow. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” There was a short pause before she continued. “Had I known you’d accidentally fallen onto Liam’s dick earlier,” she snorted, “I probably wouldn’t have been so quick to agree…”
Kelly let out a small snort of her own. “—was definitely more than a fall,” she mumbled.
“Oh, did we face-plant on it, too?”
Kelly’s attempt to keep a straight face failed as soon as she met Shannon’s eyes. “We did not,” she snorted again. “But that’s– it doesn’t even matter…” Shannon’s chestnut orbs rounded in a silent challenge. “We’re going, Shan…Seriously…I want to get the hell out of here,” Kelly gestured towards the window. “And we’re finally getting the chance to visit Max...” Her eyes widened. “It’s. fine.”
Shannon bobbed her head slowly. “You think Liam already told her?”
Kelly stiffened, holding her breath as she lifted and dropped her shoulders. Regardless of what she’d told him earlier, she knew Liam was going to tell Madeleine what had happened between them. She was just praying that he hadn’t done so already. She glanced down at her phone, reassuring herself when she saw that there were no new messages; she would have heard from someone by now if there’d been an issue, right?
“Well, Maddie doesn’t seem like the type to throw punches if she found out…” Shannon tried to lighten the mood.
“That’s not–” Kelly shook her head, “I’m not worried about that…” Shannon dropped one of her eyebrows. “Well one, I think Liam really likes her, and I don’t want whatever this morning was to ruin that…” Shannon rolled her eyes but stayed quiet. “And two, I’d rather not be known throughout Cordonia as the girl that just home-wrecked the shit out of their prince’s perfect relationship…” Her eyes widened knowingly.
“Okay, well you don’t have to worry about that…” Kelly’s eyes narrowed and Shannon stood a bit straighter in the doorway. “Drake told me that no one knows about them yet…” Kelly’s eyes got even smaller. “He didn’t give me all the details, but I guess they’re keeping it under wraps for now?”
Kelly hummed, dropping her gaze to the carpet.
“So even if Liam tells her… I don’t think it would make much of a splash...” Shannon suddenly recalled what time Max was picking them up. “Last chance to back out,” she warned.
“We’re going…” Kelly looked up at her. “Final answer.”
“Oookay–” Shannon said, lifting her shoes into the air, “I’m gonna go try to fit these.” She flashed a smile before disappearing into the hallway.
Kelly lowered her back against the floor, letting out a breath as she looked up at the ceiling. She stared at the thin streaks of light being cast across it, watching them drift and flit as the sun continued to bounce off the crystal in her light fixture, but it only took a few seconds before her focus shifted back to Liam. Kelly closed her eyes, tapping her fingers against the Berber carpet while she tried to think about something else– anything else— but it was too late. Her mind had already objected.
She didn’t expect it… Any of it… She should have, though.
Kelly’s self-control had always been a bit delicate… But when it came to Liam, it was about as strong as a Riedel wine glass sitting on a bed of nails.
And having gone six months without seeing him…
Kelly let out a quiet breath; she just should have known. And she should have stopped it…stopped herself. But when everything she wanted was standing in front of her, looking down at her through the only set of eyes that had ever made her knees weak… Stopping had been the furthest thing from her mind.
And then he’d kissed her. And she’d kissed him back.
And suddenly, everything she wanted was pinning her against the wall, gripping into her legs with an intimate force that only he possessed.
Kelly scrubbed her hands over her face, pulling her eyes open as she dragged them down her cheeks.
She couldn’t deny that she’d wanted it– that she’d wanted him– because she had; she did. It just –
It wasn’t that simple anymore…
Kelly raised her arms over her head and gripped the edge of her suitcase.
What her heart wanted and what it would allow her to have were two very different things. And regardless of how badly it hurt, she now knew that the decision she’d made six months ago was the right one…
She dug her nails into the black vinyl.
It was the only one.
******************
Liam tapped his knuckle against the jet’s lavatory door. “Madeleine? Are you alright?” He tipped his ear, barely able to make out her faint hum from inside. “Do you need anything?” He winced when he heard her cough, and hesitated by the door for another moment before making his way back to his seat.
“She good?” Leo's eyes slid up from his phone.
Liam let out an amused sniff. “Definitely not good, but she’ll make it.”
“Gonna be a long-ass flight in the bathroom…” Leo’s eyes rounded, drawing another chuckle from Liam as he lowered himself into the leather chair across from his brother.
“Where’s Antonio going?” Liam asked, tipping his head back towards the front exit of the plane.
“He asked if he could run back to that Walmart we passed on the way in.” Liam’s brows furrowed. “To pick up some things for his wife–”
“He’s married?”
“Yeah, to Aubrey…She’s American…” Liam’s eyes widened at the emphasis. “We don’t have some of her favorite snacks at home, I guess,” Leo shrugged, “so Antonio always tries to pick some up for her when we’re here.”
“Nice of you to let him go.”
“He’s a good guy…And it’s the least I can do for all the times he’s looked the other way for me.”
“Just don’t let Bastien find out…” Liam rolled his eyes. “He’s been such a fucking hardo ever since you stuck him on me…”
“He was always a fucking hardo,” Leo laughed, “you just had the privilege of not noticing it before...” He shook his head. “But no, Antonio knows better than to throw us both under the bus…He’s pretty good at evading Bas’s calls now, too.”
******************
The black escalade crawled through the afternoon traffic on Park Avenue, carrying a quiet Maxwell, Olivia and Drake in the backseats. Bastien glanced down at the navigation screen before swiftly switching lanes, ignoring the driver behind him as she laid on the horn of her silver-hybrid. Noting the close proximity to the girls’ building, the guard quickly dialed Antonio’s number and muttered a curse when the call began to ring through the car’s Bluetooth system.
“Bas,” a smooth male-voice answered, causing Maxwell to straighten in his seat.
“Antonio, are you with–” Bastein cleared his throat and lowered his voice, “Paul and Peter?” All three passengers stifled a snort at the use of the prince’s code names. “Antonio?”
“... ‘m here…plane….’eter and…. ”
“Can you repeat that?” Bas squinted as he tried to distinguish the words cutting in and out, completely oblivious to what was happening in the back seat. “Antonio? Hello?”
Drake and Olivia both covered their smiles, watching Max as he spun the volume up and down from the control panel on the back of the center console.
“It’s right up here, Bas!” Max spun the knob all the way to the left and pointed to the girls' building half-a-block ahead.
After he’d maneuvered the vehicle to the edge of the street, Bastien quickly turned off the ignition and stepped out. Max followed his movements through the window, letting out a groan when he watched the guard lift his phone to his ear.
“What exactly is your plan, here?” Drake laughed.
“I don’t know,” Maxwell sighed. “Liam’s phone’s still off?”
“Is Leo’s?” Olivia asked.
“Not sure…I didn’t want to interrupt his call with King Con?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Have you texted him?”
“I really think this is more of an over the phone kinda thing, Liv…” Max insisted.
Drake glanced out the rear window at Bastien. “I really don’t think you have much of a choice at this point,” he chuckled. “You gotta at least give Liam a heads up.”
Maxwell sighed and pulled his phone from his pocket. Drake was right; lying to Bastien wasn’t his greatest idea, but blindsiding Liam would most definitely be worse.
******************
“You think we’re all set with the meeting follow-ups after that call?” Liam leaned back in his seat, rubbing two fingers into his eyes. “Father’s not going to corral us into his study as soon as we get home, right? I’m exhausted…”
“We should be?” Leo said, glancing down at his phone. “We covered pretty much everything.” He clicked off the screen and dropped his hand into his lap. “Plus, he promised me that I could have a couple weeks off once we got back, so long as his tests were clear…” Liam’s brow lifted; it wasn’t like their father to offer extended free time, especially to Leo. “And now that we know they were, I don’t plan on letting him forget that one.”
“Any plans?”
“Not yet,” the Crown Prince replied through a strained whisper as he rolled his neck from side to side. “Why? You wanna hang out?” He laughed, and Liam huffed out his own before turning his mouth down in thought.
“Actually, yeah,” he nodded, “it’s been a while...”
A reflective silence quickly settled over the jet’s cabin, and Leo’s mouth curved faintly in agreement just before his phone pinged with a new message. He swiped to open the text from Maxwell, letting out a quiet hum as he read it.
Is it cool if Kelly and Shannon come back with us on the jet? They’re coming to stay with me for a couple weeks.
Max’s second text came through a few seconds later.
And can you check with Liam? His phone’s off.
“What is it?” Liam questioned his brother’s hum as he reached for his laptop on the adjoining seat, forgetting he’d even asked by the time he flipped it open atop the burl wood surface between them.
Leo sat back, leaning against one of the armrests while his gaze jumped between his brother and his phone.
Liam peered over the top of his computer. “What?”
“Nothing…” Leo covered his smirk with his hand.
“Terrible liar,” Liam muttered, and looked back down at his screen, missing the full grin that broke out on Leo’s face as he typed out his reply.
Of course. And Liam’s fine with it.
After everything Liam had shared with him earlier, Leo knew that his little brother was still holding onto some pretty serious feelings for Kelly. And though Liam would never admit to it, Leo could see how much he was struggling; he knew just what that struggle looked like. He still wasn’t sure where Kelly stood with everything, but he was determined to find out. Because if there was even a chance that things could work out for Liam, Leo wanted to help see that they did. He needed to.
“I’m gonna go get something to eat. You want anything?” Leo asked, as he rose from his seat.
Liam shook his head, too busy clicking through the pop-up notifications in the corner of his screen to look up. A small, unconscious smile formed when he saw how many of the notifications were from EMZ; he’d subscribed to the US gossip site years ago to help keep up with Kelly from across the ocean… And while he’d come close to unsubscribing several times throughout the last six months, he still hadn’t… As humiliating as it was to admit, he’d come to realize that it was the only way he was still able to see what was going on in her life.
Kelly’s name appeared in one of the pop-ups, and Liam reflexively clicked to ‘read more.’ The headline announced that Kelly and Shannon’s new reality series was set to begin filming in the city next month. And after quickly scanning over the rest of the article, he learned that the girls were also planning to film in several different locations around the globe throughout the next five months. That will be good for her, he thought. After witnessing what had happened outside of the club the night before, he knew that she needed to escape the city for a while. Liam scrolled down to a related headline, and every muscle in his jaw flexed when he read it.
No Repercussions for Little Miss Carter: Carter chooses partying over professionalism
Liam’s eyes narrowed as he continued to scan over several of the related articles; every one of them seemed to focus on Kelly’s decision to give up the acquired-role at her father’s company, yet not one of them mentioned why. He raised his fist over his mouth, keeping his eyes glued to the words on the screen. She hasn’t made a public statement yet? It was so unlike Kelly not to fire back at the press right away…In fact, he could recall her publicist having asked her—on multiple occasions— not to make any comments before they had something prepared…
A meek voice suddenly called out from the back of the plane, and Liam’s eyes quickly traveled over the last few sentences before he rose from his seat. The lavatory door cracked open as he approached it, revealing a forlorn, and slightly-clammy Madeleine.
“You doing okay?”
“I’m fine,” she sighed, rubbing one of her eyes as she peered up at him through the other. “I’m sorry…This is so embarrassing...”
“Oh stop, you’re alright.”
“Happens to the best of us, Mads,” Leo added, as he walked by them.
Madeline rolled her eyes up to Liam’s. “Do we have any sparkling water?”
Liam nodded and walked over to one of the plane’s built-in cooler drawers, plucking a Peligrino bottle from inside. “Cold one–” he smiled as he re-approached, twisting off the cap before he handed it to her.
“Thank you,” she sighed, and took a small sip. “I think I’m going to try and drink the rest in here…just in case.” Her face scrunched up, earning a light chuckle from Liam.
“The others should be here soon.” He glanced down at his watch. “But I’m sure no one will mind if you take the bed in the back.” Madeleine nodded, and flashed him a grateful smile before stepping back into the bathroom and pulling the door closed behind her.
Liam returned to his seat and turned to look out the window.
His relationship with Madeleine definitely wasn’t something he’d seen coming… And quite frankly, he wasn’t even sure how it had transpired at all. But somehow, despite his complete lack of interest in any sort of romantic relationship, things between the two of them had still managed to progress into just that… Maybe it was just because Madeleine was there, and the routine with her had been easy to fall into? But regardless of how it happened, Liam couldn’t deny that at some point throughout the last few months, he’d developed actual real feelings for her.
He cared for Madeleine, more so now than he’d ever expected to… And despite what others said about her, he did believe that she was a good person. She didn’t deserve the half-assed effort he’d been putting in, and she certainly didn’t deserve to be cheated on, or lied to…
Liam closed his eyes, letting out a quiet breath before he re-opened them.
He’d been half-assing everything with Madeleine since the beginning. But with so much of his time spent thinking about Kelly, he only had half of himself left to give…It wasn’t fair. None of it was. Madeleine had been competing for his affection since the very first time they’d slept together, and she didn’t even know it…
Liam cupped his hand over his mouth.
And today, he didn’t just cheat on her with the girl she’d been unknowingly competing against, but with the girl who, when it came to his feelings, would always have an unfair advantage.
Liam followed one of the ramp agents that was walking on the ground below the jet until he disappeared under the wing.
The entire morning still felt like a blur. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected from Kelly after Max and Leo had left them alone, but it certainly hadn’t been that. All he’d hoped to do was sit down and talk with her, to ask her some of the questions that he’d been berating himself with for the last six months… But he didn’t get the chance. They didn’t get a chance to do much talking at all, really…
Liam rubbed the back of his neck, recalling the feel of Kelly’s labored breath against his skin… He could still hear the soft cry that she’d let out as she’d bitten into his shoulder…
He cleared his throat, shifting slightly in his seat as he scrubbed his hand over his face.
The way Kelly had looked up at him beforehand – the way she’d kissed him – had made it implicitly clear that she’d wanted it just as badly as he had. But he couldn’t shake the look he saw in her eyes afterwards– the instant regret that filled every one of her features, and the anguish he saw behind her eyes… Liam covered his mouth as he continued to stare out the window; she had looked angry, sorry, and heartbroken, all at once…
“You alright over there?” Leo’s voice cut through Liam’s internal struggle.
“Hm?” He looked over and shook his head. “Yeah…”
“I didn’t get a chance to ask you earlier, how’d everything go with Kelly?”
Liam turned back to the window. “Fine.”
“That’s it?”
Liam glanced down the aisle towards the bathroom before sliding his gaze back to Leo in warning.
“Sorry,” Leo lifted his palms into the air. “But what happened? Did you guys talk?”
Liam dropped his head back, sighing at his brother's attempt to whisper. “Yes, we talked…Everything’s fine…We’re all good.”
The older prince’s face twisted with confusion. “The hell does that even mean?”
“What do you mean, ‘what does that mean?’” Liam lifted his head with an expression that now mirrored his brother’s.
“You’re all good?”
“Yes…” Liam’s eyes narrowed further. “As in everything between her and me?” He spoke slowly, like he was talking to a six-year-old. “They’re all good…We’re good…”
Hoping his plan to “help” hadn’t already backfired, Leo narrowed his eyes while he tried to read further into his brother’s generic response. But it was no use; Liam was not a terrible liar; he was a fucking rock. Leo shook his head. “Guess we’ll see…” he mumbled, as he reached for the duffle bag at his feet.
Liam arched his brow. “What was that?”
“Nothing…” Leo chuckled.
Too tired and preoccupied to push, Liam shook it off and turned back to the window. He was planning to tell Leo what happened with Kelly that morning, just not while they were sitting on the jet with Madeleine less than twenty-feet away. He closed his eyes, clenching his teeth for a split second; he still hadn’t decided whether or not he was going to tell her what happened. He knew that telling her was the right choice, but what was he supposed to say? There was no way he could possibly explain what had happened with Kelly that morning without getting into everything else that had led up to it… He sighed. Dredging all of that up would only hurt Madeleine more, and for what? It wasn’t like anything was going to come of what had happened with Kelly…After all, it had been happening for six years now, and nothing ever had.
Liam felt his heart rate starting to increase and inhaled a slow breath; he couldn’t keep doing this…
For the last six months, he’d allowed himself to hold onto the notion that Kelly’s grief was the sole reason she had pushed him away. Maybe it was because he wanted to believe that there was still something there, or perhaps, it was because he didn’t want to believe that she really could have walked away so damn easily…
He took another deep breath, letting it out slowly through his nose. Today had been Kelly’s chance; if she still had feelings for him, if she still wanted to be with him, today was her chance to say something... And she hadn't…
Instead, she’d said goodbye to him – again. And this time, there wasn’t anything for Liam to blame it on. He knew that Kelly was still struggling with her grief, but she definitely wasn’t in the same state of shock that he’d seen her in six months ago.
Maybe this was finally it, he thought. Maybe he was never going to have the conversation he'd hoped to with Kelly... And maybe he didn't need to. Maybe today was the wake-up call that he needed; the final farewell that would help force his blinders off, so that he could finally start to see— and accept — a bigger picture.
Liam let out a quiet breath; Kelly wasn’t in this one.
“Damn Max, you weren't kidding...Why have we never taken this thing anywhere?”
Liam’s eyes snapped open when he registered Shannon’s voice. He glanced back over his shoulder before twisting all the way around to do a hard double take.
And just like that, Kelly Carter was back in the picture– standing front and center.
Kelly looked at Liam and immediately felt the blood rush through her entire body in slow-motion; the shock on his face made it painfully clear that he didn't know she was coming.
Liam slowly turned back around in his seat and Leo grinned. “All good though, right?” he asked, holding his fingers up in the shape of an “OK” symbol.
Liam blew out a quiet breath as he rubbed his hand over his mouth. He was most certainly not all good, but the corners of his mouth quickly betrayed him as he took in the knowing smirk on his older brother’s face.
“Is there a reason we’re just standing here?” Drake asked, as he stepped up behind the girls, and Shannon gently tugged Kelly down the aisle.
“Kel! You’re there, next to me–” Max pointed to an open window seat, and Kelly immediately forced her eyes closed before stepping into the row of two. She slowly lowered herself into the soft leather chair, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked up and locked into the set of blues staring back at her from across the aisle. Perfect. Not only was she stuck on a plane with Liam for eleven hours, but she was going to have to sit facing him for the entire flight.
Liam continued to stare at Kelly, leaning against one of the armrests while he slowly rubbed his hand over his mouth.
“You didn’t know?” She mouthed.
He cupped his hand, keeping the lower half of his face covered as he slowly shook his head.
Kelly let out a small breath. “Liv,” she called, “is this normally your seat? Are you sure you don’t want it?”
“Absolutely positive.” Olivia’s chuckle carried over Shannon and Drake’s heads. “I’m thrilled to have these two seats all to myself.”
Shannon’s eyes moved around the cabin. “Where’s Madeleine?” She asked, ignoring the pointed look her question had earned from Kelly.
“Mads is still feeling a bit under the weather,” Leo chuckled.
“I should probably go check on her.” Liam stood, but Max threw his arm out to stop him.
“Dude, what’s up with your phone? I’ve been calling you all morning…”
Liam sighed. “I have no idea…It just won’t turn on...” He rolled his eyes, before continuing towards back of the plane.
Kelly cleared her throat, and Max slowly turned. He flashed her a sheepish smile, realizing he’d just admitted that he hadn't talked to Liam like he’d promised.
“I checked with Leo,” he strained, “he said it was fine!” Kelly shook her head, but couldn’t keep from smiling at her friend's genuine inability to keep a secret— even one of his own.
For the next several minutes, zippers and muffled conversations were the only sounds throughout the cabin as everyone continued to settle in, all preparing for the long flight ahead.
“So this is the first official visit?” Leo spoke up, as he looked between the girls.
“Sure is,” Shannon said, grabbing a phone charger from Kelly.
“After six years, it’s finally happening…” Max eyed the girls with a grin.
Kelly chuckled. “This trip is definitely far overdue.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Leo’s eyes slid to Max. “Tell me you have plans…”
“Jesus, look who you’re talking to,” Maxwell laughed. “We’re gonna do it all, my man.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Leo chuckled. “Are you guys staying in Ramsford the whole time?” He asked, swerving his head around Liam as he walked between them to return to his seat.
“That’s the plan.” Max nodded. “You should see if the Conster will give you a couple days off, so you can come hang out?”
“Funny you should say that,” Leo chuckled, “I’m actually–”
The groups’ conversation continued but Liam and Kelly had already stopped listening; everything had faded into background noise the moment Liam had returned to his seat. Both sets of blues remained wide as they continued to stare at each other from across the aisle, each attempting to read the other one's thoughts. Finally, Kelly broke the silent stand-off when she tipped her head towards the back of the plane.
“Did you tell her?” She mouthed the question, and Liam subtly shook his head. Kelly’s chest retracted with relief just before Max nudged her arm.
“You in?”
“Hm?” She turned, unsure of how much time had even passed.
“You wanna stay at the palace, instead?”
Kelly’s eyes rounded. “Do what now?”
Leo turned to Liam with a rueful smile, but Liam brushed it off with a shrug; what was he supposed to say, now? He couldn't exactly claim that the idea made him unhappy…
“It’s way closer to everything,” Max continued. “And this means that everyone could stay and hang out the whole time you guys are visiting!” His excitement grew while Kelly sat there with her mouth open to answer without actually speaking.
Her eyes darted to Liam, who was now staring up at the ceiling with something between a smile and a cringe playing on his lips.
“I don’t know,” Shannon cut in, recognizing the sheer panic on her best friend’s face. “I think Kelly might be too much of a liability issue for the palace right now…” Kelly’s head snapped towards her. “She’s just been a little clumsy lately? Tripping, slipping, falling onto things she shouldn’t…” Kelly pursed her lips together at the emphasis, but the sincerity in Shannon’s voice didn’t falter. “Right, Kel?”
Clearing her throat, Kelly slowly nodded. “It’s…true—“ She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, and glanced over to find Liam staring back at her with a very knowing look on his face. Her eyes went wide for a split second before she turned away, tonguing the inside of her cheek.
“What are you talking about?” Drake questioned, while Leo’s eyes jumped between Liam, Shannon, and the back of Kelly’s head.
“Okay but…You’re drunk though, right?” Max asked. “You’re drunk when all this stuff happens?” Kelly dropped her head into her hand, unable to hold back the nervous squeal of laughter that escaped a second later.
“I don’t know what the hell’s going on here, but I’m not buying any of it,” Leo cut in. He was well aware that there was another meaning behind Shannon’s comment, and while he had a pretty good idea of what it was, he decided to play up his ignorance anyways. “I watched you guys do fucking gymnastics on top of a table last night…and you were both completely shattered.” The others all laughed as he turned to shake his head at Kelly. “There’s no way you could have pulled that off if you’re as ‘clumsy’ as this one’s claiming,” he said, nodding in Shannon’s direction.
Liam let out a quiet huff of laughter as he rubbed his fingers against his eyes.
“Oh Leo,” Shannon chuckled, “we’ve been doing drunken-backbends since ‘09...”
“Sir,” Antonio spoke up from the front of the plane, “we’re cleared for take off.” Leo tipped his chin in response, earning a curt nod from the guard.
“Okay, soooo…is it settled, then? We’re staying at the palace?” Max asked, just as the plane’s engine began to stir. Kelly held her breath and looked over at Liam with a silent plea for help in her eyes.
“I don’t see why you wouldn’t,” he suggested, and Kelly blinked in surprise. “It is closer to everything you’ll want to do…” Liam shrugged, shifting forward in his seat as the plane began to increase speed. “And I’m sure Kelly can be careful–” His blue eyes cut to hers while a questioning smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Right, Kel?”
Kelly swallowed, ignoring the drop in her stomach as the jet ascended from the runway. She forced a small smile, keeping her eyes locked on his. “Yup...”
****
Several hours into the flight, the cabin was quiet while most of the passengers slept off whatever remained of their hangovers. Liam’s eyes fluttered open as he shifted to lean against the other side of the seat. He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep for, but judging from how dark it had gotten, he assumed it must have been at least a couple of hours.
His tired eyes slid across the aisle to the only cabin light still on; Kelly was sitting below it, resting her head in her hand as she read from something in her lap. Liam’s gaze fell to the piece of paper she was holding. He couldn’t make out what it was, but it clearly wasn’t the first time it had been read; it had creases running through it in every direction, and the edges were soft, and worn.
A quiet sniffle drew Liam’s eyes back up just as Kelly shifted to lean against the other armrest; his mouth parted in concern as soon as he saw her face; she was crying? He knew he should look away; he wanted to look away, but he didn’t move. He just sat there, fighting the urge to whisper to her name while he watched the silent tears roll down her cheeks and slip off her jawline.
She lowered the piece of paper into her lap a few moments later, and Liam looked down, trying again to make out what she was reading. But before he could make out anything, Kelly folded it in half and wiped one of her hands hand over both cheeks. She closed her eyes, and when she re-opened them, Liam watched all of the emotion disappear from her face. She folded the paper up until it was just a small square and reached down to slide it back into her bag, but by the time she sat up, another steady stream of tears had already marked her cheeks. The sight caused every muscle in Liam’s jaw to harden as she turned to look out her window.
Every part of him wanted to ask her if she was alright, to wipe the tears he knew were still falling… But he didn't move.
Another minute went by before Liam finally turned back to face his own window. And with a quiet breath, he forced his eyes closed.
******************
Several hours later, after the jet had landed safely in Cordonia, the largest vehicle in the royal motorcade carried the group of eight through the palace's gilded-iron gates.
Shannon's face illuminated with wonder. “Holy–”
“Shit…” Kelly finished the thought, eyes wide in awe.
“The view from the plane did not do the size of this place justice…”
“At all….”
Leo and Liam shook their heads, chucking along with the rest of the group.
“Don’t let the extravagant facade fool you,” Leo smiled, “it’s really rather quaint once you get inside…” The girls simultaneously turned, staring back at him in complete silence before slow smiles grew on each of their faces.
****
The palace staff greeted the young elites at the doors, bowing and curtsying to both of the princes as they welcomed the group inside. A member of the King’s staff immediately pulled the two brothers aside while the others all stood in the grand foyer and discussed their plans for the rest of the afternoon.
“My car’s here,” Olivia announced, glancing up from her phone to find Kelly and Shannon staring back at her with sad eyes. “Oh relax,” she smirked, “like I would miss out on watching the two of you take over Cordonia for two weeks.” Each of the girls returned a knowing smile before moving in to give the Duchess a hug. “I’ll be back sometime tomorrow afternoon…Tell Paul and Peter I said goodbye.” She nodded to Drake and Max before lowering her sunglasses and striding out the doors.
“Heading home?” Madeleine asked when Olivia stepped out onto the front steps.
“I was wondering where you were?” Olivia lifted her glasses, holding up a finger to her driver standing outside of the waiting SUV.
“My father called…” Madeleine rolled her eyes, and Olivia inclined her head in understanding.
“I’m just going back to Lythikos to pack…I’ll be back tomorrow. Are you planning to stick around?”
“I’m not sure yet… Apparently my father’s planned a trip to France at the end of the week…”
“Shame,” Olivia scrunched her nose, “but you should at least stay until then? No?”
Olivia felt for Madeleine; the edge her friend had once had been dulled over the years, thanks to the controlling nature of her god-awful father. She would take no-parents over Godfrey Amaranth, any day.
“Perhaps..." The blonde forced a small smile before she leaned in to give Olivia a kiss on the cheek.
****
The group was still discussing their afternoon plans when Madeleine stepped back into the foyer, and she walked over to stand between Leo and Liam, who had both just re-joined the circle of friends.
“We should only be a couple of hours,” Leo said as Liam rolled his eyes.
“But we can catch up with you guys after lunch.”
“Are you meeting with your father?” Madeleine asked in a volume meant just for Liam.
“Hey—“ he softly greeted her and quickly stepped back to allow her better access to the rest of the group. “We are, unfortunately. We’ve been summoned…” Liam’s eyes rolled again. “What’s your plan? Are you heading home?”
“Do you want to come to lunch with us?” The question came barreling out of Kelly’s mouth.
Liam and Shannon briefly met each other's eyes over Kelly’s head.
“Oh—” Madeleine’s eyes flickered up to Liam before moving back to Kelly. “I —“ she nodded, “I would love to…Thank you.”
“Great.” Kelly smiled, catching the question in Shannon’s expression as the others started for the stairs. Her eyes went wide as she lifted and dropped her shoulders; she didn’t know where the hell it had come from, either.
“They’ll show you to your rooms,” Leo said as he motioned to the staff waiting with the girls’ luggage. “And we’ll just see you guys when you get back.”
“I’ll bring them up!” Max offered. “I can give them a quick tour, too,” he continued, earning a chuckle from both of the towering princes as they nodded in agreement. Liam instructed the staff to bring all of their bags up to the west wing, and the girls followed behind Maxwell as he started up the stairs.
“Wait till you guys see the armory…” Max’s voice carried from the steps, and Liam quickly turned to Drake with a knowing plea in his eyes.
“And I’ll go with them,” Drake chuckled, and Liam flashed a grateful smile before he turned to follow Leo toward their father’s study.
******************
Later that evening, Liam sat in the corner of his sofa, propping his feet up on the ottoman with Madeleine laying comfortably against his side.
“So lunch was good?” He asked, lightly squeezing her shoulder.
“Yeah, it was, actually. I really like Kelly and Shannon." She tipped her head up. “They're very easy to get along with…”
The corner of Liam’s mouth lifted when he met her eyes. “I’m glad you had fun.”
“I can see why you’re all so fond of them,” Madeleine continued as she shifted herself off of the sofa. “I need some more water, do you want anything?”
Liam’s phone vibrated from the end table, and he shook his head as he reached for it. “I’m all set.” He smiled before raising the phone to his ear. “How’d you know I got a new phone?”
“I know everything,” Leo laughed on the other end. “What’s up? You wanna have a drink?”
Liam glanced over his shoulder. “I would, but I’m in the middle of a movie with Madeleine… Where’s everyone else?” He was careful to keep his tone light. “Did Drake and Maxwell leave?”
“Shannon and Drake went back to his place to pack, and Max headed back to Ramsford like an hour ag–”
“Kelly didn’t go?” Liam cut in.
“No, I think she’s in bed. They’re all gonna take a day trip to Ramsford later this week, I guess.”
Liam hummed, pulling the phone away from his ear to check the time; it was late, but not that late. “Okay, well I'll text you if I’m still awake after this movie.”
“Sounds good. Tell Mads I say hello,” Leo sing-songed, earning a dry laugh from Liam before he hung up the call.
“Leo?” Madeleine asked as she walked back into the living area.
“Yeah,” Liam chuckled. “The kid gets a few days off, and already has no idea what to do with himself. He just wanted to have a drink.”
“I’m certain he’ll have no problem sourcing entertainment throughout the next couple of weeks,” she chided as she lowered herself back down beside him.
“Certainly not,” Liam snorted, “especially now with everyone staying here.”
Madeleine lifted her chin to peer up at him. “Did he say what they were doing?”
“Shannon went to Drake’s place for the night…And Max went home to pack.”
“Are Shannon and Drake,” she paused, “a couple?”
Liam sucked air in through a tight smile. “Kind of?” He chuckled. “When they’re around each other, yeah. Otherwise—“ he shrugged.
“So it’s just Kelly and Leo hanging out?” Madeleine trilled.
“What?” Liam snapped his eyes to meet hers. “No,” he shook his head, quickly ridding the aggression from his voice. “No, she uh– she was tired, I guess… Leo said she went to bed already.”
“Well that’s boring…” Madeleine lowered her gaze back to the television. “Leo seemed interested in her last night, no?” She added, oblivious to the slight tick in Liam’s jaw.
A few seconds of silence passed before Liam responded, “When has he not seemed interested in a girl?” His tone was laced with sarcasm, but he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had about the situation.
“If you want to go have a drink with him, I don’t mind…I’m still exhausted...” She said, proving the statement with a delicate yawn.
“No," Liam reassured her with a squeeze, “I’m good here." But he was left wondering if he was trying to convince her, or himself.
**********
Standing at the railing of his balcony, Leo sipped from a crystal rocks glass as he took in the view. The evening was warm, despite the cool breeze, and the palace grounds were calm– almost too calm. He'd always found comfort in the quiet of the late hours, but tonight, the quiet was making him a bit uneasy. After another sip of scotch, Leo lowered the glass down against the stone with a small sigh; he missed New York.
Suddenly, a movement on the far side of the lawn caught his eye. He turned, narrowing in on the figure moving across the manicured grass before his gaze slid towards the guards stationed at the south entrance doors; they were either imperceptive-idiots, or aware of the intruder and entirely un-phased. Leo looked back out at the lawn; the figure had moved close enough for him to confirm that they were wearing a hood.
Leo pulled out his phone and dialed the number to the palace security, raising it to his ear as he watched the unidentified figure lay down in the grass and spread their limbs out like a... starfish? What the fu–
“Your highness? Is everything alright?” Palace security answered, but Leo was now focused on what he swore was blonde hair spilling out from the sides of the hood. “Your highness?”
The figure sat up a moment later, and Leo laughed as soon as he saw the hood fall.
“Yeah, sorry about that. Butt dial.” He hung up without waiting for a response, and chuckled to himself as he quickly dialed another number.
****
Kelly’s eyes rolled over the night sky, taking in a beloved view that she rarely had the chance to appreciate; the stars in Cordonia didn’t disappoint.
She had retired to her room earlier, after she'd convinced Shannon to go with Drake for the night, and made a promise to Maxwell that they’d take a trip to Ramsford later that week. She told everyone that she was just exhausted. And it hadn't been a lie; she was exhausted. Just not exhausted enough to sleep, apparently. And after lying in bed for an hour with nothing but her own thoughts to keep her occupied, Kelly had decided to do a little exploring. She’d wandered through the palace halls for a while, but curiosity had eventually carried her outside.
Letting out a quiet breath, Kelly sat up and rested her arms on her knees. Madeleine seemed fine at lunch, solidifying the truth behind Liam’s claim; he hadn’t told her anything. She stared straight out at the polished hedges that lined the far side of the lawn, quickly losing the focus in her eyes. Madeleine was good for Liam, and Kelly could tell that she really cared for him. Liam needed that. He needed someone that could see and appreciate every incredible part of him. The straight edges of the greenery began to blur as Kelly fought off the emotion welling in her eyes; he deserved that.
A vibration in her pocket shook her from the trance, and she pulled out her phone, immediately recognizing that the call was from a European number.
“Hello…?”
“You should really reconsider your choice of clothing the next time you plan to galavant outside a royal palace in the middle of the night,” Leo laughed as he watched Kelly reel her head around towards the palace.
“Leo? How did you–” Kelly hoisted herself to her feet, looking around for any sign of life; there wasn’t any. “Where are you?”
“Look up.” He watched her tilt her head and scan over the backside of the palace before she spotted him standing at the railing.
“How did you get my number?” Kelly chuckled into the phone while her eyes stayed locked on his balcony.
“You gave it to me last night,” he paused and let out a small laugh. “Right before you made me call your phone twelve times because you couldn’t find it…”
“Ahh, yes,” she chuckled, “drunk-Kelly habitually loses her phone.”
“What are you doing out there?” Leo sipped from his glass as he watched her look around the grounds.
“Ohhh, I don’t know,” she sighed. “I couldn’t sleep, so figured I’d take a look around?”
“Stay there.” Leo abruptly ended the call and had already disappeared inside when Kelly turned to look back up at the balcony.
She laughed, shaking her head as she lowered herself back down into the grass.
**********
A sudden silence pulled Liam’s focus back to the television just as the credits began to roll; he'd completely missed the end of the movie. Liam glanced down at Madeleine, who was now asleep with her head resting in his lap, before dropping his head back against the couch cushion. He stared up at the ceiling while music from the credits continued to hum in the background.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Kelly.
A lot had changed in the 24 hours since they’d last talked, and he was beginning to worry that things between the two of them may not be “fine” anymore. He wasn't sure how she felt about his suggestion that she stay at the palace... He didn’t know what had made her so upset on the plane....He didn’t know if she was struggling with what had happened between them in New York…
He didn’t know anything.
Liam felt Madeleine’s head move against the pillow, and a sudden wave of anxiety crashed over him as he glanced back down at her.
He was such an idiot to have even considered that what had happened with Kelly was somehow going to help him move on. Perhaps it would have been easier to convince himself that it somehow had if she were still 5000 miles away in New York... But she wasn't. She was in the palace – about a hundred meters down the hall…
Liam let out a breath as he raised a hand to cover his eyes. The endless reel of unanswered questions was just going to keep spinning, and that wasn’t fair to Madeleine. She deserved more than what he was giving her; she deserved all of him. And if he wanted to give her that, he had to at least try to get the missing pieces of himself back.
Liam scrubbed his hand over his face. He had to talk to Kelly... It was the only way. He had to ask her all of the questions he’d been holding onto and he needed to hear all of her answers.
His eyes grew distant for a moment before he carefully reached for his phone on the side table.
Even if it meant hearing that it was truly over, at least he would finally know.
**********
Sliding her thumb nail back and forth below her front teeth, Kelly stared down at her phone, re-reading the text she’d just received from Liam over and over.
Are you awake?
Kelly's other thumb hovered above the ‘Y’ on her keyboard until a deep throat cleared behind her; she turned and smiled.
“Here–” Leo offered her a rocks glass before lowering himself down on the lawn beside her. “Tequila, right?”
“Fancy,” Kelly chuckled as she slipped her phone back into the pocket of her sweatshirt. “And yes, tequila…Thank you.” She clinked her glass against his and took a small sip, lowering the crystal rim with a smile. “Did you squeeze a lime in this?” A pleased smirk formed on Leo’s face. “Well aren’t you perceptive…”
“Practiced trait,” he admitted before motioning to the guards standing at the South doors. “So how’d you get past tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb?”
Kelly peered over her shoulder and shrugged. “I showed them my boobs.”
“No you didn’t–” he turned to the guards before whipping back to Kelly, and the shock on his face faded as soon as he saw her knowing smile.
“I just asked them,” she laughed, earning a head shake from Leo.
Kelly took another sip of her drink as she looked out over the never-ending gardens. She spotted an arched opening in the hedges at the bottom of the grassy hill.
“Is that the maze?” She pointed.
“Sure is… Liam tell you about it?”
“Yeah…” She nodded, eyes still fixated on the entrance.
“You want to check it out?” When he didn't get an answer, Leo looked over to find her lost in thought. “Kelly?”
“Uh–sorry…” She turned to face him. “That depends…” Her eyes widened a bit. “Are we gonna get lost?”
“That depends…” Leo stood and held out his hand. “Do you want to?”
Kelly's phone began to vibrate within her pocket just as she looked up at him, and the small smile on her face fell the moment she registered it; she knew who was calling. Her eyes flickered to the entrance of the maze and back to Leo, who lifted his brows in question. Kelly hesitated for another brief moment before reaching up to grab his hand. “Why the hell not,” she said, slipping her other hand inside her sweatshirt to silence the call as Leo pulled her to her feet.
***********************************************
***********************************************
Please let me know if you would like to be added or removed from this list! I know it’s been a while. And I promise, it will not hurt my feelings if you wanna bounce ! xoxoxo
SERIES TAGS: @alyssalauren @ao719 @bbrandy2002 @burnsoslow @busywoman @choiceskatie @dcbbw @debramcg1106 @foreverethereal123 @furiousherringoperatortoad @karahalloway @kat-tia801 @kingliam2019 @lovingchoices14 @neotericthemis @nikirennie87 @queenrileyrose @sfb123 @sincerelyella @tessa-liam @thegreentwin @twinkleallnight @txemrn @yourmajesty09 @21-wishes @3pawandme
