Chapter 2
A/N: Thank you guys so much for the response of the first chapter of this story! I am so amazed and overwhelmed that you are all willing to go on this journey with these characters and a huge thank you to anyone who has followed me so far xo
Side note: There will be postings of ‘Meet The Characters’ for any new characters being introduced in the next chapter with a brief description of them. So keep an eye out for them!
You can find chapter one HERE
Here is chapter two!
Alexa entered her flat feeling the effects after a long night of celebrating Eugenie’s engagement and dancing the night away with a certain handsome prince. She tossed her bag on the counter hearing little footsteps scampering across the wooden flooring. “Peanut!” She hollered out and bent to her knees with open arms.
A little Yorkshire terrier puppy came running full tilt at her, crashing into her legs. Jumping up and down for attention, Alexa scooped the little fur ball up in her arms. Being attacked with an abundance of wet kisses Alexa walked into the kitchen to see her roommate Alice making a late night snack.
“She’s been wanting you all day long. Sitting by the door whining waiting for you to come home.” Alice was slightly annoyed, titling her head to watch Peanut smother Alexa in a series of wet snout kisses. “She never wants me!” Her roommate rounded the counter and started to pet the little pup as the dog shied away from her touch.
“See?” Alice grabbed her snack and wondered towards the living room area and sat down.
Alexa opened the fridge and grabbed a drink before joining her roommate in the living as she turned on Netflix. While sorting through the movies Alice noticed how silent Alexa had become. Alice paused and turned towards her roommate. “You are awfully quiet tonight.” Alexa blinked a couple times to bring herself back to reality and replied with a simple shrugged her shoulders, brushing off her friends words and grabbing a handful of popcorn.
“How was the engagement party?” Alice continued to scroll through the movies. No matter how hard she tried, Alexa could not hide the beaming smile that was growing on her lips.
Alice sat up straighter and angled her body towards her roommate. “Ok, spill.”
“It’s nothing…” Alexa reached over Alice and grabbed the remote to start a movie in hopes of distracting her from more interrogations.
“Oh. My. God.” Alice’s jaw nearly dropped having picked up on that subtle spark floating in Alexa’s eyes. “You totally met someone didn’t you?!” She nearly shrieked with waving hands causing Peanut to run off of Alexa and go hide in her bedroom.
“Maybe…” Alexa’s green eyes sparkled while her cheeks flushed with a crimson blush.
“Tell me everything!” Alice was nearly bouncing off the couch, elated that Alexa had finally met someone especially someone who made her smile a smile that had been hidden, buried beneath a lot of hurt and anger.
“I don’t even know if it’s going to turn into anything, Alice.” Alexa was trying not to get her hopes up. After all, it was Prince Harry and all the rumours she had heard about him made her believe that it was too good to be true. She would just be a small fling on his long list of relationships.
“Who is it? What’s his name?” No matter what Alexa said, she knew Alice would not stop until she gave her a name.
Curling her legs up to her chest she pulled a blanket over top of her, snuggling into it’s warmth bringing back the memory of being wrapped up in Harry’s warm suit jacket. “You can’t say a word to anyone…” Alexa turned her head with narrowing eyes directed at her friend, giving a warning glare to succumb to secrecy.
“Scouts honor.” Alice crossed her fingers.
Swallowing the lump in her throat Alexa had no idea whether this was a good idea to tell Alice or not, but above all she was a close friend of Alexa’s and Alexa knew that she could trust Alice.
“Harry.” Alexa watched Alice’s face form into an expression of recognition as she put two and two together.
“Like… Eugenie’s cousin… like… Prince Harry?!” Alice hit the nail right on the head.
Alexa’s shocked silence was a good enough confirmation for Alice to know it was true. “Holy shit! Did you guys…” Alice winked suggestively at her roommate.
“Oh my god, no!” Alexa quickly shut that down. “It wasn’t like that.” She scrunched up her face and brushed it away.
“Well you did come home at like…” Alice turned towards the wall to find the time. “Three am.”
“We just talked mostly… danced a bit.” Alexa was beaming as she told Alice, unable to hide her giddiness. “Ok, danced quite a bit.” The memory of Harry practically swinging her around the dance floor came flooding back into her mind. They both had a little bit too much to drink, but were enjoying themselves and one another.
“Awe!” Alice angled her head. “You seriously need to see your smile right now. See how happy you look. It’s refreshing to see that smile again, Lex.” Becoming embarrassed Alexa lowered her head and averted her gaze away from Alice.
“So, did he bring you home? Are you two going to go out on a date?” Alice bombarded Alexa with more questions being the lawyer that she was.
Alexa shook her head lightly. “He offered to drive me and was quite insistent. I finely allowed him too.”
“Wait… like he drove you here? Like to our flat?” Alice stood up and almost crawled off the couch to go look out the window to catch a glimpse of him. “Oh my god. Prince Harry was in our building!”
“No no!” Alexa grabbed her friend’s arm and pulled her back down beside her. “I didn’t want him to walk me inside.”
“Why not!?” Alice tossed her arms up in the air. “You know that’s how all the romantic movies start. A guy walks a girl home and they make out or agree to go on their first date or exchange numbers.” Her friend was going off on one of her tangents again.
“Alice! Stop!” Alexa forcefully grabbed both of her arms to calm her roommate down. “Like I said. Nothing is going to happen between us.” Alexa put a damper on her friend’s excitement. “It’s not.” The hope in her quiet voice had withered.
“I was only someone for him to have fun with tonight.” That was what Alexa had concluded after their conversation in the car ride home. Harry did not ask for her number or even if they wanted to hang out again so she figured that the prince simply was not interested in pursuing anything despite their apparent connection they felt between one another.
“I think I am going to head to bed…” Alexa pushed away the blanket and stood up. “It’s nearly three and I am exhausted.”
“Alexa, wait.” She turned around holding onto the doorframe while looking back at Alice.
“You deserve someone who will treat you right and make you as happy as I saw you tonight.” A sincere smile was plastered onto her friend’s lips. “Even if it’s not Harry. You deserve someone.”
“Thank you, Alice.” Alexa matched her smile. “I am happy I have a friend like you.”
“Hi, I am here to see Princess Eugenie.” Alexa had rolled down her window at the entrance of Kensington Palace to speak with security.
“Name please?” The security guard shortly replied. They weren’t exactly known to be kind to visitors, but Alexa had grown accustomed to it over the years.
“Alexa Grey.”
The guard looked down his list of pre-approved visitors for the evening and nodded. “Please park at the private entrance to the right where you will be escorted inside.” Alexa already knew the drill having been at Kensington numerous times before hand. But, even as she walked down the magnificent halls of the palace Alexa was always filled with wonder at their beauty and nostalgia that lined the walls of the palace. There was so much history of her people laced within these walls.
Security escorted her down numerous halls and into Princess Eugenie’s apartment where Alexa was pulled into a tight friendly hug by the princess. “Thank you so much for coming, I know it’s been a long day at work and then to ask you to make the trip here.” Alexa followed Eugenie into her well-decorated apartment that was like a second home to her.
“It’s no trouble at all.” Alexa smiled politely. “You know I don’t live far at all from Kensington.” She sat down across from Eugenie and was offered a warm cup of tea to which Alexa graciously accepted.
Eugenie ran into the kitchen and put on a kettle of water to heat up before re-joining Alexa again at the table. “So… you need to tell me about the party with Harry!” An ecstatic Eugenie squealed and leaned in across from the table careful not to miss a single detail.
Alexa pursed her lips together and shyly looked away. “We just talked, Eugenie.” She shrugged it off like no big deal.
“And danced practically the whole night with each other. Do not forget that I was there too!” Eugenie laughed giddily. “Besides, I know he has a thing for you.”
Her head perked up at the revelation and shared a look with her best friend. “And how do you know that?” Alexa angled her head at Eugenie curiously.
“He told me.” The princess sat back in her chair with an elated smile. “I never thought to hook the two of you up with one another. After what happened with Reese, I just didn’t think you would be interested in a guy like Harry.” Eugenie confessed. “I wish I had though, you seemed like you really enjoyed yourself with him.”
“I had a lot of fun honestly.” Alexa’s beaming smile fully gave it all away. “I don’t think he is really that interested though. Besides, I don’t know if I am ready for something yet.” She admitted truthfully.
“It’s been what? Almost a year since you two broke up?” Eugenie confirmed with Alexa. “Reese moved on already… so can you, Lexi.”
The kettle started to whistle making Eugenie jump up and tend to it allowing a decent break in her interrogation of the blonde. She brought back two mugs with tea bags in them and handed one to Alexa. “You know, I have been meaning to ask you something.” She sat back down across from Alexa with a grinning smile on her lips.
“Oh.” Alexa gently grasped the cup. “What is that?” That was when Alexa looked down and saw the writing displayed on the mug.
‘Will you be my maid of honour?’ Artistically drawn in pink letters while the other side of the cup showed a sketch of a picture of the two of them together.
Alexa’s mouth nearly fell to the ground in shock and read the letters one more time before glancing back up at Eugenie. “Are you serious about this?”
“Of course I am! You are my best friend, Alexa!” Eugenie did not think that her friend would be this shocked when she was coming up with ideas on how to ask Alexa to be her maid of honour.
“So, will you be my maid of honour?” Eugenie asked again as Alexa came out of her shocked state.
“Of course! Oh my god, yes!” Alexa stood up and enveloped Eugenie in a giant nearly bone crushing hug.
“There isn’t anyone else I would want by my side. You have been there for me through everything.” Eugenie squeezed Alexa a little tighter before being pushed a part.
“Wait, are you sure you don’t want to ask Bea?” Alexa sincerely asked with a hint of worry in her eyes. “She is your sister.”
Eugenie brushed it off right away. “No, Bea already knows I am asking you and she would rather not have the pressure on her that day!” A nervous chuckled escaped the princess’s lips as she watched Lexi’s face morph into a growing concerned expression.
“Pressure?” Alexa then realized what she had just agreed too. This was not an ordinary wedding; this was a royal wedding in front of the whole world to see.
“You will be fine!” Eugenie patted her arm to try and reassure Alexa. “There are a few little classes and things you might have to do, but other than that it will be a breeze!” The princess could see the evident fear developing in her best friend’s eyes.
“A breeze? Yeah sure.” Alexa pursed her lips together nervously.
Eugenie forced Alexa to sit back down in her chair. “I can get Harry to talk to you about it. He’s done it before at Will and Kate’s wedding.” She tried to tease Alexa to distract her, but only gained a death glare from her friend.
“Eugenie…” Alexa’s voice lowered to a threatening level.
“Ok, I won’t!” She tossed her arms up in the air defensively. “I still think you need to talk to Harry though.”
“I think we need to talk about your wedding instead! What are you wanting?” Alexa knew that asking Eugenie about the wedding would buy her some time away from talking about the prince.
Eugenie went on and on sharing all the ideas she had come up with already. By the sounds of it, it was going to be a beautiful day.
Alexa released a deep breath while looking down at the stacks of papers in her hands of materials she would need to go through. Not being aware of her surroundings she noticed a figure coming towards her, nearly startling the blonde as she gasped loudly.
“I am so sorry.” Harry’s alluring deep voice apologized followed behind by a light giggle.
“You cannot come up on someone like that!” Alexa scolded him as she remained clutching her chest as she exhaled loudly, attempting to catch her breath from being startled.
“Eugenie told me you might want to talk to me about something?” He leaned causally up against the wall and crossed his arms as if he was waiting for a reply.
Scoffing with a laugh, Alexa shook her head back. “Of course she did.” Eugenie was going to get it. She must have texted Harry to come talk to her at the exact time Alexa had left. This was all a complete setup by Eugenie.
“Judging by that mug in your hand, she asked you to be her maid of honour, hasn’t she?” Harry’s eyes locked in Alexa’s as their gaze lingered on each other.
“Guilty.” Alexa lowered her head and tucked a stray piece of hair nervously. “Where are you off too?”
“I have some meetings this evening.” A charming smile was growing on his lips with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Look, I uh.” Harry took a step closer towards her. “I had a good time with you the other night.” Harry saw her green eyes lift and peak up at him.
“I did too.” Alexa beamed shyly at her confession. “You didn’t need to drive me home… but thank you. It was a kind gesture.”
“You already thanked me, Alexa.” He stood up taller and placed both hands in his pockets as if he was a bit nervous. “You know I forgot to ask you something the other night. You were already inside when I realized I did not ask you for your number.”
Alexa’s eyebrow rose suggestively. “You want my number?”
“Yeah, I do.” Harry dug out his phone waiting for Alexa to give the prince her contact info. “This way, you can ask me any questions and Eugenie doesn’t have to worry about you.” The prince smoothly added in to make it seem like he was doing Alexa a favour by Harry having her number.
He definitely was good at the sweet-talking bit, but Alexa was not going to give in that easy. “I guess, since you are being so charming.” A mischievous smile appeared on her lips as she gave out a number, not her number, but her dental offices.
“I better get going now. I have a lot of reading to do as you can see.” Alexa hoisted up the stack of papers and started to walk away.
“I am heading the same way, I will walk with you.” Harry had caught on to Alexa’s mischievous grin with the combination of a quick retreat and knew that something was up.
Alexa glanced back over her shoulder hearing footsteps behind them. “It’s just my protection officer. No need to worry.” Harry could sense her apprehension.
“I know.” She looked back towards the ground. “It’s not like I haven’t been around them before. Just hard to still get used too.” Alexa confessed to the prince and immediately felt his eyes on her.
A comfortable silence fell between them as they wondered through the halls to the private car park. Harry pushed the exit door open for Alexa and waved her through as she politely thanked him. “Which ones your car?” He asked the blonde.
“The one that’s not an audi.” Her response made the prince toss his head back in laughter at her quick wit. Harry followed her to a silver Jetta Volkswagen and opened the driver’s door for her.
“Thank you, you didn’t have to.” Alexa smiled sweetly at the prince’s gesture.
“My parents taught me to be a gentleman.” He flashed a dazzling smile that turned into a suggestively raised eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to get that, Alexa?”
She glanced up at the prince with a confused expression. “What do you mean?”
Harry pulled out his phone and showed it calling ‘Alexa’ making her expression go blank with wide green eyes.
He had caught her.
“Your dentists office?” The prince dissolved into a fit of giggles after hearing the voicemail message. “For real, Alexa?” He shook his head back and forth. “You could have just said no.”
“Look, Harry.” Alexa scrambled quickly to explain her reasons, as the prince became quiet and attentive to her. “I need to take things slow and you just sort of caught me off guard today and well…” She looked up at him with guilt in her eyes, but they also showed him a split second of vulnerability.
Harry’s features softened as he listened to her sweet voice explain. “Give me your phone…” His hand stretched out waiting for Alexa to place in his palm.
Alexa cautiously handed it over to the prince, curious as to what he was going to do. He took it, punched in a number and handed it back to Alexa showing that he entered his contact info. She stared up at him seeing his blue eyes sparkling. “You have my number and you can call me whenever you are ready.”
Sighing deeply she had to pull her eyes away from him for a second to regain her composure. “You surprise me.” She angled her head to look back up at Harry.
Smirking down at the blonde woman he shrugged his shoulders non-chalantly. “I will take that as a compliment, I guess.” Harry stuck his tongue out being cheeky. “You know, I have a polo game on Saturday at Beaufort. I am sure Zara will be there, you should come.” The prince invited her. “I can even pick you up, if you prefer.”
Alexa was about to say no when Harry further explained having got the sense of her answer before she spoke. “It’s not a date, just want to hang out with you again. After all, you do have my number so think about it and get back to me.”
The prince tapped on the car door and looked back at his waiting RPO. “I better get going.” He glanced down at his watch reading the time and how late he already was. “I appear to already be late.”
“Sorry for keeping you.” Alexa apologized sweetly. “I will let you know about Saturday.”
“Alexa…” The way Harry spoke her name made her melt into a puddle. “You can waste my time whenever you want.” The prince flirted with Alexa making a smile appear on her lips.
“Have a good evening, Harry.” She waved goodbye and watched the prince walked off after wishing her the same in return. Alexa backed up and started to drive out towards the exit seeing the prince’s vehicle in her rear view mirror.
As she drove home, her mind replayed the whole interaction over with the prince. That evening, Alexa kept pulling out her phone wanting to send Harry a message, but each time she chickened out. The ball was now in her court whether she contacted the prince or not, but there was a budding excitement that grew within her at the mere thought of seeing Harry again.
Chapter 2 Outfit
