A very Adri answer, despite the static tickling my skin where he touched me betraying his nervousness.
Our first steps were awkward and hesitant as we followed the melody, but we soon found our rhythm—and twirl him, I did. We spun around the dance floor with abandon, his skirt flowing wide, narrowly missing the chairs and tables, and the dancers rocking it out in the center of the room. Théo gave me a thumbs-up when we passed him and his prince.
We danced until more people filed in, and my stomach finally registered the wonderful smells coming from the buffet.
“You need to eat,” Adri said as he steered us around Justice and his royal beau.
“I can wait.” I didn’t want this to end. But my stomach disagreed, aloud.
Adri’s lips curled into a smile. “I don’t think you want to meet my mins on an empty stomach.”
I sighed. I’d almost forgotten about that. Almost. When I glanced up, Adri was leading me away from the buffet. “Eh. Shouldn’t we head the other way?”
“No. You sit here, and I’ll get you something to eat.” He pulled a chair out for me and left.
Confused, I sat at the empty table, waving back at Daryl, who sat two tables over. A silver-lined card, placed near the elegant centerpiece, caught my eye. I traced the swooping calligraphy spellingNiraTechwhen someone sat next to me. Frank.
How did he appear so composed and relaxed at the same time?
He grinned at me. “You seem nervous.”
Of course, I was. I was meeting his parents. The words “Your Highness” lay on the tip of my tongue. I cleared my throat. “Weren’t you nervous meeting Kaia’s parents?”
His grin widened, and he glanced past me with a besotted gaze. “Oh. Definitely. You needn’t be, though. They’ve already thoroughly vetted you.”
And he thought that would reassure me? I swallowed and let out a breath. It wasn’t working.
“I, on the other hand…” His eyes refocused, and he stared right through me. “If you hurt him, remember that deadly plants love me.”
“Oh, pfsh.” Kaia set two plates on the table and sank into the chair next to Frank. “Just turn on a hair dryer. It makes his teeth clench and gives him a headache.”
Frank shuddered as he reached for the second plate—containing neatly cut slivers of sweet treats. “Hair dryers are evil.”
“The planet wholeheartedly agrees, but I’m keeping mine.” Kaia winked. “Just in case.”
Their banter felt surreal and familiar at the same time, but I got Frank’s message. Loud and clear. I more than appreciated his protectiveness toward Adri. And I’d definitely stock up on antitoxins.
A plate appeared in front of me, filled with several of my favorites, making my stomach growl. The hand squeezing myshoulder set me at ease, and I turned to Adri with a smile. “Thank you. That looks lovely.”
Adri’s face lit up, and for a moment, I forgot all about the food. My stomach, however, did not. I ate while listening to Kaia and Frank discuss deadly plants versus evil appliances. Even Adri took a bite now and then. Nothing sweet—only meaty flavors for him.
By the time his parents showed up, I felt sated and lulled into ease. My nerves didn’t even have time to pipe up as King Oliver—”Call me Oliver, please”—asked after my family, and Queen Tess—”Tess is fine”—got me talking about coffee beans.
They invited my family to sit with us, which added to the surreal atmosphere of the evening. A ballroom filled with royalty and baristas, coming together to support a good cause. And love.
I raised a cup to Prince Bartholomew and his barista and thanked them for the magic they spread across the plaza. And to my wayward colleagues. I’d miss them all, but knowing they’d found their happiness made the agony of training new staff worth it. That, and the tasty recipes Théo had left us.
I was still a bit dazed when Adri took my hand. He looked a bit frazzled, despite the twinkle in his eyes and the smile on his lips. “Too much?” I asked, tracing the lines his mask left behind.
He nodded.
“One last dance to the exit?”
One dance stretched to three, then four… as we spun, twirled, and glided across the floor—and finally, into the hall. Instead of going to his room, Adri dragged me into a quiet corridor, pressed me into the wall, and kissed me. His lips buzzed against mine as we explored the taste of the ball in each other’s mouths.
“They liked you,” he whispered afterward, his voice doing that dippy thing.
“Frank threatened me with poisonous plants. Or is that venomous?”
