“Death.” She squinted her nose with her frown. “Or... not being single.”
***
Charlie walked by her laptop for the fifth time, stopping in front of it to stare at the search screen. After a humiliating dance lesson with Ellie, her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and she not-so-subtly asked for more details about why Arran came to Mount Airy.
She’d caught a few hints in discussions, but the details stung with renewed clarity.
A woman.
The woman Arran dated for two years before everything ended on the night he proposed. Then it became clear she’d only used her connection with Arran to advance her career in film.
And his heart had been so broken, his trust so crushed, he’d attempted to drown his hurt in all the wrong ways. Pulling away from his family, engaging in superficial relationships, and ignoring his responsibilities.
Only in the past few months, the family noticed a turn in the right direction. Real healing, and at Arran’s initiation.
So the man she’d laid rock with and even—cringe—shopped with was the real Arran St. Clare, and he’d finally been released from the curse of heartache to transform from a rogue back to a prince.
Hmm... very fairy-tale-like, if she thought about it.
Ugh. She shook her head.
Steer clear of fairy-tale thinking.
Dangerous.
NOT real.
She stared back at her computer, tapping her fingers against her chin.
No. She didn’t need to Google Arran.
Seriously, why would she indulge in something so silly? With a shrug to her inner voice, she slid down into the chair and typed in “Arran St. Clare.”
Dozens of links popped up, the first listing his full name:ArranDiederikSt. Clare, Prince of Bredon and the Western Isles. She blinked. Somehow, the title made his “prince-ness” a little more real.
What would dating a prince be like, anyway? Ellie mentioned how careful she’d been when dating Luke, sharing how, though the choice of a spouse was personal for a royal, it also had some bearing on the monarchy.
So, when Arran chose to propose to his ex-girlfriend, he’d weighed those options.
And she’d not chosen him back, but instead had used his affection for selfish gain. Her heart ached at the very idea.
Arran’s photo on the screen stared back at her, in full crooked-grin charm. Very princely.
Seriously, what little girl at some point in her life didn’t secretly wish to marry a prince? It seemed pretty common.
She narrowed her search terms, looking for who he was before his heartbreak.
Videos and photos showed Arran serving alongside his family,his smile quick to respond. Often, he was one of the first of the royals to move toward the kids, kneeling down to talk with them, bringing out their laughter. He cut ribbons, played sports, served in the Skymarian military, worked alongside people within the community, and gave speeches.
Good speeches.
And then... a post popped up about his split from Angelica, which led to another post and another. His entire demeanor changed. No longer did he approach people but rather stayed in the shadows. He appeared aloof; his joy vanished.
And then there were photos of him at wild parties. Headlines of the Rogue Prince followed ones of his ex-girlfriend enjoying the glamorous life of Elstree, Tanalyn, and even Hollywood.
Charlie paused a video of Arran looking at her from the screen. A wounded Arran stared back at her.
A man hiding his pain behind fake happiness. A plastic smile. Nothing like the man who’d helped her with shopping or building.
