Page 109 of That Prince is Mine
“Don’t worry about it.” Her dad clapped him on the shoulder. “Go on. You can talk in the living room.”
Emma led him there with hurried steps. She took a seat on the sofa and waved her hand toward the armchair. Gabriel shook his head and paced instead.
“It might be a good idea for you to start talking,” she said, her legs bouncing with nerves. “Since it’s quite urgent and all.”
“Michel left for Rouleme.” He stopped in front of her, his hands clasped in front of him.
“He… he had more than a week left. He said… he said…” The blood drained out of her face, and her mind turned dull and empty. He left her. Without even a goodbye. But he loved her. Didn’t he? “I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do.” Gabriel knelt in front of her and took a breath to continue. “He—”
“Did Sophie leave with him?” She spoke over him, afraid of what he might say. Did Michel change his mind? Did he decide to marry perfect-on-paper Isabelle, after all? She didn’t want to know. It felt safer to focus on her friends.
“She did, but”—Gabriel actually blushed—“she’s coming back once she sorts everything out.”
“Really?” Emma gasped. “So you finally came to your senses and asked her to stay?”
“Actually, she told me to stop being an utter wanker and to empty out her side of the closet.” His wide, open grin made him look young and hopeful.
“Oh, Gabriel.” Emma laid her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“Thank you.” He gave his head a sharp shake. “But Sophie will not hesitate to kick my arse if I mess this up, so let me explain everything.”
“Okay.” She had to be brave. No more halfways. She took a deep breath. “Tell me.”
“Michel was… He fell apart when you left. I’ve never seen him so… It wasn’t good.” Gabriel’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “He loves you, Emma, and Sophie thinks he might do something very reckless to win you back.”
“I… I love him, too.” She pressed her fingers against her trembling lips. It took her a few moments to be sure she could speak. “But why did he leave? And what do you mean something reckless? What would he do?”
“He went to Rouleme to tell his father about his decision to…” Gabriel scrubbed a hand down his face. “To abdicate.”
“What?” Emma shot to her feet and knocked the distraught man on his ass. “What in the literal fuck is he thinking? He loves Rouleme. He loves his people.”
“He loves you more.” His quiet sincerity came through even as he pushed himself off the floor. “But please don’t make him choose.”
“I would never make him choose,” she shouted, too agitated to modulate her tone. “What is he thinking?”
“He’s thinking that if you can’t leave your life behind, then he’ll leave his.” He got to his feet and dusted off his slacks. “I told him to do whatever it takes to hold on to you because he would regret it for the rest of his life if he didn’t. I had no idea the fool would go so far as to abdicate.”
“We have to stop him.” She fluttered her hands, eyes darting around the room. Even through her panic and outrage, her heart sang with happiness—with certainty that she came first to Michel. But abdicating was far too extreme for a grand gesture. She did not want that. “But how?”
“Ah, I’m glad you asked.” Gabriel had the gall to wink at her. “I’m under orders—by the love of my life—to bring you to Rouleme as soon as humanly possible even if I have to kidnap you.”
“Sophie said that?” Emma crinkled her nose in disbelief.
“No, I added the last bit myself for dramatic effect.” He grinned.
“Well, there’s no need for kidnapping.” She rolled her eyes. “I would be on my way to the hotel right now if you’d come ten minutes later. But he’s not at the hotel, is he? He’s in Rouleme to freaking abdicate.”
“Which is why we need to leave right now. My car is out front.” He glanced at his watch. “We can make it to the airport in half an hour if we hurry.”
“But I don’t have a plane ticket. And my passport expired ages ago, and I never got around to renewing it.” Emma felt faint with panic. What if she didn’t get to Michel in time? “Oh my God. What are we going to do?”
“Leave all that to me.” Gabriel smirked and tugged her toward the front door. “All you need to do is come. Of your own free will, preferably.”
Her dad jumped when they rounded the corner to the entryway. Before Emma could tell him she had no time to explain, he said, “I heard everything. You need to hurry, baby girl. Stop that silly, wonderful boy from doing something he’ll regret.”
Emma gave her dad a rib-cracking hug before he practically shoved her out the door. She managed to say over her shoulder, “I’ll call you as soon as I can. I love you, Appa.”
