Page 570 of Summer Heat
I bristled slightly at her words. Although they were true because it wasn't like I sought out a relationship with anybody.
“I've never found somebody that I felt I could be myself with. I never felt like I could open up and be happy.” I was being honest with my parents, maybe for the first time in my entire life. They'd seen enough of the tabloids calling me the black sheep of the family, the loaner that didn't want anything to do with tradition or the Crown. But the truth was I just wasn't happy in this life where riches and strict rules had to be obeyed. “But with Daisy I felt all those things and more.”
Daisy reached out and took my hand in hers, giving a light squeeze. I drew strength from her and I knew as time went on that would only grow. This was the first day of the rest of our lives. I knew that without a doubt.
“Noah is who will lead this country after father. Noah is the one who would make you proud.” I stared right in my father’s eyes.
“You think you don't make me proud?” My father asked, sitting up straighter, the surprise on his face clear.
I didn't respond, because the truth was I knew I didn't make him proud, not like Noah did or could.
“You're my son, whether you want to take the Crown or not, whether you want to be deep in royal tradition or not. You are still my son and I am proud of you.” And then he surprised me by standing up and walking around the desk. He helped me to stand and embraced me, his hug strong, welcoming.
My father wasn't one to show much affection. A more strict and rigid parental figure, he made sure to instill what this life was really about, and how we were to serve the people of our country. But right now I didn't feel like he was the king. Right now he was just my dad.
My father pulled back and clapped me on the shoulder. “You care for this young lady?”
My mother had since taken residence beside my father. I looked over at Daisy and held my hand out for her to take it. She stood and I pulled her in close. “I do. I care for her a lot.” I looked over at my mother and father. “I want her in my life and I'm keeping it that way.”
I don’t know if I expected my father to argue over the fact she was of “lower class” than us, which seemed an out dated and almost barbaric way of thinking. But the smile he gave me did shock me. It was filled with acceptance and understanding. In that moment I felt horrible for thinking that my parents wouldn't see how happy I was, and understand that this is what I wanted.
I didn't know what the future held, but I wanted to experience it all with Daisy.
* * *
Daisy
One month later
I knew people watched, that there were cameras on us, but I didn't care. In this moment it was just Lennon and I, both of us getting to know each other, learning about the other, and taking in the fact this was our life.
“Are they bothering you?” Lennon asked and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me in closer. “We can leave, go someplace more secluded?”
I didn't know if Lennon was speaking about the guards that had accompanied us to the park, or the tabloids that I knew were placed around us, partially hidden from view.
I turned and faced Lennon and smiled, not wanting them to interfere with us. “They don't bother me if they don't bother you.” And then I cupped his face and brought him in closer. I slanted my mouth on his and really gave the cameras a show.
Our little display of affection would probably be on the front paper tomorrow morning, but I didn't care. Let them see. Let them know how much I loved this man, how much he consumed me.
I might not have ever envisioned myself with Lennon, maybe even thinking I wasn't worthy of his attention or affection. But now that he was in my life I wanted the world to know that my feelings for him were genuine, true.
We parted at the same time and Lennon smiled at me. “I could really give them something to take pictures of if I didn't think it would humiliate you.” He started laughing softly and I could only shake my head, grinning from ear to ear.
“Nothing you could do could embarrass me. And I don't care about the tabloids. I don't care what anyone thinks about me. All I care about is the next day we have together.” Maybe what I said was sappy, but I didn't care. I was on cloud nine with Lennon.
I finally found the puzzle piece that I had been missing in my life. I finally found another person who knew me, who could look into my eyes and know how I felt without me saying a word.
Sure, the coupling we’d shared had been instant, fast. But it had felt so right. It had felt like I finally found what I had been missing. And I knew Lennon felt same way.
As Lennon had said before, fuck anyone who thought we shouldn't belong together.
Epilogue
Lennon
Five years later
She was mine now and forever. I pulled her close, and inhaled deeply, the sweet scent of her filling lungs, imprinting in my every cells, the marrow deep in my bones.
