Against All Odds

Chapter Six

I'm smiling.

I've never once in my life woken up with a smile on my face. I always thought that was something only done in movies. Not true. I'm grinning from ear to ear. Henry is asleep, head still on my stomach, exactly where I last saw him. We talked for as long as we could last night, which was precisely twenty minutes before we both passed out.

It's dawn, the day is dark, cloudy. I look from the window back to the quiet body beside me. His body isn't covered by anything. I stare at him, unabashedly, feeling only wonder. His body is like a sculpture, like something you'd encounter in a museum. Something that was created by imagination.

He's perfect. Everything about him.

I hear my stomach growl, after a moment of ogling. I press my lips together, when I remember that I didn't eat dinner last night, too nervous to. I slide closer to the edge gently and he moves, without waking, resting his head against the mattress. Climbing out of bed, I marvel at how my knees buckle, my thighs ache. I am used, happily used.

On the back of the door, there is a robe. I walk over to it, removing it from the hanger. As I tie it around my waist, I turn back, seeing Henry still asleep in the same place. I open the door quietly, on a search for water. And a piece of fruit or something. I shut the door, walking down the hallway. When I turn the corner, I nearly screech to a halt, wide-eyed. Royce, Angie, and that guy that was lying on the coffee table are sitting at the long dining table, breakfast in front of them.

Royce smirks, leaning back. "Well, well, well."

I pull the robe in tighter, tucking my hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry. I didn't know anyone was awake yet."

"Ang and I wake before the sun everyday. We've already gotten a run in. Henry is usually with us, but after last nights excursions, I don't expect he'll be up for hours."

I feel the blush creeping up to my cheeks. They heard. Angie rolls her eyes, gesturing me over. "Ignore him. He's got a massive hangover, it makes him cranky. Come over, dear. Have something to eat."

"Maybe I should change first..."

"Nonsense. Come, sit."

Okay... I walk over to the table, taking a seat. I hold the robe down, making sure it doesn't part at my legs. There is someone in uniform beside me within seconds.

"Good morning, miss. What shall I have made?"

I blink, pressing my lips together. "Wha-what is there?"

His face doesn't move. The coffee table guy chuckles, holding up a newspaper. "Anything. They can make you anything."

I look back at the butler. "Coffee, please. And eggs?"

"Scrambled, poached? Scotch?"

"Sunny side-up?"

He nods, turning. I clear my throat, uncomfortably.

"So, Miss Tyler... may I call you Mia?"

"Of course, C-Countess."

"Angie. Royce and I detest formalities. That's probably why half the royal family hates us."

"They do not hate us, Ang."

"Royce, are you forgetting-"

A picture catches my eye on the front page of the newspaper coffee guy is reading. I tilt my head, trying to read the words. As I catch onto the first couple of them, my heart begins to race.

"I'm sorry," I utter, pointing at the newspaper. "C-Could I see that front page by any chance?"

Coffee guy nods, pulling the front page from the pack of them, handing it over to me. His eyes watch my reaction knowingly as I turn it over, staring at the picture on the front.