Once upon a Princess (Atypical Series #1)||✔️

16. But... I can't

ISABELLE
Monday 13th August

"Are you sure you're sober enough to get home?"

Graham gave me a thumbs up and scrambled off the floor.

"You do know you could have slept on the bed if you wanted to," I pointed out.
He scratched his neck and eyes flitted back to the television that we were previously watching.
"It's not like I bite," I teased, throwing my pillow at him.

He caught it in one hand effortlessly and ran a hand through his bed-hair. He was merely dressed in a grey undershirt and his boxers.

"I still feel a bit buzzed," He admitted, obviously changing the topic. He sat on the edge of my bed as if he was wary of a bomb that might have been ready to explode.

When we had returned from the Town ritual and had finished an excruciatingly boring dinner with Father, Graham and I decided to head to my room to hang out. I had decided that I temporarily wanted to forget about all the things that were wrong at that moment and drank a bottle of Pink Moscato with Graham as we chatted about our lives.

"How about you? You sober enough?" He raised an eyebrow at me.

I grinned, as I snuck a glance at the empty wine bottle at my bedside table. The half bottle that I had drunk, merely made me tipsy. No one except my maid, Daphne, knew of my drinking habit.
I'd constantly feel the urge to down bottles of wine, to numb the nerves that seemed to prickle at me throughout my whole body. It was a lot, being expected to do the right thing all the time, to be a proper lady, to be a proper Princess. Sometimes the limelight got a little too much for me, I had always secretly envied Alexa for her ability to do whatever she wanted.

" Yeah. Thanks for spending the night," I said to Graham.

He shot up from the bed and slipped his dress shirt over his head.
"Not a problem, least I can do for you," He grunted as he wiggled into his dress pants.

"So where are you off to today?"
I secretly wished that he was able to stay with me, the palace was too lonely without Alexa. She left me with our overbearing father, a ton of responsibilities, and my overwhelming thoughts.

"Thunder kinda has a race later today. It takes a few hours to return home, so I think I should leave... Listen, it was scheduled two months ago, I know I promised that I'd search every-"

"It's fine, Graham."
He met my eyes hesitantly and his squinted, probably as he figured out if I was joking or not.
Since I had advised him about being less self-absorbed and obsessed about his horse, Graham tiptoed around the subject, around me.

"Really it's fine. Your men are still dutifully searching for her, so you surely are allowed a day off for yourself."

The creases disappeared from his forehead as his face brightened,
"Really? I seriously miss my horse, I-"
He paused, only to grimace as he realized he started to babble.

"You know...Forget everything I said a few days ago. If you're extremely passionate about your horse, you talk your heart away about him, don't let anyone take that away from you.
"People are too quick to assume the worst about others based on a first impression. I think you're a really great guy Graham, and I really wish others took the time to really know you like I did."

The corners of his lips upturned into a smirk, as he approached my bed and sat beside me, "Wow, is this the same girl that used to always shoot me disgusted looks from across the table whenever Alexa invited me over?"

"Oh, shut up! You're ruining the mood!"

His eyebrow quirked, "Ruining the mood huh?"

He moved forward, and his eyes slowly surveyed my face, up close I could make out three tiny moles under his left eye.
His eyes flickered to my lips for a millisecond and I felt my breath hitch. He sat back abruptly as if I had slapped him and shook his head.