The British Princess

Part 50

After my little argument with Tate over painting yesterday, I already felt unsettled.

Now, with another one of the boys knocking on my bedroom door this morning, I was anxious again. Swinging it open I was instantly met with an unhappy expression.

"Liam? What are you doing here so early?" I asked, holding the door open and leaning against it.

Liam had his hands tucked in his pocket and his blonde hair looked like he'd run his hands through it several times, "We need to talk."

That was the first bad sign.

"Alright, come in then." I let him past me and we move to settle in my room.

I offer him a seat but he remains standing, while I sit on the end of my freshly made bed. I hear him let out a long sigh, as if he's showing that he's been dwelling on something.

"So, L, I need to talk about us. And where this is going." He says.

His eyes meet mine before he quickly looks away and runs a hand through his hair. He's nervous, and pauses before he speaks again.

"Because I spoke to my dad last night and he's still not happy about me being involved in the selection due to all the bad press. It's making my reputation look bad, people speculating I might be involved in stuff, and my dads protective of the family name."

"I can't undo what's already done Liam. And people should know Mason was the dodgy one, not anyone else, and certainly not you."

"I get that. And it's really not just about my dad." He says, sighing again.

"Then what's it about Liam?"

"Sometimes it doesn't feel like you want to try. At times it's great and everything's perfect between us, but other times it's not like that. Do you even really like me?"

Where had all this come from? I thought Liam and I were fine yesterday when he came back.

I find myself frowning, "Why would you even ask me that? Of course I do Liam."

"It doesn't seem that way. I thought I was making the right choice by coming back, and I put up so much of a fight to do so, but it seems all you want to do is spend time with the others. How do you think that makes me feel?"

"What do you want me to do? It's not like I keep the other guys around for nothing. You're not the only guy who I like Liam."

We were raising our voices now, the conversation getting heated fast. Why was this happening? Why were Liam and Tate suddenly so unsure?

"That's the problem. I want to be the only one. I don't want only some of your time because it's divided between us. I'm sick of only getting a piece of the share. I want all or nothing. You need to make the choice L."

"I can't make that decision right now."

"Why not Lottie? I made a decision to choose you. I went against my father for you. If you liked me as much as I liked you then the others wouldn't be here. Why are you stringing the rest of us along?"

"I can't decide on what I want just like that. I need more time to think. This is the rest of my life I'm considering."

Liam softens his tone, seeming defeated, "It's the rest of mine too."

I turn away from him, unable to keep looking at the pain in his eyes, "Well I can't decide right now. I need to think about it some more."

"This is killing me L."

"I know it's hurting you, but because of who I am this isn't just some stupid show you see on tv where the princess spends time with boys. I don't get a second chance. I'm looking for a husband, and a prince at the same time, and it effects everyone and everything around me by who I choose."