Royal Dilemma

Chapter Eleven

(Caleb's Point of View)

(Caleb's Point of View)

I wake up early and my thoughts almost immediately go to Charli. I told her I'd text her today. I check the time on my phone and come to the conclusion that Charli is probably still asleep. I put my phone aside and turn on the TV to kill some time.

I get out of bed a couple of hours later, around noon, and throw something together for breakfast which is an accomplishment in itself because I really need to order groceries.

Colin wanders in while I'm eating on the couch and flops down next to me.

"I think I'm in love," he says with a hefty sigh.

"With who?" I ask, my mouth full of food.

"The waitress at the breakfast place I like." He looks at me, longing in his eyes. "I think she'd make me an agreeable wife."

I snort a laugh which makes me choke a little bit on my food. After a minor coughing fit, I clear my throat. "Ask her out then."

"I already did."

"And?"

"She said no," he says sadly.

"She said no?" I question, leaning forward to put my empty plate on the coffee table.

That doesn't happen often. The royalty thing is usually a pretty big deal to most people.

"She said we don't have anything in common," he tells me moodily.

"Because you probably don't," I point out.

"I don't need your negativity," Colin grumbles, reaching out and kicking my foot.

"Find a different girl," I tell him, kicking him back. "You weren't gonna date her anyway."

"You don't know that," he protests. "This could've been the one."

"Oh, come on." I roll my eyes. "You'd take her on a couple of dates, get bored, lose interest, and move on."

"You don't know that," he whines.

I shoot him an annoyed look. Colin shuts up about the breakfast girl and we watch TV in silence for a while. Without Colin's jabbering, my mind strays to the app sitting on my phone, the one I got to text Charli with. Is she up by now? Should I text her?

I pull out my phone and open the app, staring at the new message screen. After a moment's hesitation, I navigate to Charli's contact and type a message.

Me: Hey it's CJ

Immediately after I send it I lock my phone and turn it over so I don't have to look at it. I feel like I just sent something illicit and not a simple greeting.

Charli doesn't reply in the hour Colin and I sit there watching TV. She doesn't reply when we're playing video games or when we leave to get Chinese food for dinner. She doesn't reply until I'm alone watching some terrible old movie with bad acting.

Charli: Compliment me

I narrow my eyes at the text. First of all, that's bossy and kind of rude. Second, does she want a jokey compliment or a real one? Knowing Charli I'm going to guess she wants a jokey one.

Me: You have so many hairs on your head

Charli: Fantastic. Give me more

Me: Your legs seem to be in working order