The Princess And The Criminal

9

NOAH

The following day the prince asked that I help him find his way around some shops around the college campus.

It was a Saturday, and although I wanted to spend the day with Morgan I assisted him.

The prince and I had never really spoken outside two dates—so although he was moving around excited I was awkwardly following him. Like a mother following an eager child in a candy store.

"Ice cream?" He tilted his head with a small smile.

I blinked at his happy face and nodded.

Sawyer had said she wanted to take me on a date that evening. I was worried Cedrick would keep me till late. I also had promised Viper I would attend Shepherd's football game with her. She didn't want to be left alone with her ex husband, kids that hated her and a stepson that had a crush on her.

Cedrick rambled on about hobbies he had picked up since the last time we had spoken. I listened to him with dismissive interest. Taking note of things that could be brought up by my parents so my disinterest wasn't too potent.

Mid ramble Cedrick stopped and frowned, snapping me out of my note taking headspace. "You don't care do you?"

I blinked.

I was going to lie. Say something like. "Of course I care. Your hobbies are quite interesting."

But the weight of recent events had made me tired.

Sawyer and I trying to rebuild our relationship, my father's threats, Morgan due soon, Viper's new line.

"I'm sorry." I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

Cedrick chuckled. "Oh don't be sorry. I was so lost in talking about myself I didn't stop to consider how you were feeling. I'm the one who should be sorry."

I sighed again and blinked slowly.

"Are you tired?"

I smiled. "More fed up really. You're a great guy—but I'm tired of my parents trying to set me up with random rich boys."

Cedrick smiled at me like I was a child complaining about being too busy, when I still had designated nap time. "I'm gay."

I blinked slowly, frowning at the table.

"You're gay?"

Cedrick laughed a bit. "Yes Noah, I'm gay."

I nodded slowly, taking the information in. "And your parents are fine with that?"

Cedrick had an expression I could only describe as pity.

"The Prigairy throne doesn't care who you fuck. My sister's kid will be the next heir. I'm not heir because I'm the first male, I'm heir cause my older sister didn't want to be the next monarch and I wanted it."

I frowned and blinked a few times again. I actually knew nothing about Prigairy. Most of my knowledge on the small island was from fleeting comments my parents made over the years.

I had never been interested enough to ask more questions. All I knew was I was fifty second—or was it fifty third? In line.

"Do my parents know you're gay?"

"They know I'm into men. But they've assumed I'm also into women..." He hesitated. "Are you into men?"

I swallowed and answered in a small voice. "No."

Cedrick beamed. "Well isn't that swell. Two homos."

I giggled at that.

Cedrick lowered his head and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. "You wanna know the real reason I came here?"

I lowered my head as well and nodded.

"Caesar Brun."

I frowned. "Caesar?"

Cedrick nodded almost violently with a dreamy smile on his face.

"I have been into him since he fixed my car when I was a freshman here. We even hanged out a bit."

"Oh." I whispered. During our freshman year, I avoided Cedrick.

He was living with my parents and I had already moved in with Morgan at the time. I was very upset about my father's threats to Sawyer's safety and was barely speaking to them.

By the time I had started answering my parent's calls and messages Cedrick had left to finish his studies in London.

He pouted. "I know he's older than me by like a few years but it doesn't matter does it?"

"I mean.. he's thirty so—no?"

Cedrick sighed and slumped in his seat. "I don't know if he thinks I'm a kid."

I smiled at Cedrick. "You're only five years younger than him calm down."

Cedrick straightened in his seat and leaned his head on his hand.

"Are you seeing Sawyer again?"

I looked around nervously, like my parents would hear me if I admitted what they technically already knew. "Yeah."

Cedrick's smile widened. "I have a great idea!"

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Aw come on don't look at me like that, I'd help you woo Sawyer if you guys were having problems."

I laughed at that. "I have no idea how you want me to help but sure... you do know Caesar doesn't do carpentry right."

Cedrick smirked. "Of course I know that. Carpentry is to get close to Sawyer."

I lifted an eyebrow. "For what reason?"

Cedrick beamed. "To make friends."

We chatted a bit more, time passing much faster than I thought.

I had never really had a real friend who wasn't Morgan so vibing with Cedrick was amazing. He was really fun to chat with.

Viper called to remind me to come to Shepherd's game.

It was prime opportunity to help Cedrick further any plans he had so I invited him.

As we drove to the field I noticed a car was following me, a car that had been following me since Sawyer got out of prison. My father's words rung in my ear and I shivered.

I would protect Sawyer. But this time I was going to stand by her side while I did it.