The Royal Heir - Dancing with my eyes closed

Beautiful ghost

(Art scene in this chapter is by 

After a short connecting flight, we're finally on route to LAX – business class baby! All courtesy of the good people at Paradox Pictures. The snacks are packed, the playlist is bumping, and Drake's wearing the "things are great" T-shirt I got him to say thanks for coming to the movie shoot with me! I mean, I had to throw my lukewarm departure lounge coffee down him at Athens airport in order to ensure he wore it, but he couldn't wear that old denim thing to LA, could he?

And it actually feels like things are great, for the first time in a long time.

"You happy, Maxwell?" he groans.

"I got you to wear your own meme. I am freaking over the moon!"

He nods. "Well, I'm happy you're happy."

At this point, I'm expecting him to pull out his headphones and start watching a movie or something, but he doesn't. He actually seems to want to talk to me, which is awesome news! Because it's super weird flying without someone to talk to now. Or snuggle up to. Not that I'm contemplating snuggling up to Drake. He'd probably launch himself out the nearest emergency exit if I tried that.

"So," he says, eyeing me carefully. "What's the deal with this Reena?"

"Your guess is as good as mine, buddy," I say. "I'm guessing she's Amalas's mysterious contact who she mentioned at the last council meeting. Amalas did say she wanted to talk to me personally."

Drake smiles a wry smile. "More likely she wants a piece of you."

Oh hell, that hadn't even crossed my mind! But why do it so formally? Why not just slide into my DMs? I google her, and her picture gives off definite Adelaide cougar vibes... crap. "I hope not," I sigh. "I've already had to fight one woman off with a stick this week."

"What? Did that Anna turn up on your doorstep or something?"

"Nope! But someone did.. someone you know pretty well..."

He laughs. "Penelope, right? We noticed she couldn't leave you alone the other night... where was Zeke?"

"Oh, Zeke's history," I explain. "And I think that's my fault."

"Maxwell..."

"No, no, I didn't do anything to encourage her! I promise! I mean.. she's a lovely girl and all but.."

"What did she do, Maxwell?" Drake's frown has transformed into an angry scowl.

"Well, she tried to kiss me... I didn't kiss her back!"

Drake's fists clench. "Honestly. The nerve of that woman! She needs to learn some respect. Jones has only been gone a few months and she thinks..."

"Yeah, well whatever she thinks, she's deluded," I sigh. "Jen was my endgame. From now on, I'm just focussing on Bella."

"Huh, I'll believe that when I don't read about it in the tabloids," Drake says, side-eyeing me.

"Hey! I'll have you know the whole Anna thing was a mistake. It won't happen again. From now on, I am completely celibate."

Drake just looks at me, while he pulls his whisky flask out of his pocket. I guess it's five o clock somewhere, right? He's not convinced at all. Rude.

"Anyway, when I managed to explain this to Penelope, she said that she would consider just a sex thing..."

Drake spits out the mouthful of whisky he's just drunk. "Too much information."

"So at that point, I told her to leave with her dignity intact."