The next morning, I head to mine and Olly's favorite brunch spot, jittery with the anticipation of laying all of this incredible, insane news on him.
Though Ben had said their flight wasn't until midday, Liam told me that they had to leave at a disgustingly early time for security purposes. After saying a very PDA-heavy goodbye to him outside of a subway station (the definition of New York City romance), we went our separate ways, and I haven't felt calm since.
Which is why I'm excited to see Oliver. I'm hoping that by telling someone about all this will make me feel less like a shaken up can of soda.
Plus, I haven't actually said the words "I'm dating Liam Davenport" out loud. I'm anxious to hear what they sound like.
By the time I reach the café, I'm pretty sure I won't even be able to say "hello" before screaming the news. Luckily, when I walk inside, I spy Olly and all but run to the table.
"So?" he asks.
"I'm dating Liam Davenport."
His eyebrows raise and he says, "Come again?"
"I'm. Dating. Liam. Davenport!"
I expect a smile to spread across his face, but instead, he furrows his brow and says, "Do you mean that you went on a date with Liam Davenport?"
"No," I say, exasperated. "We're dating."
He makes his skeptical face.
"Stop making your skeptical face," I say. "Is it so hard to believe that we're dating?"
"Seeing as how you only met him approximately forty-eight hours ago, among a slew of other reasons, yes."
I sigh and open my mouth to explain everything when the server walks over to take our drink orders.
"Two coffees," I say immediately. "And a pitcher of mimosas."
The server dutifully walks to fill our orders and I say, "We met at the gala. Emilia, Benjamin, and Liam then all told me that the Queen has pretty much ordered Liam to get married soon and that Emilia was helping him find someone suitable."
"And that led them to you?" Olly asks.
"Believe me, I was just as dumbfounded as I'm sure you are right now. But apparently Emilia really does read my blog and had a background check run on me, and she added my name to the list. I'm the only one Liam wanted to consider."
"Is he trying to piss off the entire U.K.?"
"A little," I say. "He likes the idea of the media going apeshit over the fact that I'm American."
"Ah," Olly says, nodding.
The server comes back with our coffees and the mimosa pitcher on a tray, and after setting everything on the table, takes our orders.
"French toast for me," I say.
"And eggs Benny for me," Olly chimes in.
"Anyway," I say when the server has left. "At first he and Emilia basically proposed an arranged marriage."
"Stop it," Olly says and I shake my head.
"But I kind of balked at that."
"What?" he exclaims.
"That is definitely crazier than me dating Liam, Olly."
"But! Girl! You'd be engaged to a prince!"
"A prince I don't actually know."
"Still," he says pointedly. "So, what? You turned him down?"
YOU ARE READING
Courting Royal
Romance*An unedited royal romance* After graduating from journalism school in the midst of the American recession, Maggie Rhodes became frustrated with freelancing in New York. Having followed the British royal family since she was a child, thanks to the i...
