A Royal Mess

23. Adventures

Everything is better at night.

The next day, Archer and I ride bicycles to the nearest mart at midnight.

(Don't even ask how we got the guards to agree to let us go.)

The street is mostly empty as we zigzag and race each other.

At the store I make him push the cart and then challenge him, "Let's go different ways running and see who finds the chocolate aisle first."

"You're on." Archer says confidently.

We run in separate directions but end up reaching the candy aisle almost together as it is apparently located in the middle, funnily exactly where we had started from.

On reaching there I start shoving candies and chocolate bars in the cart randomly.

"What are you doing?" Archer questions, frowning in my direction.

"You'll see." I state simply and don't elaborate.

Now, back at the palace, Archer leads me to the rooftop garden.

We sit at the edge with our legs swinging outwards. I put the bag with the sweets in Archer's lap commanding him to start eating.

As he eats half of his first bar I say, "Hey! Be a gentleman and let the lady at least have your other half."

I realise what I'd said a little too late. So obviously when I turn towards Archer I find him smirking.

"You want my other half huh? Well, why not it's already all yours, fiancée." He teases. His green eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Shut up, you oaf and never call me that. I'm not your fiancée." I snatch the remaining half of the bar he is holding out for me.

We sit like that for a while. Him eating half and then offering me the other portion.

We talk about Alex and him, their favourite memories together, etc. and also about Alex and Jenna. I love how I can freely trust him with what I think, communicating with him is as easy as communicating with my brain.

"I want you to taste all these as soon as possible and then at the end decide your favorite so that we can have another rendezvous to the mart to stock up your secret stash." I say commandingly.

"Aye aye captain." He salutes, his crooked smile directed at me. He looks genuinely carefree and happy in this moment which makes me happy.

We look at each other with big goofy smiles. It is really something, staring in his marvellous green eyes under the stars in the open night air. I feel him tilting towards me. His eyes shining with something unrecognisable.
Is this it?
Am I ready?

But the moment breaks and I pull my head back.

"I'm sorry. I just.." I stutter.

"Don't worry. I already understand, princess." He places a comforting hand over mine. "I know you have a hard choice ahead of you. Ace seemed like a great guy." He gives me a sympathetic yet sad smile, "Even though it pains me and I think I'm a little jealous because there's definitely something here, in this moment, between us, but I can definitely see that there's something between him and you too. I can hope and believe, but I won't come in the middle of your decision. So let me assure you of one thing. I won't try to affect that choice whatsoever. It's yours to make." His voice is soft and genuine. He truly is one of the best guys I've ever known.

"Thank you, Archer. You are a brilliant man inside out." I state sincerely, squeezing his hands a little.

I hug him, not because I am compensating for not being able to kiss him but because I don't want him to see just how much I'd love to.