Annalise Stark, orphaned after losing her parents in the military, is desperate to find a way to pay off her sister's medical debts. She finds work at the palace, home to the infamous Prince William. Despite her efforts to ignore him, Annalise soon...
"There are friends, there's family, and then there are friends that become family." ~Unknown
Annalise
"Cheers!" I exclaimed. Mia and Everly clinked their champagne glasses against mine, echoing my declaration. We knocked back our drinks and refilled them, enjoying the subtle sea breeze, the warmth of the setting sun, and the stunning view of the Amalfi coast. I never imagined I'd ever stay in a five-star hotel in Sorrento, let alone ever being able to afford flying here in the first place. But Everly booked and planned the entire thing when Mia and I brought up the idea, and we had four days in this beautiful place.
"I can't believe we're here," Mia said, staring out at the turquoise waters. "We're going swimming tomorrow, right?"
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"There's no way we're not," Everly replied. "Although, with how much I plan on drinking, you might not get me out of bed until noon."
"You won't be alone," I promised. "I've never been drunk in my life, and if it's going to happen, there's no one I trust more than you two when it does."
"What do you say we head up to our suite, order a shit ton of wine and desserts, and watch chick flicks?"
"That sounds amazing," Mia said. I agreed, and after paying for dinner, the three of us stumbled back to our hotel, slightly buzzed from the two flutes of champagne and four cocktails we'd drank. On the way, we came across a liquor store, where we bought everything from wine to Fireball to peach schnapps. I'd never done anything like this in my life. I never had a chance, and I never felt the urge. However, being with Mia and Everly and feeling giddy with my life, a daring spirit settled into my bones.
"Hey, hey girls," Everly said as we entered our suite and set down our alcoholic purchases. "I have a joke. What did one butt cheek say to the other butt cheek?"
"What?" Mia and I asked simultaneously.
"Don't talk to the middle guy; he's an asshole!" We burst into a fit of uncontrollable giggles, tears filling our eyes as we sank to the floor. The joke was funny, but not to the degree we found it, which is how I knew we were definitely more than a little inebriated. Everly grinned and exclaimed, "Wait! Wait! I got another one! A pirate walks into a bar-"
My ringing phone cut her off, and wiping away the tears from my eyes, I hit answer. Will's smile quickly faded when he saw my face. "Are you crying? Are you okay? Everly! What did you do to my girlfriend?!"
"Nothing! I told a joke!" Everly shouted back, placing her head on my shoulder and joining me on screen. Mia crawled next to me and set her head on my other shoulder. Everly continued, "I was about to tell another before you- Mark! Baby!"
"Hey, Evie," Mark greeted, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Do I hear our girls?" James's voice floated from somewhere behind Will's phone before appearing next to my boyfriend. "I do!"
