Royal Pain in the Ass, page 27
“No, I want you and your family out of my life.”
“I don’t believe in something for nothing. I can’t trust you to keep that big mouth of yours shut without some sort of guarantee.”
“Keep your deranged son away from me, and I won’t be a thorn in your side. You and your family leave me be and we can pretend this never happened.”
“Juliet, I want something over you.”
“Too bad.” I hung up and threw my phone.
I felt arms snake around my waist and I jumped. “What’s wrong, love?”
I relaxed against Xavier’s chest. “Nothing important.”
“Something has you upset.”
“Some days I feel like I can’t outrun my past.”
“What are you referring to?”
I turned in his arms and kissed him. “This place. It has so many memories. Not all of them are good. People I keep trying to leave behind find a way of popping back up.”
“Juliet, explain.”
I handed Xavier the envelope and the blank check. “Part of me wants to tear it to shreds and part of me wants to call the police for harassment, but I really just want this over more than anything else.” Xavier read over the documentation and pulled me close. “If you want it gone, we can make that happen. Say the word and I’ll make this go away.” I kissed Xavier again.
“I have an idea.”
Two hours later I had a suitcase packed and was hugging Amanda and Maverick good bye. Xavier helped me in a taxi and climbed in behind me.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Xavier asked, looking a little uncertain.
“It’s an adventure, why not?”
“And you’re sure you’ve got everything?”
“Amanda and Maverick will take care of Loki, they’ve lasted this long without me, what’s a little longer?”
“I meant with everything that’s happened -”
“With everything that’s happened, I think this might be the best idea I’ve had in a while.”
Xavier sighed. “If this is what you want.”
Two hours later, we were at the airport and no one knew where we were going. Not even us.
“Now boarding fight 417 to New York.”
“What do you think, Xavier? New York sound good?”
“What are you looking to do?”
“To have fun. To be alone. To get away.”
“Are you running away?”
“No, we are. Call it an unplanned, spontaneous vacation with no time constrictions. It will give us some time away from everyone and their judgments. I want to be alone, I don’t want cameras or reporters or crazy ex-boyfriends. I just want to be alone. With you.”
Xavier smiled and kissed me. “You are going to be the end of me. Let’s go.”
In New York Xavier and I got ice cream at a Pink Berry, then had authentic New York Pizza, watched Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, went to the empire state building and stayed the night in a hotel and the next morning we were on a flight to Chicago. We ate pizza in Chicago, watched a White Sox games then we flew to New Orleans. From New Orleans we went to LA and from LA we went to Europe. I cannot tell you how excited I was to be in Paris. Xavier showed me around. He took me shopping, then out to a fancy five star restaurant where Xavier insisted I wear the dress he picked out for me. He took me dancing and then we went to our hotel room.
“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Xavier smiled as he kissed my neck. “I’ve never just taken off with someone.”
I pulled his suit jacket off and untucked his shirt from his pants. “It’s fun, isn’t it?”
“You have changed me.” Xavier said with his lips pressed against my own. He picked me up and carried me to the bed.
“Good change or bad change.”
“Definitely for the better.” Xavier pulled the dress off of me as I fought with his buttons, which are much harder to fight with after three bottles of good wine. “You are so beautiful.” Xavier whispered as he pulled away. I felt the flush in my cheeks as his eyes raked down my body and he pulled off his shirt. I marveled at his well sculpted chest. “You are extraordinary.”
“So are you.”
Xavier shook his head. “I am ordinary. I am a man of rules and structure. I fit easily in a mold. But you,” Xavier tucked a stray lock behind my ear. “You broke the mold when you came into the world. I could live a thousand years and never find another like you.” Xavier’s lips pressed against mine. It was soft and gentle, it didn’t take long for it to become forceful and passionate. We explored one another’s body and it was one of the best nights of my life. I woke up to the rhythmic beating of Xavier’s heart and the solid warmth of Xavier’s chest. I inhaled the lingering scent of his cologne and just his scent.
I watched as a smile spread across his face. “Good morning, Juliet.”
“Good morning.”
“What would you like to do today?”
“Let’s go somewhere new.”
“Where?”
“Let’s go to a castle.”
“Anything you want, princess.” Xavier and I got dressed and we got on a train. We spent the next few weeks going anywhere on a whim. We ate where we wanted to, stopped where we wanted to, we did whatever we wanted to. It was fantastic. After we were sated with that I knew I had to decide what to do next.
My house wasn’t where I belonged anymore and I knew it. I called James, who apparently had been worried sick as he hadn’t heard from us in weeks. I told him where my intentions he was thrilled, so was Angelica. I haven't spoken to Millie yet. I showed up at Eastgate Estate, hand in hand with Xavier later that day.
Epilogue
I’ve been living back at the Eastgate estate for a few months now. It’s great to be around everyone around. I saw Lana and she was recovering nicely. Fiore threw me a party. Millie was in fits when I got back, but surprisingly enough, Angelica stood up to her. Angelica actually stood up to her mother. I have to say, I couldn’t have been more proud. Xavier and I spend a great deal of time together, and James was alright with our arrangement. He must have seen it coming, then again, everyone saw it coming except for this blind fool.
Needless to say, I didn’t get into the Orlando Philharmonic orchestra. I did, however, manage to get into the London Symphony Orchestra, fifth chair cellist. I love being in an orchestra again and that keeps me pretty busy. I’m back to taking etiquette classes. James is planning a coming out party for me, and has let Fiore take over planning it.
Angelica and I have gotten much closer, and we go out for lunch at least twice a week. We’ve also gone to a few underground shows, which she actually enjoys. Another shocker. She’s actually seeing a new boy who I have yet to meet. She met him in Spain and his name is Fernando. I am looking forward to this meeting. Millie hates this idea, although after her last choice, I’m not sure I trust her judgment anyway. James is nervous about it, but he hasn’t stopped anything.
Millie insults me at every turn, and nothing upsets her more than a sweet smile as I take her insult as a compliment. Millie hates me, that’s the only way I can see it. I’m not entirely sure why she hates me so much, but she does. Maybe it’s because I’m the incarnation of her husband’s affair, maybe it’s because I’m my mother’s daughter, maybe it’s because I’ve brought Angelica out of her prim and proper, nose stuck in the air shell, maybe it’s just because she has to share James’s attention with me. I don’t know, and honestly, can’t be bothered to care. I’ve tried to be her friend, I’ve tried to get along with her, but she doesn’t want that. So, things will remain frigid until she gets frostbite from that tongue of hers or she actually decides to warm up a little.
James and I are getting closer. We go for a daily ride around the grounds every evening. He tells me stories of his past, my favorites are of him and my mom. I’ve actually started to call him Dad. It feels kind of weird, but it makes him happy. I’ll be damned before I call Millie Mom though. Xavier is still my acting advisor, despite our situation; James actually thinks the fact that we’re seeing each other might help him out. Apparently, he thinks it will help Xavier to keep me grounded. I guess James forgets how I can be. I don’t think anyone can keep me grounded for long.
I’ve been planning a new tattoo, but I haven’t told anyone yet. I figure I’ll just get it, then show them. James and I have reached an understanding, he knows I can’t be like everyone else in this society, I just can’t. But at the same time, he sees that I am trying to behave myself. We’re working on how to deal with me, he still hasn’t found out about my tattoos yet. I really should tell him soon. Maybe I’ll just show them. Xavier is going to flip once he sees the new tattoo, he’ll probably be the first to see it as he’s one of the very few who’ve seen all of my tattoos as it is.
Xavier usually drops me off and picks me up from rehearsal at LSO and we usually go get something to eat at some point during this. James has asked me not to randomly go off adventuring like Xavier and I did before, without at least telling him we’re leaving. Honestly, you’d think he didn’t trust me or something. I’m also thinking about going back to school, but I haven’t decided yet.
Senator Evans tried to “reason” with my father and tell him I was a liability and he shouldn’t try to keep me as his ward. When James didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear, I heard him shouting, and then James said some colorful words that would make a seasoned sailor blush. I was proud. Chase is still institutionalized so far as I know, and as far as I’m concerned, so long as he isn’t here, I don’t really care where he is.
Gwen and I went out to see Harper play first thing when I got back. James actually lets me go to the shows and such, and he hasn’t tried to stop me. He just insists I try to blend in and be careful. Then again, he doesn’t know I’ve been taking Angelica with me to some of them. Harper has become one of my best friends and he’s seeing a new girl. She’s this gorgeous Indian girl, Katherine. I really like her so far. Gwen is seeing a few someones and can’t decide if she actually is interested in any of them, or if she’s just having fun, or if she’s the relationship type, or if she wants to marry one of them. I love her dearly, but that girl is more confused than me. All the same, I love her, and she still always has cookies. Laurel on the other hand, is engaged. Apparently, she and Ben had been seeing one another for ages in secret and he proposed to her. I’m so happy for her.
I don’t know what is going to happen, but with everything working out like it is, I can’t complain. I have no idea what tomorrow brings, but so long as I have my family, friends, and Xavier by my side, I don’t think there’s anything I can’t handle. Until then, I’ll just keep calm and carry on. After all, what could really be that bad, right?
Trudy, Heather, Royal Pain in the Ass
