Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 114

“Listen, I know I’m the last person you want to talk to right now, but…”

“I haven’t seen you in weeks, so…”

“Please just call me back,” Louis hung up afterward.

He pocketed his phone.

__

“Morning,” he greeted her.

Sophia yawned.

“Morning Ambrose,” she greeted.

Nicholas reminded, “You know, you could call me something other than Ambrose.”

“Why should I? I think it’s cute,” Sophia admitted.

“Then call me Ambrose, never mind,” Nicholas chuckled.

“What a perfect way to start an amazing day,” Sophia said, shrinking in her bed.

She’d waken up to Nicholas’ greeting. He had stayed next to her.

“Did you stay up late?” He asked her.

She shook her head, “I slept a while after you did.”

He scratched the back of his neck.

“So I must’ve slept first huh,” he said.

Sophia rested her head on his shoulder.

“You did,” she answered.

She laughed softly, “We didn’t finish the movie.”

Nicholas laughed with her, “We didn’t.”

“Why don’t we have breakfast in bed,” Sophia suggested, she didn’t want to move. She wondered if she’d even be able to get up.

She wanted to stay right where she was.

She wanted to feel safe in his arms.

But there was a whole world out there and a kingdom she knew she’d rule one day.

Today would be an exception, she told herself.

“Breakfast in bed sounds excellent,” Nicholas nodded enthusiastically.

One call later, Sophia and Nicholas enjoyed their breakfast in bed, sharing their food while chatting happily.

Sophia sighed, asking, “Why can’t every day be like this?”

It was all exceptionally perfect. Waking up to Nicholas before enjoying breakfast in bed with him and no one else.

She wondered what it’d be like if she wasn’t a royal.

If both she and Nicholas weren’t royals.

She asked him, “What would it be like if we weren’t royals?”

“If we didn’t have the responsibilities of ruling a kingdom one day?”

She fidgeted with her pajama sleeve, rolling it up.

“What would you think your life consisted of if so?”

“I don’t know why it just popped up in my mind, it’s extremely random,” she added.

“No it’s not, really,” Nicholas insisted.

“I just…”

“If I weren’t a royal…”

He hesitated.

Where would he be if he wasn’t a royal?

He hadn’t an idea to be frankly honest.

He’d always been a royal, he’d always been treated as such, and he’d never once thought what it’d be like if he wasn’t a royal. Of course with the exception of his family who never treated him like he was special.

They treated him as though he was a mere pawn in their game of chess.

He thought about it.

“I can’t imagine my life not being a royal.”

“But what I do know is that I’d still be with you,” he said.

“Smooth,” Sophia praised, chuckling.

“Right?” Nicholas waggled his eyebrows.

Sophia gently hit him with her pillow, laughing.

“Oh, so that’s how you want to play, huh?” Nicholas asked, smiling, grabbing one pillow, declaring war.

__

“Do you think Marcus is alright?” Louis asked Clarisse, pacing around his quarters nervously.

Clarisse blinked, “As your friend, I’m supposed to say yes and assure you everything is going to be okay, since that’s my job and that’s the probable truth.”

“So… yes I do think he’s alright.”

“Just give him space, Lou. Please.”

Louis glared at her, insisting, “I have!”

“It’s been weeks and there’s been no news from him.”

“No letters, no calls, no anything.”

“I even left him a voicemail saying I missed him for crying out loud!” Louis exclaimed.

“Ah,” Clarisse nodded.

Something had to be up.

Of course, Louis had told her everything, but not Sophia.

He decided it was best for her to enjoy the first month of dating with her boyfriend, not spend it worrying over whatever happened to her brother’s… friend with benefits.

Louis wondered to himself what he should do.

Should he put out a search warrant?

Ask around to see if Marcus had been spotted anywhere the past few days?

Call up his family and ask if they’d seen him or if he came to visit?

Call up the hospital in case they were treating Marcus?

He was overthinking everything, he knew. But something told him something was wrong.

Marcus would at least have the decency to call him back and inform him he was alright.

This was odd. Extremely odd.

Something had to be up, that could be the only explanation.

Louis wondered if Marcus was over him if he’d moved on and never wanted to see him again.

He wondered if…

If Marcus thought he was better off without him in his life.

He panicked, “What if he doesn’t… see me the way he did before?”

Clarisse assured, “I doubt he’d think that.”

“You’ve got to stop overthinking, Lou.”

“It’s not going to do anything but agitate you even more,” she stated.

Louis nodded, “I suppose you’re right.”

“But–”

“Nope,” Clarisse interjected.

“You do something else and I’m telling Sophia,” she warned.

Louis took a step back.

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would,” Clarisse nodded.

“Marcus is probably off somewhere wondering how he’ll win you back.”

“There’s nothing wrong so there’s no need for you to worry.”

“How you’re behaving right now is exactly how a worried boyfriend would act.”

“It’s sweet, but you don’t have to worry.”

“Marcus knows how to handle himself.”

“Probably,” she mumbled under her breath so as to not make Louis panic.

Panicky Louis was not pleasant to deal with.

“Just, want to join me for breakfast?”

Louis nodded, “I would actually.”

“Alright then, let’s go,” Clarisse said.

She got up.

“Really, I doubt Marcus would lose interest in you.”

“Any man would be lucky to have you, so don’t think that way.”

“Besides, if he does.”

“You don’t deserve him,” she added.

“Don’t say that,” Louis said to her, defending Marcus.

“Alright,” Clarisse sighed.

Louis wasn’t protective of anyone unless it was Sophia.

Really, it was nice seeing him get all defensive when it came to someone else. Someone other than his little sister.