Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 123
“You’re making fun of me,” Jaxson narrowed his eyes.
Sophia laughed, “I’m not, really.”
Her face turned serious, “Go on.”
“With what you were going to say, go,” she said to Jaxson.
Jaxson felt a tad bit nervous – why was he nervous?
“It’s nothing.”
“What you said doesn’t sound like nothing,” Sophia said expectantly.
“I’m not kidding, it’s nothing,” Jaxson lied.
Sophia raised her brow, “My boyfriend who’s also your brother is waiting outside because you had something to talk to me about.”
“So speak, or else I’ll kick you out of my quarters and you’re permanently banned from here,” she threatened.
Jaxson gasped, “You wouldn’t.”
Sophia smiled slightly, “I would.”
“So speak.”
Jaxson kept quiet.
“Out with it, now,” Sophia demanded.
“I might like… her,” Jaxson began.
“You might?” Sophia asked.
“Are you kidding me?!”
“You’ve got to be more confident.”
“You like Clarisse, you’ve liked her for a while, no?” Sophia asked.
Jaxson bit his lip.
That was the major understatement of the year.
He didn’t like her.
He loved her.
He knew it’d been a while.
It hadn’t been more than a quarter of a year, and yet he was sure.
He was sure he was smitten by her.
It felt so right. He found everything about her wonderful.
Whenever he looked at her and him, he envied Blaine.
Blaine was a lucky man.
Her quirks, everything.
She was always in his thoughts. He craved her.
She was a priority to him.
He was dying to know if she felt the same way for him, but it was unlikely since she already had a boyfriend, and she seemed content with him.
Watching her and him go on dates, and banter with each other was torture for him. He knew he shouldn’t have felt this way, but he did.
It was pathetic of him.
“What am I supposed to say?” He asked her.
“Admit that I like her?” He asked Sophia.
“Because that’s not my agenda,” he admitted.
“Why? Do you think I like her?” He asked her.
Sophia tilted her head, “As a matter of fact, yes.”
“I do,” she answered.
“Why would you think so?” Jaxson asked curiously.
Sophia stared at him, “It’s obvious.”
“You make it obvious,” she said to Jaxson.
“Take it from me, I’d know,” she chuckled.
She remembered Nicholas was still outside waiting for them to finish their conversation.
‘Why did he exit the room anyway?’ She wondered.
She walked over and opened her doors.
“You done?” He asked her.
“Your brother is freaking out,” she said to him.
“So, instead of waiting for it to pass…”
Sophia blinked, “You’re coming with me.”
“He’s your brother.”
“He’s in love with your best friend,” Nicholas added.
Sophia took Nicholas by the hand and ushered him in her quarters.
“There, now you can go have some brother heart ot heart talk together.”
“Jax, you can freak out over her without me in view, and to your brother. Maybe then you’ll learn how to get a woman to like if not love you back.”
“Nicholas,” she greeted.
He kissed her on the cheek.
“Oh come on, stay, don’t leave,” he said to her.
“I’m going to have a chat with Julia,” Sophia said.
“You’ll be fine.”
“He’s your brother, not some stranger.”
“I know that, babe–”
Sophia had already left for Julia’s quarters.
She barged in asking the question, “Grandmere, have me and Nicholas met before?”
“When we were kids or something?”
“No?” She asked her grandmother.
“Dear, where are your manners?” Julia asked.
She didn’t look the least bit startled.
“You don’t barge into someone’s quarters like that, you knock and wait to be let in,” she reprimanded.
Sophia reasoned, “It’s important.”
“Nothing’s as important as behaving appropriately darling,” Julia said.
“And what was your question?”
“Something about Nicholas?” Julia asked next.
Sophia nodded, “Yes.”
“I was just curious as to whether or not I’ve met him before.”
“When we were kids, maybe.”
“A time we couldn’t remember.”
Julia looked appalled.
“What are you talking about, dear?”
“You and Nicholas had never met before,” she replied.
“Not before you met at the airport,” she confirmed.
Sophia’s heart sank.
That option was crossed.
Julia had no reason to lie.
She looked disappointed.
“Right, never mind,” she dismissed it.
Julia stared at her granddaughter.
“So… was that all you had to ask when you barged in my quarters?” She asked.
She patted the seat across her, “We haven’t had much time to talk these days.”
“Sit down, darling.”
Sophia knew better than to leave when grandmere had asked her to stay.
There was no arguing with this woman.
She nodded, “Okay.”
She sat down, she presumed Nicholas and Oliver were still having a heart to heart, so they wouldn’t realize how long she’d been gone for.
“How are you feeling?” She asked Sophia.
Sophia went silent.
“Nervous,” she answered.
“I don’t know how to be a girlfriend, and I don’t know how to be as amazing as a queen as you were,” Sophia added.
“Grandmere, I’m not ready,” Sophia said.
Julia narrowed her eyes, “You’ve changed.”
“O-Of course I have a boyfriend now,” Sophia replied.
Julia shook her head, “Not that way.”
“The child I raised was competitive and ambitious.”
“She never doubted herself, much less her abilities.”
“She knew she’d save Beldovia from the hands of whoever was on the throne then.”
“Where did she run off to?” Julia raised her brow.
“I’m just as enthusiastic to rule as I was before,” Sophia assured.
“Yet you doubt yourself, no?”
Sophia hesitated.
“I just…”
“I have different priorities now, grandmere.”
“There’s Nicholas in my life now and…”
Julia took Sophia by the hand.
“Child,” she began.
“You can balance being queen and being a spouse.”
“It’s not impossible and has been done by many before.”
Sophia asked her, “How did you do it?”
Julia had looked as though she’d been expecting that question from her.
“Well…”
“I had your father to raise and teach.”
“Your grandfather to love.”
“And a kingdom to rule.”
“I balanced it all.”
“Do you want to know how?” She asked her granddaughter.
“I had confidence in myself.”
“I went with the flow and trusted myself.”
“Whenever I walked in the room, I walked like I was in charge.”
“Know that you’re going to be queen for a reason.”
“You weren’t chosen by a coin flip, or a dice toss.”
“You’re a royal, not just any royal, you’re my granddaughter.”
“And it’s not to be mistaken with you’re going to be a great queen because you’re my granddaughter… but, I’ve raised you. I’ve trained you.”
A grin formed on Sophia’s face.
“Thank you.”
Julia didn’t say anything.
She just nodded.
Sophia took her cue and left.
__
“Please tell me you’re done talking,” Sophia said, entering her quarters.
Nicholas was waiting for her.
“Where did Jaxson run off to?”
Nicholas shrugged, “His quarters probably.”
“You were right,” Nicholas said to her.
Sophia shook her head, “No, we were right.”
“He’s smitten,” Nicholas nodded.
“Poor Jaxson,” Sophia mumbled.
“So you’re sympathising with him now?” Nicholas asked curiously.
Sophia looked dryly at him, “As a matter of fact, no.”
“Remember the time Ava came to visit,” she brought up.
Nicholas groaned, “Her.”
His signature smirk formed on his face, “So you do admit.”
“You were jealous,” he said to her in astonishment.
Sophia pouted, “Damn right I was.”
“She’s the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.”
“She was your childhood friend.”
“She knew you better than I did too,” Sophia added.
“How could I not feel jealous?” She asked.
She snuggled beside him.
“When did looks ever become something to be jealous about?” Sophia asked.
He placed a tentative kiss on his girlfriend’s forehead.
“Besides you outnumber Ava when it comes to intelligence and personality.”
“Not to mention looks.”
“You’re perfect,” he praised her.
“No one can say anything less.”
__
Sophia chuckled, “And you, Ambrose.”
“You’re incredible.”
She shot him one of those smiles that were enough to light up the entire room.
He was tempted to melt into a puddle of goo.
He and Sophia chatted more before Sophia fell asleep.
“I’m so lucky to have you,” he whispered, watching his girlfriend.
He swore he could’ve heard someone say, “And I’m so lucky to have you too,” but dismissed it.
He went to sleep soon after.
__
“Ma’am, I don’t mean to disrespect you.”
“But we want the same thing.”
“For Marcus to be alright,” Louis explained for what seemed like the millionth time.
“He was in a fatal car accident.”
“He could’ve died.”
“And you’re more worried about how long the recovery time will take?”
“Your son is okay.”
“He is recovering.”
“He will be fine.”
“Instead of blaming me for everything and placing Marcus in the middle, focus and priotize your son above all else,” Louis said, his patience running out.
“I have no ill intentions with him, I only want the best for him.”
“So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be by Marcus’ side, waiting and waiting till the day he wakes up.”
“It’s up to you if you want to do the same.”