Chapter 14~

A ship meets us about ten miles from Costa Luna. I guess the PPP figured it would be less suspicious if we sailed in a on a royal ship, rather than the top secret PPP submarine. They even brought us a change of clothes, so we can look somewhat presentable when we sail into town.

Doña Sophia is there to welcome us when we sail into the harbor. She and Rosie hug for a long, long time once we get off the ship. I can't help but wish my dad was here. Doña Sophia shakes Megrin and Petros's hands and welcomes them to Costa Luna in Italian. The twins respond eagerly, excited to be speaking their native tongue. It just makes me think of Armando, which makes me anxious to get to the palace and see him before I leave. Doña Sophia gives me a hug and says that she's glad I'm safe.

Eventually, we all pile into the car and drive to the palace. I'm on the edge of my seat the entire time, doing my best to will time to go faster, not that it actually listens to me. When we pull into the wide driveway in front of the palace, a group of Costa Lunan subjects and palace servants stand there waiting for us, but Armando's not there. As soon as the car stops, I burst out and run through the crowd into the palace. I run through hallways and corridors looking for Armando, until I spot him by the pool with the pool net in hand. He looks even hotter than before in a tight white v-neck and black shorts. I swear he got even more tan and muscular while I gone, which I didn't think was possible.

"Carter!" he smiles wide when he sees me, throwing aside the pool net. I run into his arms and he picks me up and spins me around, then sets me on the ground and kisses me headlong. I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, my body folding into his. The past four days just fade away.

"I told you I'd come back," I say breathlessly when we stop kissing.

"I knew you would." He smiles at me and I swoon. "How was your trip?"

"Eh…" I shrug. "I just wanted to come back to be with you."

"Well, I'm glad you're back," he says. "I missed you like crazy."

"I missed you too," I promise.

"Hey, I know you have to leave soon, but I have to get back to work, so I will catch you later. Maybe some gelato by the pool?"

"Sounds great," I say as he takes my hand and swings it back and forth. "I'm really glad you didn't get fired. I was worried."

"I've been working here much too long to be fired over something so stupid," he assures me. "We'll just have to be more…" he lets his fingers trace the side of my face. "…discreet."

He presses his lips against my forehead and then picks up the pool net and goes back to scooping dead insects out of the water. I start to walk away and notice Petros for the first time, leaning against the wall, half hidden in the shadows, just staring at us. I walk over to him, against my better judgment.

"So that's the infamous boyfriend," Petros says.

"I told you he was real." I cross my arm and smile smugly.

"Your best friend's pool boy?" Petros questions. "Surely you could do better."

"It's just a summer job," I argue. "He's headed to university in the fall."

"To study what?" Petros laughs. "The science of chlorine?"

"Believe it or not, I actually have better things to do than stand here talking to you," I snap. "Enjoy your stay at the palace."

Surprisingly, he doesn't try to stop me from leaving. I guess he figures he still has a couple more hours to torture me.

The blue room looks the same as when I left it, just a lot cleaner. The bed's made, the closet's picked up and the floor is clear. So this is what having a maid feels like. I could get used to this.

The suitcase I took to Bellissimare is sitting on the bed. I pull out all the dirty clothes and shove them down the laundry chute. Next is the closet, where I do my best to separate the clothes I brought from the ones Mr. Elegante made me. A tear falls onto my cheek, but I quickly wipe it away. This is my fault. If I had acted a little more like a princess, I wouldn't be in this mess.

"Hey." Rose eases open the door and walks in. "I was wondering where you disappeared to."

I wipe away another stupid tear. "Don't worry. I'll be out of your hair by dinner."

"You're leaving?" Rosie frowns.

"You told me I had to." I rub away a trail of tears.

"That was before this whole mess with the twins," Rosie laughs. "You can't leave now! I need you!"

I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around what she's saying.

"Yes, I'm still mad at you for hooking up with Armando." Rosie sits down on the bed. "But you heard Director Rogan. We make a great team, you and I together."

I start to tear up again, but for a completely different reason this time. Rosie gets up and hugs me.

"You're my best friend, Carter," she says. "I may get mad at you for making out with my pool boy or mouthing off to our boss, but in the middle of a crisis, I know you've got my back."

"Yeah, you too," I offer lamely.

Rose laughs. "Try and get some sleep. I know there wasn't too much of that to be had on this trip. I'll catch up with you later."

"Are you gonna go take a nap too?" I ask.

Rosie shakes her head. "I've got four days of official queen business to catch up on. I don't think I'll be sleeping for a while."

"Alright." I crack one of my first real smiles in days. "I'll see you later."

"See ya," Rosie says as she leaves. She stops in the doorway. "Carter?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."