Chapter 432
Madison
“Come on, sweetheart.” I took Ethan’s hand, steering him toward the elevator. “Say goodbye to the cloud
bed.”
“Bye, cloud bed!” Ethan waved enthusiastically at the guest room. “I’ll miss you!”
Alexander followed us, his presence filling the space behind me. The elevator ride down felt endless. Ethan chattering about dinosaurs and tall buildings while I focused on breathing normally.
The Bentley waited in the underground garage, all sleek black curves and leather interior that probably cost more than I made in six months.
“Can I ride in the front?” Ethan bounced on his toes. “Please, please, please?”
“Backseat,” I said automatically.
“But Mom!”
“Backseat, Ethan.”
Alexander opened the back door, helping Ethan climb in and buckling his seatbelt with surprising competence. “Next time, you can sit in front. When you’re taller.”
“How much taller?”
“At least this much.” Alexander held his hand several inches above Ethan’s head.
“I’ll grow really fast! I drink milk every day!”
“Good plan.” Alexander closed the door gently, then moved to open mine.
I slid into the passenger seat, hyperaware of everything. The way the leather smelled expensive and new. The way Alexander’s cologne lingered in the enclosed space. The way my pulse hammered against my ribs for absolutely no good reason.
He started the engine, the Bentley purring to life.
“King Alexander?” Ethan called from the backseat.
“Yes?”
“Do you have a dragon?”
“No dragons, remember? Just tall buildings.”
“That’s sad.” Ethan kicked his feet against the seat. “Every king needs a dragon. For protection!”
“What would I protect myself from?”
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“Bad guys! And monsters! And vegetables!
I bit back a laugh. “Vegetables aren’t the enemy, Ethan.”
‘Broccoli is
Alexander’s lips twitched. “What about carrots?”
Carrots are okay. But broccoli is evil”
“Noted. No broccoli in the kingdom.”
Ethan beamed like Alexander had just promised him the moon.
We pulled out of the garage into Manhattan traffic. The city stretched around us, all lights and movement and noise that somehow felt muted inside the Bentley’s cocoon,
“How was your nap?” Alexander asked, glancing at Ethan in the rearview mirror.
Amazing! Your bed is so soft! Like sleeping on marshmallows!” Ethan’s hands gestured wildly. “And the pillows were huge! Like this big!” He spread his arms as wide as they’d go.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“Can I sleep there again? Tomorrow?”
“You’re welcome anytime. Both of you.”
Heat rushed to my face. I focused on the window, watching the city blur past.
“Mom?” Ethan’s voice piped up from the backseat. “Can we get ice cream?”
“It’s almost nine thirty. Way past ice cream time.”
“But I took a good nap!”
“That doesn’t change bedtime rules.”
“King Alexander, do you like ice cream?”
“I do.”
“See, Mom? He likes ice cream! That means we should get some!”
“That’s not how logic works, baby.”
Alexander’s lips curved. Actually curved. Into something that might be called a smile if I looked at it from the right angle.
Traffic slowed as we approached Hazel’s neighborhood.
“Are we almost there?” Ethan pressed his face against the window.
“Almost. I confirmed
1 had so much fun today! He bounced in his seat “We rode the train, ate cotton candy, and slept on a
cloud bedr
“You did have a big day”
The best day ever!”
We pulled up outside Hazel’s building.
Alexander killed the engine. Silence settled over us, heavy with everything unsaid.
“Thank you for the ride,” I said, reaching for the door handle.
“Wait.” Alexander’s hand shot out, not quite touching mine, but close enough that I felt the heat. “Can I walk you up?”
“That’s not necessary, but okay.”
He climbed out, moving around to help Ethan from the backseat. My son grabbed his hand immediately, chattering about the doorman’s fancy uniform as we headed inside.
The elevator ride felt intimate in a way that made my skin prickle. Ethan was between us, still talking, while Alexander and I carefully avoided looking at each other.
The doors opened onto Hazel’s floor. I grabbed Ethan’s hand, steering him down the hallway. Alexander followed a few steps behind, his presence making the space feel smaller.
Hazel’s door opened before we could knock.
“There you are!” She stepped back, letting us in. “How was the park?”
“IT WAS AMAZING!” Ethan launched into an immediate recap, his words tumbling over each other. “We rode the train and ate cotton candy and King Alexander won me a dinosaur and we went on the Ferris wheel even though Mom was scared and we took pictures in a booth and-”
“Breathe, baby,” I interrupted gently.
Alexander appeared in the doorway. “Thanks for having us.”
“Anytime.” Hazel’s smile was genuine. “You guys have fun?”
“So much fun!” Ethan bounced. “Can we go again tomorrow? Please?”
“We’ll see.” I smoothed his hair, which immediately sprang back up. “Say goodbye to Alexander.”
Ethan’s face fell. “Already?”
“It’s late. You need dinner and a bath.”
“But I’m not tired!” He yawned so wide I could see his back molars. “See? Not tired at all!”
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Alexander crouched down, bringing himself to Ethan’s level. Your mom’s right Youre
“Will I see you again?” The question came out small, uncertain.
“Yes. I promise.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
“Tomorrow soon or next week soon?”
“Very soon.” Alexander held out his hand for a high five. Ethan slapped it enthusiastically, then threw his arms around Alexander’s neck instead.
The hug happened so fast I couldn’t stop it. Ethan’s small body pressed against Alexander’s chest, his face buried in Alexander’s shoulder.
Alexander went completely still for a heartbeat. Then his arms came up, wrapping around Ethan with careful gentleness.
Ethan pulled back first, beaming. “You’re the best king ever!”
“You’re pretty great yourself, prince.”
Ethan turned to me, grabbing my hand. “Can I go play with Aunt Hazel’s books now?”
“For a little bit. Then bath time.”
He raced off toward the living room without waiting for confirmation.
Alexander straightened, his eyes finding mine. The intensity in his gaze made my pulse jump.
“Madison.” His voice was low enough that only I could hear. “Thank you. For today.”
“You already thanked me.”
“I’m thanking you again.” He stepped closer, close enough that I caught his scent. “For letting me spend time with him. For giving me a chance.”
“I did it for Ethan.”
“I know.” His hand reached up, hovering near my face before dropping. “But thank you anyway.”
Before I could respond, he pulled me into a hug.
I froze, every muscle going rigid. His arms wrapped around me, warm and solid, and for a heartbeat I forgot how to breathe. The scent of his cologne mixed with cotton candy and something uniquely him flooded my senses.
My hands pressed against his chest, caught between pushing away and staying put.
2
alt
“I’ll see you soon,” Alexander said quietly, his voice rumbling through his chest. “Very soon.” Then he released me, stepping back before I could process what had just happened.
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“Bye, King Alexander!” Ethan waved from inside the doorway, Mr. Whiskers tucked under his arm. “Bye, prince.” Alexander’s expression softened as he looked at my son. “Take care of your mom.”
“I always do!” Ethan announced proudly.
Alexander’s eyes found mine one last time. Something passed between us, unspoken and loaded with implications I wasn’t ready to examine.
Then he turned and walked down the hallway toward the elevator.
I stood in the doorway, watching until he disappeared around the corner. My chest felt tight, my skin still warm where his arms had been. 1
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