Royally Lost (18 page)

30

Becca
had been home for fifteen days with no word from Nikolai. Dylan was leaving for school in a few days and had insisted she hang out at their pool with him and his friends.

She’d gone out with her friends once, but sneaking beer down to the lake and scoping for guys on State Street was no longer her idea of a good time.

Kelly had called and begged forgiveness for going out with Ethan. The fact was, Becca didn’t even care anymore. She considered telling Kelly about Nikolai, but he was so private and special that she decided to keep it to herself.

“Hey, Becca, looking good,” Marcus, Dylan’s best friend, said, taking a seat next to her.

“Hi, Marcus.” For years when she was younger, Becca had secretly crushed on Marcus, who wore a small gold hoop earring and had his hair buzz cut. He’d never paid any attention to her. He always dated hot girls, and ignored Becca.

Marcus adjusted his aviator shades, his muscular body bronzed from an idle summer at his family’s cabin.

“So, you start Northwestern next week.”

“That’s the plan,” she said, noticing his long swim trunks. She remembered Nikolai, swimming in his underwear and almost giggled.

“That’s awesome. You’ll have to come by the frat house. It’ll be a party every night during rush.”

“I’ll think about it,” she lied.

“Dylan told me you had quite the awesome time in Europe, and that you were hanging out with a prince. I saw pictures online. Dang, that’s crazy!”

Becca looked across the pool at Dylan, who popped open a beer for a girl from the neighborhood. He noticed Marcus with Becca, raised his bottle, and smiled.

She shook her head. Becca had never been anything more to Marcus than Dylan’s annoying little sister. But now Marcus suddenly noticed her because she knew Nikolai.

“You want to go out this weekend? I’ve got tickets to the Badger preseason football game,” Marcus asked, flicking an ant off his lawn chair.

“You know, Marcus, I really don’t. But it’s sweet of you to ask.”

She collected her towel and Diet Pepsi, and went in the house. The poor guy looked shocked, as if he’d never been turned down before, which he probably hadn’t.

If Marcus had asked her before she left for Europe, she’d have jumped at the chance. But now, Marcus was just another immature guy, more interested in the next party than anything else.

She watched Dylan’s friends from the window, all laughing and goofing off. No matter how she tried, she just couldn’t find that carefree mood anymore.

Instead of hanging out with friends, Becca had spent her time poring over the internet, trying to find a new way to contact Nikolai. She’d sent an official letter the second day she was home, as that was the protocol according to the Mondovian Royal Family website.

The one good thing she’d found were websites that reported on the royals, complete with articles and online photos. The palace had issued a statement downplaying Nikolai’s disappearance and tabloid appearances. He’d even made a few official appearances.

In the first photos she saw, his smile seemed forced and his body rigid as he walked stoically with his father, the king. This was not the Nikolai she knew. But in the last couple of pictures, he appeared happier and was attending social events.

He even posed with a beautiful girl with glossy black hair. It was a punch in the gut, but he had explained once that most of the girls he met at social functions were distant relatives performing their royal duties, too. She hoped this was true, but each day she felt farther away from him.

Becca checked the snail mail, leafing through it quickly.

There it was!

She held an official-looking envelope, complete with a Mondovian emblem, marked
International.

“Oh my God,” she whispered aloud, dropping the rest of the mail. She hugged the coveted letter. The thick, bright paper included an embossed seal for the return address. She grabbed a knife from the drawer, carefully slit open the envelope, and slid out the single sheet of paper.

Dear Miss Hanson,

Prince Nikolai wishes to thank you for your recent letter in which you invited His Royal Highness to make your acquaintance. He was extremely grateful for your kind greetings.

    
Unfortunately, His Royal Highness is unable to reply personally to his many requests and has asked me to send his kind regards and best wishes.

Yours truly,

Greta Vogel

Royal Assistant

Becca flipped the page over. That’s it? All that time and he couldn’t even write her back? Her eyes welled. How could he let her go so fast? She dropped the letter on the kitchen counter, went to her room, and fell onto her bed. She stared at the ceiling, devastated and unwanted. Tears rolled from her eyes.

An hour later a knock sounded on her door. “Yeah,” she muttered.

“Becca, it’s me,” Vicky called.

Becca sighed. “Come in.”

The door slowly opened. “Hi,” Vicky said. “How are you doing? Have you been in here by yourself all day?”

“No. Just for a while.”

“I found this on the counter.” She placed Becca’s letter from Mondovia on the bed. “Do you want to talk about it?”

The letter symbolized everything that had gone wrong. “I feel like such a fool,” Becca said, crossing her arms and hugging herself. “Everything was so perfect, and I totally fell for him. But then everything fell apart, and he hasn’t even tried to reach me. Not even once.”

Vicky grimaced. “I’m sorry. You must like him very much.”

“I do. More than I have a right to. And now he’s gone, and I’m back here. I’m supposed to start school soon and, more than ever, I don’t want to go.”

“I thought you were excited about Northwestern.”

“Not really. I tried to be because that’s where Ethan was going, and I knew Dad wanted me to go there. But what’s the point? I don’t even know what I want to do with my life. Dad wants me to be a lawyer, but I swear it’s the last thing I’ll do.”

“You don’t need to know your future profession to attend college. There are so many wonderful experiences that are part of going to college. You’ll meet great people and do amazing things.”

Becca nodded. It was always easier to go with the flow. “I know. That’s what everyone says. I’ll go. It’s fine.”

“But you don’t want to?” Vicky asked.

“No. I don’t. It’s a waste of money and time. I don’t want to go ‘have an experience.’ I did that in Europe. I had the most amazing time of my life, and I can’t imagine anything ever topping that.”

Vicky smiled. “I’m glad it was so wonderful, even if it ended badly.” She sat on the edge of the bed and ran her hand over the bedspread. “Have you ever thought about taking a year off?”

“I could never do that. Dad would flip out. He’s still mad about me lying to him and staying in Europe.”

“I’m not so sure he’d react badly. You know, Becca, some people are ready for college right away, and some people need to take time off before they settle back into school. In the UK they call it a gap year.”

Becca nodded.

“Maybe you’re one of those people who needs some time off to experience more of life before you buckle down to more studies.”

What was Vicky getting at?

“If you weren’t going to Northwestern, what would you do?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never thought about it.”

“Think about it now. Before our trip, you wanted to stay here, at home.”

Those thoughts seemed like a million years ago. “I can’t imagine staying here now. It would literally kill me. I feel like a totally different person. The only thing my friends want to do is go drinking and meet guys. They’re so shallow.”

Vicky fought back a smile, but said nothing.

“I feel I need to escape this boring life. I really want to be with Nikolai, but everything I’ve tried has been a big fail. Either his people are keeping us apart, or he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore.”

Vicky nodded.

“If I weren’t going to school, I think I’d like to go someplace new, where no one knew me and there were no expectations. Maybe volunteer somewhere or something.”

“Maybe you should do that,” Vicky offered.

“Are you kidding? Dad would totally freak.”

“I think I can handle your dad on this. Come with me. I want to show you something.”

Becca followed Vicky downstairs to the family room. She couldn’t imagine what Vicky wanted to show her.

Vicky pulled photo albums from the bottom shelf of the bookcase. “Let me see if I can find the right one. Ah, here it is!” She handed an outdated photo album to Becca.

She recognized it immediately. “This was my mom’s.” Becca held it like a coveted antiquity.

“I know. When we remodeled two years ago, I reorganized down here and found it. Take a look.”

Becca opened the book. The aging spine crackled. The first picture showed her mom grinning brightly and looking very young. She stood in front of a sign that read
Costa Rica
. Becca’s breath hitched. “I remember this book.”

After her mom’s death, Becca had pored over every picture of her mother that she could find.

Becca turned the page and revealed pictures of her mom hiking in a rain forest, standing near a waterfall, and next to a giant sea turtle. “I wonder when she went to Costa Rica.” Becca recalled that this was where Nikolai mentioned he wanted to escape to, if his life were different.

“Right after high school,” Vicky said.

Becca looked up.

“Your mom took a year off before she started college.” Vicky smiled at Becca with kind eyes.

“How did you know that?” She was seeing a new side to Vicky, one she hadn’t recognized before.

“Your dad told me. He loved your mom very much and was lost after she died. I think a part of him closed off when she passed away. But there is a lot of good in your father, and I’m happy with the part he’s able to share with me.”

Becca had never looked at it that way before. She’d always expected her dad to be strong and deal with things. It never occurred to her that he hurt, too.

“Maybe you’re like your mom and need some time before you start college.”

“Is that even possible? Everything is all set. I’m already registered.” Becca couldn’t imagine having that option.

“Anything is possible.”

Becca didn’t know why Vicky was being so kind, then realized that maybe she’d never really given her stepmother a chance to get close. Her heart swelled with gratitude.

Vicky stood. “I’ll leave you alone to enjoy some time with your mom.”

“Vicky?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

31

Two
weeks later, Nikolai waited outside Fisk Hall at Northwestern University until every student left. Then he checked the lecture room to make sure no one remained. That was the last class on his list. Still no Becca.

He’d spent the past two days checking every class required for incoming freshman. He’d visited the dining halls and even located the freshman dorms. He asked every girl if they recognized Becca’s picture. No one did.

Sadly, the only pictures he had of her were taken by paparazzi. Maybe he should be thankful for their photographic skills after all.

Nikolai sighed. If Becca were here, he’d have found her by now. He pulled out his phone and called Dmitri.

“That’s it. I can’t find her.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Dmitri said.

After a long heart-to-heart conversation with his parents, he’d convinced them that Dmitri was the ultimate loyal employee and the man was rehired.

“When I first met Becca, I bumped into her everywhere I turned. Now, no matter how hard I try, nothing.”

“Perhaps fate only meant for you to be together for that one week. She obviously made a major impact on your life. Maybe that’s why you met her. You’re in a much better place than you were two months ago.”

Nikolai still couldn’t believe how his parents had done a one-eighty on their control of his life. They even seemed relieved at some of the new changes that were taking place in Mondovia.

“Maybe. I just can’t believe it’s really over. I was so sure I’d find her.”

“On the bright side, now you can start your new adventure knowing you did everything you could to locate her.”

While his parents said they no longer expected him to enter the military, they insisted he go to university, but in another shocking move, they said he didn’t need to start until the following fall.

“I guess. I’ll check in with you once I reach the airport,” Nikolai said.

“Very good.”

But he couldn’t imagine ever feeling settled with this giant hole in his heart. As he walked back to his hotel, he saw the dining hall with students coming and going and decided to give it one final try.

After a few minutes of students barely glancing at the photo as they passed, Nikolai held out the photo to a guy with his hair buzzed short and wearing a small gold hoop earring.

“Excuse me. Do you know this girl?”

The guy glanced at the photo and suddenly stopped short. “Yeah, I do. That’s Becca Hanson.”

Nikolai couldn’t believe it. If he’d gone straight to his hotel, he’d have missed this guy. “Oh my God, you have no idea how great this is. Do you know what dorm she’s in or how I can get in touch with her?”

The guy looked at Nikolai closer. “I know you! You’re that prince she was with in Europe.”

Taken aback, Nikolai nodded. “Yes, I am. May I ask how you know this?”

“I’m friends with her brother.”

“Dylan!” It took everything he had not to shout with joy. This was definitely a guy who knew Becca.

“Yes, I’m Marcus. How ya doing?” He held out his hand and Nikolai happily shook his meaty grip.

“It’s great to meet you. I’m Nikolai. So can you take me to her dorm?”

“Actually, that would be impossible.”

“Why’s that?”

“She’s not here. She never started school. She’s off on some trip to Central America.”

“Are you sure?” He’d been so certain she said she’d be attending Northwestern.

“I don’t know the exact location, but I can guarantee she’s not here.”

Nikolai’s brain kicked into high gear. If she was off in some remote country, how the heck could he find her? Would she even have cell service? “Do you happen to have her phone number?”

“Sorry, I don’t. But I have her home phone and Dylan’s cell.” He pulled out his phone.

“That’s perfect.” Nikolai entered the two numbers into his phone. “Marcus, I can’t thank you enough. You have no idea.”

“How about a picture?” Marcus asked.

“Sure, why not.” Nikolai posed beside Marcus as he held his phone before them and snapped a picture. “Dylan isn’t going to believe it. Hey, we’re having a party tonight. You should stop by. Everyone would totally flip out if you walked in.”

He smiled. “Thanks, but I’ve got some calls to make and a plane to catch. It’s been great meeting you.”

“No problem, but if you change your mind, we’re the Phi Sig house on the north edge of campus.”

“I wish I could. Thanks again.” Nikolai headed off, flying high. He was so much closer to being with Becca.