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ao719 · 1 year

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Vancross

Vancross - Real As A Dream (Chapter 14)

Most of the characters belong to Pixelberry.

Summary: A group of friends embark on their final year at Vancross Institute with the hopes of making it their best year yet. When a new face with a complicated family plagued by secrets and rumors arrives on campus, new friendships are formed, a new relationship blossoms, and threatening challenges arise.

Title inspiration: Infinitely Falling - Fly By Midnight

Main Pairing: Liam x F!OC

A/N: Multiple crossover series. There will be random sprinkles of canon throughout this story, but for the most part, it’s pretty much out the window. Thank you to @burnsoslow for prereading! Please excuse any errors.

Rating: M • Warnings: This series will contain nsfw material, language, some alcohol and drug use, and is not suitable for minors. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+

Catch up here

After arriving back to their suite and quickly packing their bags for their impromptu weekend trip, Croía and Alia walked out of their building, flanked by their guards who were carrying their bags. Liam had told them not to worry about finding something to bring for the ball because the palace had a boutique with an array of gowns for them to choose from.

“Ready?”

Croía heard his voice and looked up, seeing Liam, grinning as he walked toward her. “Yeah,” she smiled.

They walked to the waiting SUV that was parked at the back entrance of campus and loaded their bags before slipping inside. Anthony, Liam’s guard, promised updates to the others before driving off and heading for the airport.

Liam leaned over to Croía. “I’m really glad you’re coming,” he said before kissing the top of her head.

“Me too,” Croía smiled as she looked at him.

Blaine’s head suddenly poked between them from the back seat. “What about me?” he asked, tapping his cheek to Liam.

Laughing, Liam palmed his face and shoved him back. “I think you have enough to worry about once Lena gets wind you’re there.”

“Why does he need to worry about that?” Croía asked.

Blaine, Alia, and Liam all chuckled. “My sister is absolutely smitten with Blaine, and she makes no attempts to hide it, either.”

Croía stared at him; she found herself a little nervous about meeting the rest of his family. “What are your brother and sister like?”

“Lena is your average, obnoxious little sister,” Liam chuckled. “But she’s a good kid. Leo … Leo is …”

“Awesome,” Blaine laughed.

Liam chuckled. “He’s very carefree and laid back, a bit of a jokester, says what he means and means what he says. And I’m sure he’ll try to embarrass the fuck out of me in front of you.”

“Yeah, he will,” Alia laughed as she and Blaine nodded in agreement.

“So, what are the plans, anyway?” Blaine asked.

“Nothing until the ball tomorrow evening,” Liam subtly rolled his eyes, shaking his head with a small smile. “And then coming back sometime Sunday. So tonight and most of the day tomorrow we can do whatever.”

After a short drive, the SUV pulled up to the tarmac alongside the waiting jet. When Liam exited the vehicle, he was approached by Jackson. “Hello, sir,” Liam chuckled.

Jackson shook his head with a good-natured grin as he shook his hand, then looked at the others that gathered around him. “Rashad and Olivia are already on board with your parents, I just need to add these guys to the manifest. I already know you two,” he nodded with a smile toward Blaine and gave a bow of his head to Alia before gesturing to the jet; they grinned before heading for the stairs.

Liam slid his arm around Croía’s waist. “Croía, this is Jackson Walker, my parent’s head guard. Jackson, this is my girlfriend Croía.”

Jackson bowed his head, already having been made aware of Croía’s title. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You as well,” Croía smiled.

“Jackson here is like my second father,” Liam chuckled as he looked at her. “You remember my best friend Drake that I told you about, the one that lives in New York with our other friend?” She nodded in reply; he had talked about them on several occasions since she’d first met him. “This is his dad.”

Croía smiled with a nod of understanding as she glanced back at the guard. She already knew her upbringing was different, but hearing that truly solidified it. Liam’s childhood best friend — a man he spoke so highly of, a man he made sound more like a brother than a friend — was a commoner, the son of a guard. Her parents would never. She was barely allowed to associate with their court of nobles let alone anyone her parents deemed beneath them.

“Yes, yes. I can tell you loads of stories about this one growing up,” Jackson tilted his chin toward the Prince.

“Whatever do you mean? I was a saint,” Liam grinned. “Still am.”

Jackson arched a brow and looked at Croía. “You’re not really buying this illusion of perfection, are you?” She laughed as he glanced back at Liam and dropped his voice. “I could write a book.”

Liam smirked. “But you won’t.”

“Can’t,” Jackson corrected him. “It’s in my contract,” he winked as he clapped him on the shoulder before gesturing to the aircraft.

Liam laughed as he and Croía walked toward the jet and climbed the stairs. When they turned the corner into the cabin, he smiled at his parents in the front; Blaine, Alia, Rashad, and Olivia were all in the back.

“Hello, again,” Eleanor smiled. Liam kissed her cheek before shaking his father’s hand. “I’m glad you could make it, Croía.”

“Me too,” Croía smiled. “Thank you for inviting me.”

“We’re glad to have you,” Constantine nodded. “The flight is a couple of hours. Why don’t you two go get settled?”

Liam nodded before he and Croía headed toward the back of the cabin, and after greeting Olivia and Rashad, they settled in their seats. Several minutes later, the aircraft was turning onto the runway. Croía looked out the window as they started to lift into the air; she felt Liam’s hand slip into hers, and she looked at him. “Are you excited?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Croía grinned. “I’ve only ever been to two places outside of Drakovia — New York once, and then school.”

Liam leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “We won’t have time to really explore and show you the sights, but I promise to make it worth your while,” he smiled.

****

A couple of hours later, Liam glanced up at the cabin light above upon hearing the soft chime, signaling the passengers to fasten their seatbelts for landing. He smiled as he looked beside him and gestured to the window. “Welcome to Cordonia.”

Croía looked out the window as Liam leaned forward to peer over her shoulder; the jet dropped from the clouds and the island below came into view. A wide grin spread across her face as she took it in.

Sandy beaches and a bustling city boarded the seaside below, and far off in the distance toward the other side of the island, Croía could just make out the silhouettes of mountain peaks against the dusky sky. As they circled toward the airport, Liam pointed out the palace, perched atop a massive hill above the rest of the city.

“It’s beautiful,” Croía smiled. It truly was. It looked like something out of a dream and not a place she would have expected to visit just a mere few months ago. At that moment, she only wished she had more time to be able to explore it.

When the jet landed, everyone was escorted off to the waiting vehicles. Rashad and Olivia said their goodbyes; they were heading back to their duchies just for the night. The others climbed into the three-row SUV and took off for the palace.

After a short drive, they pulled through the gilded gates at the bottom of the hill; Croía looked out the window, taking in the pristine grounds as they drove up the long drive. When the palace came into view, her eyes slightly widened. No, it wasn’t the first palace she’d seen — she grew up in one — but the welcoming bright colors and Baroque architecture of the Cordonian palace were vastly different in contrast to the dreariness and isolation of the one she grew up in.

The SUV came to a stop outside of the doors and everyone climbed out; they were greeted by staff as they came to retrieve their bags from the motorcade. Croía stared up at the structure in awe.

“Welcome to our home,” Eleanor said as she came beside her.

Croía looked at her. “It’s beautiful,” she smiled.

“Wait until you see the inside,” Blaine chuckled from behind her.

“Come on,” Liam grinned, taking her hand and leading her inside.

Croía didn’t think the place could surprise her anymore, but when they stepped into the foyer, it blew her away. A panoply of historical paintings lined the walls, and two massive staircases curved around from either side of the foyer, leading up to the second level. To her left was a great room and what appeared to be a few small offices. To her right, two opulent white and gold doors were opened, leading into an enormous ballroom.

“Li!”

At the sound of the voice, Croía glanced over to see a man walking down one side of the staircase; he had the same height and build as Liam as well as the same blonde hair and blue eyes, and he wore a smile as he approached. There was no doubt who he was, but she waited for the introduction. She looked up at Liam who was grinning as he took a step forward; the two shook hands before pulling one another into a hug, but a moment later, their feet shifted, and in that hug, they began to playfully grapple.

“I can still kick your ass,” the man grumbled through a laugh.

“Bet,” Liam chuckled before swinging his arm up and wrapping it around him in a headlock.

“Whenever you two are done acting like children, there are introductions to be made,” Constantine said.

Liam and the man stood upright with smiles, both combing their hands through their now-disheveled hair. “Missed you, little brother,” the man laughed.

“Missed you, too,” Liam snorted. He glanced over, gesturing with his hand. “You know Blaine and Alia.”

“Alia, you look lovely as always,” Leo crooned, kissing her on the cheek. He then looked at Blaine. “You’re still ugly.”

“Still better looking than you,” Blaine quipped.

“That’s not what your mom—” The man paused, sliding his eyes to Eleanor who was arching a warning brow as Blaine coughed to cover up his laugh. “Heh.”

Liam silently laughed, shaking his head as the man turned back to him; his eyes fell on Croía with a broad grin. “Croía, this is my brother, Leo. Leo, this is Croía.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Leo said as he stepped up and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

“You as well,” Croia smiled.

“Liam here hasn’t shut up about you since the start of the school year when you two got paired up on that project together,” Leo smirked.

Liam’s brows shot up. “That’s not—”

“It’s true,” Leo interrupted. “He talked about you non-stop like a schoolgirl with a crush.”

Blaine and Alia laughed as Liam furrowed his brows; he shook his head, looking at Croía. “I-I didn’t—”

“And he went on and on and on about how beautiful you were,” Leo interrupted again, “but his words didn’t do you justice.” Croía’s cheeks flushed, and beside her, Liam shook his head with a smile, not bothering to try to correct his brother’s exaggeration that time. “So, Trystan Thorne’s baby sister …” He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. “How is your brother?”

“He’s doing ok,” Croía smiled. “I heard you two were suitemates the year he attended Vancross.”

“We were,” Leo nodded with a grin. “We certainly had our fair share of fun. I’ll have to get his number from you so I can call him and catch up … and to badmouth Liam, of course,” he smirked before dodging a punch from Liam.

“You’re here!” another voice sounded from the top of the stairs. Croía glanced up to see a girl with blonde hair coming down the stairs. When her eyes fell on Blaine, they widened along with her smile as she picked up her pace. She went to Liam and wrapped her arms around him. “Hi.”

“Hey, yourself,” Liam replied as he hugged her back. When she stepped back, she looked at Croía and tilted her head to the side. “Lena, you know Blaine and his girlfriend Alia.” She gave him a sideways glance at his extra emphasis on Alia’s label before smiling at the pair. “And this is Croía. Croía, this is my sister, Lena.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Croía smiled.

“You too,” Lena grinned. “I’m glad to see you’re still with us after Liam cooked you dinner.”

Constantine, Leo, Blaine, and Alia barked out a laugh as Eleanor shook her head with a faint smile. Liam narrowed his eyes. “Don’t you have a tea party or something to go to?”

Lena’s eyes slid to Blaine with a smile. “Nope.”

“Alright,” Eleanor said. “It’s been quite a long day and we have yet to eat. Liam, why don’t you take everyone to your wing to get settled, and you can call down to the kitchens to have something brought up for all of you.” Liam nodded before kissing Eleanor’s cheek. “Lena, have you eaten, sweetheart?”

“No,” Lena replied. “I’ll just go with Liam.”

“No, you won’t,” Liam shook his head.

“Come on! Let me come hang out with you!”

“No, because you’re not coming to hang out with me. Go with Mom and Dad and eat with them.” Liam looked at Leo as they started toward the stairs. “You wanna eat with us?”

“Liam!” Lena bemoaned.

“Don’t worry, little sis,” Leo smirked. “I’ll flirt with Blaine for you,” he laughed. Lena’s cheeks burned as she narrowed her eyes while the others started up the stairs.

When they reached the landing, Leo said he needed to stop in his wing but would meet them at Liam’s before disappearing down a corridor. Blaine and Alia turned one way while Liam, who was holding Croía’s hand, turned another. “Where are you going?” Blaine asked when he realized.

Liam glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not in the east wing anymore,” he replied, gesturing his head for them to follow. As they walked and turned down a few corridors, Croía took in her surroundings; the entire place was luxurious.

“Why did they move you?” Alia asked.

They finally neared the backside of the palace and Liam pushed open a door that led into an antechamber and a set of double doors. “After the abdication, they said I should have a bigger space, so they put me in the south wing.”

Liam pushed open the doors and they stepped inside the sprawling wing. Blaine grinned as he looked around. “Hell yeah, they did!” It was much grander than Liam’s old space.

The first level housed the kitchen, living, and dining areas spread out through an open-concept floor plan; it was painted a deep black, and the floor was a combination of marble and black wood. Near the massive chandelier that hung by the entryway was a staircase leading up to the second floor.

“Ok, Crown Prince,” Blaine rocked his head before feigning a hair flip.

Liam laughed, shaking his head. “They had it remodeled. It didn’t always look like this.” They grabbed their bags that sat at the bottom of the stairs before heading up. He turned to Blaine and Alia once they reached the top. “Guest rooms are down there. Pick whatever one you want.”

“Where’s yours?” Blaine asked, and Liam pointed to a lone door that stood at the end of a small hall at the opposite end of the other longer one in response. “A master suite. Noooice,” he shook his fist.

Liam chuckled. “What did you guys want to do for dinner? I’ll call down to the kitchens while you get situated.”

“I’m good with whatever,” Alia answered.

“Pizza and wings?” Blaine suggested. “Something easy and greasy.”

Liam looked at Croía, who nodded in agreement. “I’ll make the call and meet you guys back down in the living area.”

Blaine and Alia turned to find a room while Liam, still holding Croía’s hand, led her down the other hall. He pushed open the door, and she looked around as they stepped inside the massive bedroom. Like downstairs, it was painted in a deep, rich color. A door leading to a master bath and another leading into a walk-in closet was on one side. A king-sized bed was against the back wall, covered in stone-gray bedding. And along the other side was a set of double doors that led onto a balcony.

“This whole wing is yours?” Croía asked as she moved to look out the balcony door window.

Liam smiled sheepishly as he came up behind her. “When Leo and I turned 18, we got our own wings. Lena will get her own next year. It’s just to give us our own space within the palace. No one comes unannounced … except my mom, only on birthdays, though,” he chuckled. “She lets herself in every year to make a birthday breakfast, and the rest of the family comes to eat. So Sunday, she and the others will let themselves in. But other than that …” He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s my place.”

“It’s amazing. This whole place … I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Your room at your palace isn’t like this?” Liam quipped with a chuckle.

“No,” Croía shook her head. “I have a room. Not a wing. And it looks nothing like this …” She turned in his arms and peered around his broad shoulder. “And I don’t have a king-sized bed.” Liam bit his lip through a smile as he pulled her back until they collapsed on the mattress. “And mine isn’t this soft.”

Liam propped himself up at her side, looking down at her as he smiled. “I know I already said it, but I really am glad that you came.” She smiled up at him as he leaned down, capturing her lips in his. His hand settled on her bare waist where the hem of her shirt had risen as the kiss deepened.

Croía slightly arched into him when his thumb brushed against her stomach. “You have to call down for dinner,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him again.

“Mmm,” Liam hummed with a smile before pulling back. “We can pick this back up later.”

****

A short while later, Liam, Croía, Blaine, Alia, and Leo sat around the living room with various pizzas and flavors of wings set out on the large coffee table. The others caught Leo up on life at Vancross, and Leo asked Croía more about Trystan and his life in New York; he kept his questions as casual as possible, careful not to ask about his banishment from their country or the rumors that went along with it as for the reason why.

A knock on Liam’s door caused them to fall silent for a moment. “It’s probably Lena,” Liam chuckled. “Wanting to hang out.”

“I’ll run her off,” Leo smirked as he stood from his seat. As he rounded the corner to answer the door, the other four continued talking. A moment later, he came back. “Hey, Li …”

Liam looked over his shoulder, and a broad grin spread across his lips. “No fucking way.” He stood, and Croía looked behind her to see two men standing on either side of Leo, both with grins of their own as Liam approached them.

“Hey, brother,” the one man said as Liam shook his hand and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“What the hell are you guys doing here?” Liam asked as he stepped back and moved to the other man, greeting him the same.

“Like we’d miss your birthday weekend,” the second man chuckled.

“You didn’t have to come all the way home for this,” Liam shook his head as he stepped back. Despite his words, Croía could hear a happiness in his tone that said he was glad they were there. “You guys hungry?” He asked, gesturing to the pizza and wings.

“Starving!” the second man said as he walked by Liam, rubbing his hands together. “Hey, Blaine. Alia,” he smiled as he greeted them. He then looked at Croía. “I don’t think I know you …”

Liam chuckled as he, Leo, and the other man approached. “You know Blaine and Alia,” Liam said, gesturing to the pair on the loveseat; the first man tipped his chin toward them in silent greeting. “And this,” he said, taking Croía’s hand, helping her to stand to bring her beside him; he slipped an arm around her waist. “Is Croía. Croía, that’s Maxwell,” he pointed to the one now shoving a slice of pizza into his mouth; she chuckled with a wave before looking at the other man. “And this is Drake.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Drake said, tilting his chin toward Liam with a grin. “Nice to meet ya.”

“You as well,” Croía smiled. “And Liam’s talked a lot about you, too.”

“I told her how Liam hasn’t shut up about her,” Leo chimed in. “Isn’t that right, Drake?”

“Oh, yeah.” Drake knitted his brows, nodding as he sucked in a breath; he knew what Leo was doing, and what kind of guy would he be if he didn’t give his best friend a hard time every once in a while? “He’s had it real bad for you from day one.”

“Really?” Liam scoffed, cutting his eyes to Drake. “You too?”

Drake shrugged, clapping Liam’s shoulder. “Honestly, Croía, this poor little prince has been a walking hard-on for you,” he snorted as he dodged out of the way of Liam’s fist. Blaine choked, spraying beer from his nose from the sip he’d just taken as Leo threw his head back with a bark of laughter.

Liam looked at Croía, shaking his head as he stifled a laugh. “Please ignore these assholes that I call my friends and family.”

****

After visiting with Drake and Maxwell for a few hours, the two-headed home for the night; they made plans to meet up with the others at the private beach the next morning to relax and hang out before Liam’s birthday ball. Leo went back to his wing and the other four called it a night.

Once changed, Liam sprawled out on the bed and closed his eyes; it was much larger and more comfortable than the one in his suite back at Vancross.

Croía stepped out of the bathroom after changing and brushing her teeth, walking around to the other side of the bed. She clicked off the light on the nightstand and slipped beneath the comforter, letting out a content sigh a moment later. “I think this bed is the softest thing I’ve ever laid on.”

Liam looked over at her and began scooting closer. “I’m glad, but you’re too far away.” She giggled when he draped his arm over her waist, pulling her back flush against his bare chest and molding her body to his. “That’s better,” he whispered into the crook of her neck. Croía tilted her head back; a stream of moonlight coming through the balcony door illuminated his face, allowing her to make out his smile. He leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow kiss. When he drew back, he brushed the tip of his nose against hers. “Where were we earlier?”

Croía quietly chuckled as his lips found her neck and his fingers grazed her thigh beneath the hem of the shorts she was wearing.

*******

Croía felt the bed shift and her eyes fluttered open to see Liam sitting on the edge beside her. “Good morning, beautiful,” he smiled, leaning down to smother a kiss against her cheek.

“Morning,” Croía smiled. When he drew back, she saw a sparkle in his eye as he grinned. “What?”

“I like waking up with you in my bed,” Liam chuckled before kissing her lips.

Croía smiled. “You’ve woken up with me in your bed before.”

“Yeah, but not here … in my home … in Cordonia. It feels different,” Liam grinned.

“You’re so cute,” Croía giggled.

Liam smiled, leaning down to trail his lips up her neck before finding hers again. When he drew back, he brushed his hand across her cheek. “We’re going to eat breakfast then head down to the private beach to meet the others. Leo and Lena are both tagging along.”

“Ok,” Croía nodded as she sat up in bed.

****

At the beach, Croía lounged beside Alia in a chair; on her other side was Olivia, and next to her was Lena. On the sand, the guys were playing a three-on-three game of volleyball — Liam, Blaine, and Drake against Rashad, Leo, and Maxwell.

When they first arrived, Croía sat and talked with Drake and Maxwell, getting to know Liam’s two oldest friends a little more. They told her about school and life in New York, and Drake talked about Riley, who had been unable to make the trip due to work she couldn’t get out of. They told her stories about them growing up while playfully poking fun at Liam a bit more, but also telling her about what a great person he was.

Croía smiled to herself as she watched Liam laughing and joking with his friends and brother. She’d never met anyone so well-liked by so many people. He was the golden boy at Vancross but here in Cordonia as well; the people’s Prince and future King, a bright spot in the lives of his friends and family. It wasn’t like she couldn’t see why, though. From the moment she had met him, he treated her with nothing but respect and kindness, two things she hadn’t exactly been used to. And he continued to treat her in ways she wasn’t used to … to make her feel things she wasn’t used to.

The way Croía felt about Liam was something she had never felt before; not too long ago, it wasn’t something she’d even thought possible for herself with the way she had been isolated in Drakovia. And her feelings seemed to grow stronger every day, but as someone treading in very unfamiliar territory, she wasn’t sure exactly what to call it. Sure, she’d heard about love, she’d read about it in stories and watched it play out on television screens, but she’d never experienced it. Maybe it wasn’t yet something that she could call love, but it was, at the least, heady infatuation.

“Hey,” Liam’s voice pulled Croía from her musings and she glanced up as he approached her, shading her eyes from the sun. He leaned down, kissing her cheek. “Want to go for a walk with me? There’s something I want to show you.”

“Sure,” Croía smiled.

“We’ll be back,” Liam called out to the others as he helped her to stand from the lounge chair.

As the pair walked down the beach hand-in-hand, Drake watched as he stood next to Blaine. “If he’s going where I think he’s going … that’s a pretty big deal.”

Blaine furrowed his brows. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s just say he’s never taken anyone else there before … ever.”

“Not even Kennedy?” Blaine questioned, not sure of the ‘where’ he was even referring to. “All those times she came to visit?”

Drake shook his head. “Not even her.”

“Well shit,” Blaine chuckled, looking back as Liam and Croía disappeared into a pathway between the trees. “Our boy’s in lurve.”

****

Liam silently led Croía along the path deep into the trees that bordered the beach. “Where are we going?” she finally asked.

“It’s just up here,” Liam replied.

A few moments later, Croía could make out a burble of water; it continued to grow louder the deeper they walked into the path until the sound surrounded them. She glanced around but saw nothing of its source until he veered off the pathway.

Liam led her to a clearing, and glanced down, watching her face light up at the sight. “This is the Forgotten Falls.”

Croía grinned as they walked toward the edge of the plunge pool, looking up at the massive waterfall. “Liam, this is amazing!”

“There’s a folklore behind it,” Liam said. “The story goes that hundreds of years ago there were two lovers from warring clans. They were forbidden from being together, but they would meet here, at this hidden cove, and make their plans to run away together. When the day came for them to leave, they vowed to meet here at dawn. When dawn came, the woman waited and waited, but her lover never appeared. It’s said that he was caught by her people and killed. But she never had the heart to leave this spot. So she knelt on the cliffs and wept, and her tears became the waterfall … until that’s all that was left of her.”

“That’s beautiful. Heartbreaking … but beautiful,” Croía smiled sadly.

“Well, there’s a little silver lining,” Liam smiled. Croía could hear a hint of mischief in his tone and looked over at him. “It’s said that if two lovers climb to the top of the waterfall—” he pointed up to it “—and jump in together, they’ll get the blessing of the lady of the waterfall.”

Croía chuckled as she looked back at the falls; her gaze abruptly snapped back to him once she realized what he was saying. “You want to jump?”

Liam nodded with a grin. “If you’re up for it, that is.”

Croía looked back at the falls again, glancing up at the high cliff above. “And we have to climb? There’s no other way up?”

“We have to climb,” Liam nodded, taking her hand and leading her toward the wall of rocks and vines; she glanced at him, mirroring his smile as she gave a nod. “You go first, and I’ll be right behind you.”

Liam helped Croía get situated on the first few notches on the wall, pointing out a clear path for her to go up; she scaled, and he followed right behind, watching her carefully to make sure she didn’t slip. After several long minutes, she disappeared over the ledge; Liam’s head popped up, and he smiled at her as he hoisted himself onto the edge of the cliff.

“How was that?”

“Not bad,” Croía chuckled. They both stood and she peered over the edge. “I didn’t realize how high up we were.”

“If you can do the skycoaster at the amusement park, this will be a piece of cake,” Liam smiled, reaching out his hand.

Croía took it, and he laced their fingers together as they took several steps back. “Are you sure the water is deep enough down there? How many times have you jumped off this?”

“It’s deep enough, I promise,” Liam chuckled. “And by myself, I’ve jumped loads of times.”

“And with someone else?”

Liam glanced at her, his blue eyes sparkling against the sun. “Never,” he smiled. No, she might not pick up on the significance of that, but he knew. “Ready?” She nodded and they looked straight ahead. “Three … two … one!”

They took off in a run and flung themselves over the edge; Croía let out a scream as they fell, and Liam laughed beside her before they hit the plunge pool with a splash.

When they surfaced above the water, Liam wiped the water from his face and looked at her with a grin. “Verdict?”

“Amazing,” Croía chuckled.

****

After several more jumps off the cliff, Liam and Croía stood in the plunge pool; his feet were anchored in the sand with her legs and arms wrapped around him as he held her tightly. She glanced up at the falls above them. “Do you believe it?” she asked as she glanced back at him. “The folklore behind it?”

“I’m sure along the way any truth became stretched and fabricated to sell the tale.” Liam chuckled when she gave him a look. “I believe in the message about love behind it.” He smiled sheepishly.

Croía held his gaze as that question she’d been asking herself floated in her mind. “Have … have you ever been …”

“In love?” Liam questioned, and she nodded. He smiled, scanning over the details of her face before meeting her gaze again. “I thought I had been … but I’m not sure that’s exactly what it was.”

Liam wasn’t sure because what he felt before didn’t feel like this. It didn’t make him feel the way he felt when he was with Croía. His feelings for her had grown into something he never saw coming, and it happened rather quickly. If what he felt before was love, this was a vastly different kind of it, so different that there wasn’t even a comparison to make between his past and present.

Leaning in, Liam captured her lips in his; when he drew back, she rested her forehead against his. “We should probably head back. We’ll be leaving soon to go get ready for the ball.” Croía nodded, kissing him once more as he lowered her to stand in the water, feeling him smile against her lips.

****

That evening, Liam and Blaine stood in the living area of the wing, waiting for Alia and Croía. When they returned from the beach, the two had gone into the palace boutique with Lena to pick out their gowns.

“They’re probably doing each other’s hair,” Blaine chuckled.

Liam laughed, glancing down at his watch. “We have plenty of time. It’s not a typical ball anyway; there’s no receiving line or announcing anyone in. I asked them to keep it as casual as possible.”

“A casual ball,” Blaine snorted. “Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron to me.”

“Look at you using your big words,” Liam teased, laughing when Blaine flipped him off.

Just then, Alia rounded the corner from the stairwell; Blaine grinned as he took in the sight of her wearing a champagne-colored fitted twist front halter top gown. “Baby,” he crooned as he approached her. “You look damn good.” Liam nodded his agreement as he offered her a smile.

“Thanks,” Alia giggled before kissing him.

A moment later, Croía came into view and Liam’s heart stuttered. She wore a one-shoulder A-line gown with a thigh-high slit in a dusty shade of mauve. Her hair was loosely swept back in an effortless low-twisted bun with a few curled tendrils falling to frame her face. It was the first time he’d seen her this way, the simple yet elegant dolled-up version of the Princess of Drakovia. “You look …” Liam trailed off, his smile growing with each sweep of his eyes. “Wow.”

Blaine laughed. “I think the word he’s looking for is—”

“Incredible,” Liam interrupted with a sheepish smile. “You look incredible.” He approached her, leaning down to place a tender kiss on her lips.

Croía’s cheeks blushed. “Thank you.”

“Shall we?” Liam smiled, holding out his arm. Croía chuckled as she switched her clutch into her other hand and linked her arm through his.

****

More than halfway through the ball, Croía headed to the bar to get a refill. Despite it being a ball, the evening was as Liam promised: casual and laid back. It wasn’t something she was used to seeing. When balls were held in Drakovia, which wasn’t very often, the atmosphere was entirely different.

For starters, everything had to be perfect and grandeur beyond reason. The timing for every moment of the ball was planned down to the wire; nothing was to go a second more or less. Her parents would sit predatorily in their thrones on the dais the entire evening, eyeing the guests as if they were prey. They greeted no one until they came to them, and even then their conversations were no more than a mere nod of acknowledgment to their subjects, perhaps a hummed hello if they liked them enough. The few dances they allowed were all traditional choreographed numbers. And Croía was expected to be barely seen and never heard; it’s what had made sneaking out so easy … until it wasn’t. After the incident where her sister caught her and the son of her mother’s guard, she was not allowed to leave the dais beside her mother unless she was asked to dance in one of those choreographed numbers, which was a rare occurrence.

This ball, however, was unlike one she’d ever seen. The King and Queen of Cordonia wandered around the room, greeting every guest with smiles, taking time to speak with each of them as if they were all old friends. There had been only one choreographed number — The Cordonian Waltz — at the beginning of the evening to officially commemorate the start of the ball. After that, Liam stayed with Croía and his friends, laughing, drinking, and dancing, but spoke with the guests in attendance, introducing her to each of them, and thanking them for coming to celebrate his birthday.

As she waited for her drink, Croía’s eyes fell on the table that housed the multi-tiered birthday cake that was now cut into; the crowd had gathered around it not too long ago to sing happy birthday to Liam. It was beside another table that was piled with gifts, despite Liam’s request that in lieu of gifts, a donation be made to one of his charities instead. It was another reminder of how much his court adored him.

Just as Croía grabbed her drink, she felt a pair of hands curl around her waist, and she smiled when Liam nuzzled into her neck. “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“I am,” Croía chuckled.

“Want to go get some fresh air with me before the fireworks?”

“Sure,” Croía nodded. She followed Liam toward a set of doors, setting her clutch and drink down on one of the tables before taking his offered hand. He led her out onto the balcony, nodding to a few others who were out there as he headed toward the stairs. “Where are we going?”

“I want to show you one of my favorite places,” Liam smiled. He guided her away from the palace toward an entrance between a row of hedges that arched to create a canopy above a pathway. “My mother designed this maze,” he said as they started down the path; it was lined with lights, as was the canopy above them. “I used to come in here and stay for hours … and Drake and I would play maze-tag,” he chuckled.

“Maze-tag?” Croía giggled.

Liam looked at her with a lopsided grin. “Yeah,” he nodded. “We’d run through to the large tree at the center of the maze.” His grin grew. “Wanna play?”

“I don’t know where I’m going,” Croía chuckled as she looked up at him. “You would already have an advantage.”

“I’ll give you a head start,” Liam smiled. “I’ll even turn around so I don’t see which way you go.”

The playful spark in his eyes caused Croía to laugh; she turned to face him, walking backward as he bit his lip through a grin. “Turn around then.”

A low rumble of mischievous laughter escaped Liam as he rubbed his hands together and turned his back to her. Croía slipped off her heels to quiet her steps before turning and sprinting down the pathway to the first split. She veered left and kept running, to where she didn’t know. The center. A large tree. That’s all she knew.

Croía took a right, another right, and then a left, glancing over her shoulder; she could hear his footsteps, but couldn’t tell which direction they were coming from.

“Oh, Croía,” Liam loudly singsonged, causing a giggle to erupt from her as she continued to run. When she took another right, she halted to a stop when Liam came around the opposite bend. “Fancy running into you here,” he smirked. She eyed the entrance to the next path and she knew it had to be the one to the center just by the way he was also eyeing it. She took off toward it as he did the same, both laughing. “No, you don’t!” He lunged for her but she dodged his grasp with a melodious laugh, and he swore he could listen to that sound all night … for the rest of his life … and never tire of it.

With Liam hot on her heels, Croía raced toward a large tree she could see beyond the pathway. She turned as she exited the hedges into the clearing and he swept her into his arms as she laughed again; he swung her around before placing her back on her feet.

Croía turned and a soft breath fell from her lips; the center of the maze was covered in dim twinkling lights and flowers. A large-flowered rope swing hung from the tree, which was also wrapped in lights. “This is beautiful.”

“Do you have mazes at your palace?” Liam asked.

“Yeah,” Croía nodded. “But they look nothing like this … they have more of a horror film vibe.” Liam laughed as he slipped an arm around her waist. Just then, a whistling sound pulled their attention to the sky; the first of the midnight fireworks went off, exploding in the air and sending streams of gold down. She turned in his arms as they wrapped around her and she looped hers around his neck. “Happy birthday, Liam.”

Liam smiled. “Thank you.”

Leaning down, Liam captured her lips in his. Sure, he had been surrounded by family and friends celebrating him that night, but that particular moment with Croía was what made his heart feel so full he thought it might burst. And that feeling further solidified what he knew was happening.

Drawing back, Liam met her gaze when her eyes fluttered open; he smiled as he brushed his lips against hers. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand in his. “We don’t want to miss the whole show.”

****

That evening, after the ball had ended, Croía and Liam headed back to his wing with the others; Drake and Maxwell were staying the night to have breakfast with everyone in the morning before they headed back to New York.

After changing out of her gown, Croía had realized she’d left her clutch down in the ballroom; Liam had offered to go get it for her, but she told him she’d run down.

Once she had retrieved her clutch from the table she’d left it on, Croía headed up the grand staircase, back toward Liam’s wing. “Croía?” She glanced up upon hearing her name to see Eleanor standing at the end of the main corridor, holding two full bags in her hands. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh … yes,” Croía nodded. “I just left my clutch in the ballroom.”

Eleanor nodded as Croía fell into step beside her. “Did you enjoy yourself this evening?”

“I did,” Croía smiled before she glanced down curiously at the heavy bags in her hands.

“I had to raid the big kitchen for some ingredients,” Eleanor chuckled.

“For breakfast?” Croía asked, and Eleanor nodded. “Liam told me you make him breakfast every year,” she smiled.

“Well these—” Eleanor struggled to raise the bags “—are for one dish in particular. Liam has quite an affinity for baklava, so while it’s a dessert, I’ve always made some for him for his breakfast every year,” she chuckled.

“Let me help you with those,” Croía offered to take one of the bags. “They look heavy.”

“Thank you,” Eleanor smiled appreciatively, handing one to her. “I know it’s late … but if you’re up for it, would you like to help me with the baklava? I can show you how to make it for him should you feel like spoiling him one day,” she chuckled.

Croía met her gaze and smiled. “I’d like that.”

Eleanor led her to the west wing of the palace and into the King and Queen’s quarters, and Croía looked around as she followed behind her. She was surprised to find it a little smaller than Liam’s; it had a similar layout and was just as grand but in a simpler, more homey way. She glanced over to the open living area as they walked to the kitchen; the first things she noticed were the walls and fireplace mantle decorated with family photographs. Again, her parents would never; they didn’t have a single photograph of any of their children on display.

Croía set the bag on the counter next to the one Eleanor had set down and placed her clutch on an empty stool. “We’re not going to wake His Majesty, are we?”

Eleanor laughed as she began to empty the bags. “No. That man can sleep through a bomb.” Croía laughed before looking over at the edge of another counter where a trio of framed photographs sat; they were all of Eleanor, each photo with one of her children when they were younger, helping her in the kitchen. She giggled when she saw Liam’s; he was covered in a deep red substance. “I was teaching him how to make jam,” she chuckled. “He made quite the mess as you can see.”

Croía glanced back at her. “You’re very close with all of them,” she smiled. Even Leo, who Croía knew wasn’t biologically hers, seemed to have such a strong bond with her. She wondered what that felt like … to have that close of a relationship with a parent.

“They drive me up the wall sometimes,” Eleanor chuckled. “But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”

“Liam’s always spoken very fondly of you and about how close you two are.”

Eleanor smiled at her. “And he speaks just as fondly about you.” She noticed the blush that crept up Croía’s cheeks as she smiled sheepishly … and she also noticed the look in her eyes. She knew that look and what it meant, and she felt her heart swell a bit for her son. “Alright,” she smiled, stepping away to grab two aprons from a hook; she handed one to Croía. “First thing … the phyllo dough …”

*******

The following morning, Liam awoke to Croía nestled in the crook of his arm, sound asleep. Not remembering her coming to bed, he winced, realizing he had fallen asleep before she’d gotten back from grabbing her clutch; he hoped she hadn’t gotten lost. He softly kissed her forehead before slowly slipping from the bed, careful not to wake her. After throwing on a shirt, he crept out of his room, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Liam quietly padded down the hall from his bedroom and down the stairs, smelling the aroma that wafted in the air; he knew exactly what to expect once he rounded the corner. As he suspected, he chuckled when he saw Eleanor in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. “Good morning.”

Eleanor turned with a grin. “Good morning,” she replied as he greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you,” Liam smiled as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He inhaled the scent of the French toast she was making as he turned back to the counter; his eyes scanned the food already prepared for what he knew was there. When he spotted it, he grinned and grabbed a small plate, layering two slices of baklava onto it before taking a seat on the stool.

“You can’t even wait for the others?” Eleanor chuckled when she turned, watching him take his first bite.

Liam covered his mouth as he chewed, hiding his grin behind a fist. “It’s my birthday,” he laughed.

Eleanor shook her head with a good-natured grin. “And how is it?”

“Amazing, as always,” Liam chuckled. “Thank you.”

“Well, you’ll have to thank Croía, too,” Eleanor smiled, and Liam gave her a curious look. She turned back, checking the food on the stove. “I saw her last night on her way back from the ballroom after she retrieved her clutch. I asked her if she’d like to help me. We talked a little while we made it.”

Liam looked down at the plate as a warm smile curled on his lips. “Thank you … for being so welcoming to her.” When Eleanor turned back, she gave him a look, and he chuckled. “I know it’s how you treat everyone, but to her … I can almost guarantee it means so much more than you just simply being nice.”

Eleanor studied him thoughtfully as the thoughts she had the night before crept back into her mind. “You really care about her … more than I’ve seen before. Not that you didn’t care about others in the past, but this … seems different for you.”

Liam let out a breathy laugh as he glanced back down at his plate; he stayed quiet for a moment before the words came tumbling out. “I think … I think I’m in love with her …” When he looked back at his mother, she was smiling. “I know it might sound crazy—”

“Why would it sound crazy?” Eleanor questioned.

“Because I know it probably seems soon … we’ve only been seeing each other for a few months, but …” Liam shook his head. “I don’t know. I thought I’d been in love before … but it wasn’t … it didn’t feel like this.”

“Perhaps you should talk to her …”

“I don’t want to say anything yet,” Liam shook his head. “I don’t know how she feels. And I know this is all new for her, so I don’t want to … spook her or make her feel like I’m trying to rush things to a place she might not be ready for.”

Eleanor was fairly certain she knew how Croía felt for him, but she didn’t want to insert her opinion. This was something Liam needed to figure out on his own. “Well … just be patient with her then,” she smiled.

Just then, the door to Liam’s wing burst open; Constantine, Leo, and Lena trailed inside. “There he is!” Leo grinned. He came behind Liam and wrapped his arm around him in a chokehold. “Happy birthday.”

Liam chuckled, receiving more birthday wishes from his father and sister. “Thank you.”

“I smell bacon,” a voice came from the archway. Liam glanced over to see Blaine with a sleepy grin standing next to Alia.

“I smell it too,” Drake mumbled as he strode into the room. He, Blaine, and Alia greeted the royal family and wished their friend a happy birthday before moving to the coffee pot.

“Happy birthday!” Maxwell grinned as he rounded the corner.

“Thank you,” Liam chuckled. A moment later, Croía walked around the corner, and he grinned when her eyes fell on him. She greeted everyone else as she made her way towards where he sat on the stool at the counter; his arm curled around her waist as hers went around his shoulders, and he pulled her to him. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” Croía smiled. “Happy birthday.”

Liam placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Thank you.” He turned toward the counter a moment later, watching as the others began to load their plates. “And I hear I also have you to thank for this,” he said as he grabbed another slice of baklava.

Croía glanced at Eleanor, sharing a smile with her before looking back at Liam. “You’re welcome, but your mom did most of the work. But she did show me how to make it.”

Liam grinned as he kissed her cheek. “Do you want coffee?”

“I can get it.”

“I’ll get it for you.”

“It’s your birthday. Get your breakfast,” Croía chuckled. She moved to the coffee pot while Liam filled a plate; she made herself a plate a moment later and joined him and the others.

Eleanor smiled as she looked at the crowded table, her heart feeling full.

****

The staff loaded bags into a waiting SUV as Blaine, Alia, Croía, Rashad, and Olivia said their goodbyes to Liam’s family; Drake and Maxwell had left an hour beforehand, catching their flight back to New York.

Liam made his rounds to his father, Leo, and Lena before stopping in front of his mother. “Thank you,” he said as he hugged her.

“You’re welcome,” Eleanor smiled. “I’m glad you had a decent birthday.”

“It was perfect,” Liam grinned as he stepped back. “I’ll see you guys soon.”

“Break, right?” Eleanor said.

Liam nodded. “We have the ski trip in a few weeks followed by a long weekend the week after, those last four days for exams, then break.”

Eleanor smiled. “Well, I’m sure I’ll talk to you beforehand, but just in case, be careful on your ski trip.”

“It’s just a weekend ski trip,” Liam chuckled. “What could go wrong?”

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ao719 · 1 year

Text

Vancross

Vancross - We’ll Get There Together (Chapter 10)

Most of the characters belong to Pixelberry.

Title inspiration: Ready For Anything - Landon Austin

Main Pairing: Liam x F!OC

Rating: M • Warnings: This series will contain nsfw material, language, some alcohol and drug use, and is not suitable for minors. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+

Catch up here

After pulling a t-shirt over his head to pair with his black swim shorts, Liam ran his fingers through his hair before turning toward his bathroom; he grabbed a couple of towels before coming back to his bed and stuffing them into a drawstring bag.

That Saturday morning, their group of friends were headed to the lake for an all-day outing on the water. It would be Croía’s first time going.

Liam smiled as he thought of Croía. It had been a few weeks since the parents’ weekend fiasco and their talk, and in that time they had practically become inseparable. They’d gone out on several dates, and on the nights they opted not to go anywhere, they were together at one of their suites, watching a movie or just hanging out with Blaine and Alia. Things between them seemed to be going really well.

But Liam and Croía weren’t … official.

The more time Liam spent with Croía, the closer they became and the harder he fell. And being with him seemed to bring out this different side of her, one that he couldn’t get enough of. She was always smiling, always laughing. She was playful and flirty, but in a coy way, still with that same air of innocence she always had that he found completely endearing. The pair hadn’t talked about the road their budding relationship was headed down and where exactly it was leading, however.

For his part, Liam wanted them to have that label, but he’d been following her lead, unsure and not wanting to push her into something she may not be quite ready for.

As he zipped up his bag, Liam’s phone rang with an incoming video call; he reached down and grabbed it off his bed, sliding his thumb across the screen to answer it. “Hey, Mom,” he smiled.

Eleanor smiled in return. “Hello.”

“What are you up to?”

“Oh, nothing,” Eleanor sighed as she leaned back in her chair. “Just finished breakfast with your father, brother, and sister, and now I’m biding my time before the garden party later. I thought I’d call to say hello. What are you doing?”

“Getting ready to head out to the lake for the day,” Liam answered.

“For your cliff jumping and water … blooping?”

“Blobbing, Mom,” Liam laughed. “Water blobbing. And yes.”

“Potato, potahto,” Eleanor waved him off. “Is everyone going?”

“Yeah,” Liam nodded. “Blaine and I are leaving soon to go get Croía and Alia before we head over to meet up with the others at the lake.”

Eleanor subtly smiled. “And how is Croía?”

Liam couldn’t contain his grin at the mention of her name. “She’s good.” When he heard his mother chuckle, he arched his brow. “What?”

“You are smitten,” Eleanor smiled.

“Mom.” Liam rolled his eyes, still grinning.

“Well, how are things going between you two?”

“They’re going,” Liam shrugged. “We’re just hanging out … spending time together.” He stared at the screen for a moment. “How’s the press been there?”

“Not terrible, actually,” Eleanor replied. “Don’t get me wrong, they’re certainly interested in the two of you, and take any opportunity to ask your father and I questions, but they’ve been respectful when we’ve declined to answer on your behalf about the status of your … relationship.”

Liam nodded. “Well, that’s good, I guess.” Just then, Blaine called out to Liam from the common room of the suite, telling him he was ready. “Hey, Mom, I gotta go.”

“Ok,” Eleanor smiled. “Have fun. And be careful.”

“I will.”

“And tell Croía I said hello.”

Liam smiled at his mother through the screen. “Will do.”

****

After slipping on her bathing suit, Croia began putting some items into the bag she was taking to the lake. She was excited to be spending the day on the water with everyone, especially Liam.

Croía grinned as she thought about him, feeling the familiar flutter of those butterflies that had seemed to take up residence inside her belly ever since she and Liam started … dating. She supposed that’s what she should call it.

They hadn’t talked about it.

Everything she was experiencing with Liam was brand new. Croía was a novice when it came to anything to do with relationships, which left her unsure of exactly how to navigate through not only everything she was feeling for him but what exactly they were … or weren’t.

And because of her lack of experience, she wasn’t sure how to handle the press either.

Despite who she was, Croía had been kept out of the spotlight for most of her life. She was seldom seen in public back in Drakovia, even when she was younger; she was the least seen member of the Drakovian royal family. When the media frenzy surrounding her and Liam first began, it left her feeling a bit shell-shocked; she hadn’t seen that much furor since everything that happened with Trystan eight years ago, but even then, she wasn’t a part of it.

Now she was front and center.

Croía also found herself worrying about what her parents were going to say about the sudden attention she was receiving. They hadn’t said a word. In fact, she hadn’t spoken to them at all since her mother called to tell her they weren’t coming for parents’ weekend. She had tried calling, hoping to ask for some advice on how exactly she should handle the press — and to perhaps gauge their opinions on what they thought of the idea of her and Liam together — but, unsurprisingly, they hadn’t returned any of her calls.

As Croía pulled on a pair of jean shorts over her bikini bottoms, her one phone rang — the one for her brother. She grabbed it from her bag, tapping the screen before raising it to her ear. “Hello,” she chirped.

“Hey, kid,” Trystan replied. “Whatcha doing?”

“We’re spending the day at the lake, so I’m getting ready. What about you?”

“Not much. Just got back from dinner with Cameron. So, the lake, huh? You going with Liam?”

“Yes,” Croía chuckled at the way he said his name. “And be nice.”

Croía had only just told Trystan and Marguerite about her and Liam last week — thankfully, the dating life of young foreign royals wasn’t as interesting a topic in the States, therefore, the press surrounding her and Liam hadn’t yet reached her siblings.

Ever the protective big brother, Trystan protested at first. “Do I need to remind you what he did?” Croía explained, however, how Liam came to talk to her and told her what really happened. After some grumbling on his end, Trystan relented. “Fine. I will give him the benefit of the doubt only for your sake, and because of Leo and Queen Eleanor, but he better treat you right, Croía, or I swear to all that is holy—” Marguerite had cut him off mid-threat, telling him to knock it off.

Luckily, Croía was able to ask for their input on how to handle the press, however. They both told her that she didn’t have to say anything if she didn’t want to. Trystan reminded her how anything she said could easily — and purposely — get twisted and misconstrued, and that sometimes it’s better to just not say anything at all, especially right now since there was nothing concrete to give them while they figured things out.

“I’m always nice,” Trystan scoffed. “How’s that going anyway?”

“It’s good.”

Trystan could practically hear her smiling on the other end of the phone. “And he’s treating you right?”

There was a bit of a snarl in his voice, causing Croía to laugh. “Yes. I promise. He’s been a perfect gentleman.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Trystan huffed, earning another giggle from his sister. “So, what are you doing at the lake?”

“I’m not entirely sure. It’s my first time going. But Liam told me a while back that they do stuff like cliff jumping and water … blobbing, I think it’s called.”

“Just be careful.”

“I will,” Croía chuckled. “Don’t be such a worry wart.”

“And bring sunscreen … and a full-piece bathing suit.”

“Trystan.”

“What?” Trystan feigned innocence. “Sunscreen is important.”

“And the full-piece bathing suit?”

“Also important.”

Before Croía could respond, she heard a knock on the door of their suite; she could hear when Alia opened it, greeting Blaine and Liam. “Hey, I’m sorry to cut this short, but we’re getting ready to leave.”

“No worries, kid. Have fun. I’ll talk to you soon. Love ya.”

“Love you, too, Tryst.”

Croía ended the call, tossing her phone on her bed before turning toward her dresser just as a knock came on her door.

“Cocoa?” Liam’s voice sounded from the other side.

Croia chuckled at the nickname. “You can come in!” she called out.

Liam opened the door, smiling as he stepped inside; he paused when he saw her standing at her dresser in jean shorts and her bikini top. He shook away the thoughts that arose, clearing his throat. “Hey.”

Croía glanced over and smiled. “Hey. Sorry, I’m just grabbing a shirt.”

“Don’t rush on my account. Take your time, take your time,” Liam chuckled, earning a grin from her as her cheeks blushed. He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed as she rifled through her drawer, pulling out a shirt a moment later. As she turned and raised her arms, slipping it over her head, he noticed a small marking on her upper rib cage, and his brows slightly raised in surprise. “Whoa, wait,” he reached out, gently grabbing her wrist to stop her from pulling the hem of the shirt down. “What is that?”

Croía glanced down, sweeping her long hair to the other side before she peeked at the tiny inked rose. “A, um … a tattoo …?” A smile slowly curled on Liam’s lips as his eyes flickered up to hers before dropping back down; he leaned forward to get a better look at it. He would never have expected her to have a tattoo, even just a small one such as this; it could be hidden behind his finger. “Marguerite came home to visit for my 18th birthday, and she snuck me out to get it; we got matching ones. We decided on something small and discreet that could be easily concealed.”

“Did it hurt?” Liam questioned.

“No, not really. It’s small,” Croía chuckled. “It didn’t take them all but 10 minutes to finish it, so I didn’t really have time to feel anything.”

Liam continued to stare at it, biting his lip through a smile. “Hm.”

“What?”

When Liam looked at her again, he saw the question in her eyes as she searched his, trying to gauge his response. “I like it,” he grinned.

“You look … surprised,” Croía said hesitantly.

“Well, I am,” Liam chuckled. “Not in a bad way, though. I just … I never would have thought you would have a tattoo.” He reached up, gently brushing his thumb across it. “I think it’s sexy.” Croía slightly shuddered at his touch and visibly blushed at his words with a coy smile. “So …” He glanced at her bag, clearing his throat, trying to think of anything else at that moment. “You ready?”

“Uh, yeah,” Croía nodded as she pulled her shirt down. “I think I have everything.”

“Ok. Just one more thing.” Liam stood and cupped her face in his hands and leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. He smiled as he drew back. “I didn’t get to greet you properly.” Croía grinned as she stared up at him before he leaned down and kissed her again. “Ok, now we can go.”

****

When they arrived at the lake, Croía and Alia trailed behind Liam and Blaine as they walked from their vehicle, where their guards all lingered behind. Croía glanced up as they neared the shore, and she smiled at the scene before her.

The large lake boasted tall, rocky cliffs along one side; others that had come to enjoy the water that day were jumping and flipping off of them.

A high, man-made platform was nestled just beyond the shallows of the lake, and below it floated a giant, anchored inflatable; she watched as one person cannon-balled off the platform, landing on the inflatable, and launching another person into the air before they landed in the water with a splash.

Further out, other lake-goers were on jet skis, some pulling others in tubes behind them. Others were swimming or lounging together in the sun along the shore, laughing and talking.

Liam slowed his pace, falling into step beside her. “What do ya think?” he asked through a chuckle when he saw her expression.

“I think today is going to be a good day,” Croía grinned.

“We were beginning to think you guys weren’t coming!” a familiar voice pulled their attention.

They looked over to see Simon, Rashad, Zaira, Olivia, Evelyn, Alexei, Henri, Dionne, Peter, and Kennedy, who was talking to Tatum from where he stood nearby.

“Of course we were coming. Your day would be boring without us,” Blaine quipped. He and Liam dropped the large cooler they were both carrying into the grass. “Brought some beers for later too.”

Liam glanced around at the other groups of people down the shore, spotting some familiar faces from campus. “I see everyone had the same idea for today,” he chuckled.

“Yeah,” Rashad nodded. “It’s been pretty crowded since we got here.”

Blaine pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it on top of his bag, leaving himself in just his swim shorts. “What are we doing first?” he asked, rubbing his hands together as Alia laughed at his eagerness.

“I say we head to the cliffs,” Simon said.

“I’m good with the cliffs,” Blaine replied, and everyone else nodded in agreement.

As the others started to make their way toward the path that led to the top of the cliffs, Liam stood by Croía as she slipped off the clothes covering her bikini. “You’ve never been, right?”

“No,” Croía shook her head with a smile.

Despite her smile, Liam could see a hint of trepidation in her expression. “Well, you don’t have to jump if you don’t want to.”

“I do,” Croía said eagerly.

“You say that now,” Liam grinned. “Wait until you’re on top of that cliff.” Her eyes slightly widened. “I’m just kidding,” he chuckled. “I promise, you have nothing to worry about.”

When Liam pulled off his shirt, Croía momentarily forgot about the cliffs and jumping. She felt her cheeks warm as her eyes traveled up the length of his muscled physique, the sun bathing him in a golden glow.

Liam let out a quiet laugh when he caught her. “See something you like?” he quipped with a grin.

Croía’s cheeks blushed furiously when her slightly wide eyes snapped up to meet his, but before she could respond, Alia was grabbing her hand. “Come on,” she squealed, pulling her toward the path with the others as Liam and Blaine followed behind them.

****

Standing atop the cliff with her group of friends and some other lake-goers, Croía carefully inched her way to the edge and peered over; a breath escaped her when she saw the distance down to the water below. She took an abrupt step back from the edge, running into Liam behind her.

Liam laughed, placing his hands on her shoulders to steady her. “Nervous?”

“A little,” Croía smiled sheepishly. “I didn’t realize down there how high up it is.”

“Don’t think about that. You just gotta take that leap … figuratively and literally,” Liam chuckled. She glanced back over her shoulder at him, meeting his gaze with a smile. “How about I jump with you?” Croía’s smile broadened and she gave him a nod.

“You jump, he jumps,” Blaine snorted beside them.

“What?” Liam laughed as he looked at him.

“You know, ‘you jump, I jump.’”

Liam’s brows furrowed. “I got nothing …”

“Dude, really? It’s from Titanic, you uncultured swine.” Blaine shook his head as Alia laughed next to him. “Anyway, you’re up,” he grinned, gesturing his head toward the edge.

Liam looked back at Croía when he heard her let out a breath. “Ready?”

“Yes and no,” Croía chuckled nervously, feeling the adrenaline coursing through her.

Liam took her hand, guiding her back to give them a little head start. “Don’t think about it. Just run and go,” he grinned. Croía nodded, feeling her heart race. “One … two … three!”

On Liam’s count, the pair took off toward the edge, hand-in-hand. Croía’s eyes widened when they hurtled themselves over the edge, and for a weightless moment, everything felt like it was in slow motion until she came to and registered them falling through the air toward the lake below. They hit the water with a splash and their hands parted as they swam to the surface.

Liam emerged first, shaking the water from his hair before wiping his face; when Croía’s head popped up, she gasped and her eyes snapped open, meeting his gaze with a broad grin. “Holy shit!” she laughed.

“Fun?” Liam smiled.

“Yeah,” Croía giggled.

Liam laughed. “Wanna do it again?”

Croía nodded eagerly. “Definitely!”

****

Blaine and Liam laughed as they walked back up the pathway to the cliff after backflipping off. They’d spent the last hour jumping with their group of friends and another group of Vancross students that had made their way up there.

When they neared the top, Liam glanced around for Croía; he spotted her sitting on a rock away from the edge, taking a bit of a breather after jumping with Alia just before he and Blaine. Then his eyes flickered over to the guy who was talking to her.

Prince Clarke of Ismar.

Clarke was there with the other group of Vancross students that had also ventured to the lake that day. Cordonia had some trade deals with Ismar, so Liam knew Clarke before they had attended Vancross, but he wouldn’t say they were friends, more like acquaintances. He hung out with a different group of people than Liam, but they would see each other at campus parties as well as royal diplomatic events.

The Prince of Ismar had a reputation for being a bit of a skirt-chaser, and he seemed to have set his sights on Croía since he and his group of friends arrived on top of the cliff; this was despite Clarke more than likely seeing the tabloid stories about them spending time together.

From what Liam overheard, the pair had a couple of classes together, which is what Clarke used to lead his conversation with Croía. The nonchalant conversation had taken a turn, however. The flirting was subtle enough to where she could think he was merely being friendly — and perhaps he was — but the charming smiles he kept flashing her and the way he seemed to inch himself closer to her with each new conversation said otherwise.

Liam and Croía didn’t have a label, so he couldn’t exactly go over there to stake his claim on something that wasn’t his. Besides that, Croía was free to talk to whomever she pleased, even if they did have a label. He wasn’t her keeper.

That didn’t mean Liam had to like it, however. And he didn’t.

“My dude, you gotta teach your facial expressions to use their inside voice,” Blaine chuckled.

Liam peeled his eyes away from Croía and Clarke to look at him. “What?”

“The way you’re watching him talk to her,” Blaine snorted. “Calm down.”

“I am calm,” Liam retorted.

“Yeah, ok,” Blaine teased. “Just go over there and sling your arm around her. Let him know she’s taken.”

Liam sighed. “I can’t do that. I’m not going to tell her who she can and can’t talk to. And besides, we haven’t said exactly what this is between us.”

“So you’re in a situationship,” Blaine nodded.

“A what?”

“A situationship,” Blaine explained. “You chill. You have sex. And you’re confused by the fact that you’re not officially together but have feelings for each other.”

“We haven’t — I mean, nothing has … never mind.”

Blaine snapped his wide-eyed gaze over to him. “You haven’t done anything yet?” Liam closed his eyes, not answering, but he didn’t have to. “It’s been weeks since you guys started hanging out. No wonder you’re so on edge,” he chuckled.

“I’m not on edge, at least not because of that. I just … don’t like the way he’s ogling her …”

“You’re too pretty to be insecure.”

Liam laughed despite himself. “I’m not insecure … I just …” He trailed off with a sigh. He couldn’t explain it.

It wasn’t that Liam was insecure. It wasn’t that he doubted the way Croía said she felt about him or how and where things between them seemed to be going. And it was more than just wanting to have that label and to be something official with her. Even in their … situationship, he felt this fierce need to protect her; not that she needed or even wanted his protection. It was just how he felt.

“I’m guessing that she’s only engaging in conversation to be nice. I would just talk to her, see where her head is at, and about making things … official between you two.”

Liam nodded, chewing the inside of his cheek in thought. He watched as Croía turned, looking around the gathered group at the top of the cliff; when her eyes landed on him, she smiled, and he returned his own as she started to approach him.

“Having fun?” Liam asked.

Croía nodded with a grin. “Yeah.”

When Croía turned toward the cliff’s edge to watch the others, Liam’s arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind as he rested his chin on the top of her head. She felt her stomach flip as she leaned back against him, lifting her hands to his forearms crossed on her chest.

****

Once done at the cliffs, the group returned to the beach to get something to eat, ransacking through the coolers of food and drinks that they had all brought along with them.

After eating, some chose to lounge on chairs in the sun or hang out in the water. Blaine and Liam whipped around the lake on the jet skis, laughing as they sprayed one another; Alia rode with Blaine, and Croía with Liam.

Croía held on tightly to the straps of Liam’s life jacket as he rocketed across the water, now racing Blaine; she was grinning from ear to ear as she shielded her face behind him from the spray. She couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun. In fact, she wasn’t sure she ever had.

Liam slowed the jet ski to a stop, glancing over his shoulder at her as they bobbed in the water. “Wanna give it a spin?”

“I … I’ve never driven one.” Hearing laughter, Croía glanced over to see Blaine and Alia switching places; Alia took off with a squeal, shooting across the water with Blaine holding onto her.

“It’s easy. Promise,” Liam smiled. “And I’ll be right here.”

“Ok,” Croía grinned.

Once she maneuvered herself to sit in front of him, Liam’s arms came around her as she placed her hands on the bars. “Ok, here’s your throttle,” he said, shifting her hand over the lever for the gas before moving her other hand to the other lever. “And this is your brake and reverse. To turn—” he moved the handlebar right and left in demonstration. “And that’s really all you gotta know,” he chuckled. “Ready?”

“Are you?” Croía giggled.

Liam wrapped his arms around the waist of her life jacket and clasped his hands together. He smiled, brushing his lips against her ear. “Do your worst.”

A moment later, Croía squeezed the lever, shooting them forward. Liam grinned at the sound of her laughter as she navigated her way across the lake, trying to catch up to Alia; he tilted his head, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

****

After getting back to shore to give Simon and Rashad a go on the jet skis, Blaine and Alia sat in the lounge chairs to take a break. Liam had taken Croía down the shoreline to a nearby secluded cove of the lake.

Liam stood, submerged from his chest down in the water as Croía dipped her head beneath it. He watched her break the surface, wiping her face before opening her eyes. He smiled when she met his gaze, extending his hand to her; when she took it, he pulled her to him, and her arms and legs instinctively wrapped around him. He searched her icy blue eyes for a moment before leaning in and capturing her lips in his.

As his tongue languidly curled against hers, Liam’s mind returned to the thoughts regarding them and exactly what this was. When they drew back to take a breath, she rested her forehead against his. “I’ve been thinking …” he whispered.

“About what?”

Liam drew back enough to look at her. “About you … and me …”

“Oh?” Croía questioned, feeling her heart stutter from uncertainty of what he meant.

“Yeah,” Liam softly smiled before kissing her again. It caused him to momentarily lose his train of thought.

Lately, Liam found himself able to get so easily lost in Croía and moments like this, more so than before. Moments that began weeks ago as coy and reserved now felt more intense and passionate. This particular moment, however, felt even more so; it was the first time he felt her bare skin beneath his hands, her almost bare body pressed up against his.

When they parted again, Liam let out a soft breath as he looked at her. “What about you and me?” Croía asked, trying to mask the self-consciousness in her voice.

Liam subtly smiled. “Well, I … I’ve just been thinking, and was wondering—”

“Liam! Croía!” Rashad called out, just out of their view. “Come on! We’re going blobbing!”

They stared at each other for a moment before Liam turned his head so he didn’t shout in her ear. “Coming!”

When he glanced back at her, Croía searched his eyes. “What were you wondering?”

Muddled from the interruption, Liam shook his head with a rueful smile. “It can wait. We can talk … later.”

Croía hesitated for a moment before she nodded. Liam slightly deflated at the loss of contact when she fell away from his body back into the water before they walked out to join the others.

****

Croía glanced up at the tall platform from the side of it as others started to climb up to the top; it wasn’t any higher than the cliffs that she had jumped from earlier, but something about it made her stomach flip. Perhaps it was because the cliffs seemed … sturdier.

“You ready?” Liam asked beside her.

“Uhh …” Croía trailed off with a chuckle. “What do you do again?”

Liam placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face the giant inflatable in the water below the platform. She watched as the last person from the previous group that had been up there got into position at one end of the inflatable. Up on the platform, Alia walked to the edge, peering down before shouting to ask the person if they were ready; they raised their hand, giving a thumbs up. Alia then jumped, falling through the air and landing on the other end of the inflatable, launching the other person into the air to land in the water.

“And that’s all there is to it,” Liam laughed. “You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” he said.

“No, I do,” Croía assured him.

“Good,” Liam grinned, taking her hand and leading her toward the ladder.

After climbing to the top, they maneuvered their way to the front; the group had already chosen the order they were going in and who was launching who. Alia was now in position at the end of the inflatable, and Blaine was at the edge of the platform, ready to jump.

“Ready, baby?” Blaine shouted, and Alia gave a thumbs up in response. “Bombs away!”

Croía and Liam both peered over the edge when Blaine jumped; Liam kept an eye on him to make sure he landed right while Croía’s eyes were on Alia. When Blaine hit the inflatable, Liam’s gaze snapped up; Alia flew into the air with a scream, landing a moment later a good few feet away from where she started.

“Damn,” Liam chuckled, amused at how far she had gone.

Liam took his place at the edge, ready to launch Blaine; initially, Croía was going to launch him, but with it being her first jump, he wanted to be in the water when she went, just in case, so Olivia was going next. While waiting for Blaine to get into position at the end of the inflatable, another small group joined theirs at the top of the platform. Clarke, part of the group that came up, and another guy started messing around, playfully shoving each other as they waited their turn.

When Clarke stumbled into Simon after losing his footing, it caused Simon to bump into Croía, who was standing in front of him. He whipped around, looking at the two men. “How about you two blokes wait to do that until you get back on solid ground, yeah?” he grumbled. Then, he turned to look at Croía. “Sorry about that, darl. You ok?”

Croía smiled with a nod. “Yeah.” She glanced around at the now crowded platform. “Are there supposed to be this many people up here?”

“Probably not,” Simon chuckled. “But it’s ok as long as people aren’t pratting around,” he said, gesturing to Clarke and the other guy, both of whom ignored Simon altogether.

“Ready?” Liam hollered down to Blaine once he was in position. Blaine gave a thumbs up, and Liam glanced over his shoulder at Croía. “See ya down there,” he winked before flipping himself over the edge.

“What a showoff,” Olivia snorted as she and Croía peered down to watch. When Blaine flew off the end, he too did a flip before landing in the water. “Both of them.”

A moment later, Olivia stepped up to the edge, waiting for Liam to get situated on the inflatable. “Are you going to be able to launch him far?” Croía asked; while Olivia was tall — taller than her — she still had a slim build, especially compared to Liam.

“Oh, definitely,” Olivia chuckled as she looked at her. “Gravity and the inflatable do most of the work, and I’ve perfected launching his royal ass over the years.” When she turned back, Liam had just gotten settled. “Ready?” she shouted. When he gave a thumbs up in response, Olivia jumped, tucking and crossing her legs into a cannonball position. Croía watched her land, then her eyes flickered up, watching Liam flip into the air before landing with a splash.

Croía stepped up to the edge, peering down at the spot on the inflatable where she was supposed to land as Olivia maneuvered her way across it to the other end.

Down in the water, Liam, Blaine, and Alia were treading nearby, watching the others take their turns. When Olivia got into position, Liam’s eyes moved up to the platform to watch Croía; he heard her call down, asking if she was ready, and Olivia gave a thumbs up. In the next moment, Croía jumped, tucking her legs before landing and sending Olivia into the air.

Liam grinned as he swam towards the inflatable. “How was that?” he asked as he made it up to her.

“Good,” Croía giggled as she worked to sit up.

“Ok, just make your way down to the other end, and there’s a mark for you to stop on.” As she did, Liam swam down to meet her once she got there; when she neared the marker, she met his gaze with a grin. “Ok, now just relax back, and bend your knees a little … perfect. You good?”

“Yeah,” Croía chuckled, feeling both nerves and excitement from the anticipation.

“See ya when you come back down,” Liam teased before swimming back to Blaine and Alia.

The three watched as Simon stepped up to the edge of the platform; he didn’t call out to see if she was ready right away, however. Liam noticed how he kept looking over his shoulder as if he were distracted by something. Finally, he turned back and called down to Croía; she raised her hand, giving a thumbs up.

Just as Simon was about to jump, Liam, Blaine, and Alia saw another figure near the edge; still messing around on the platform, Clarke had slipped after a shove from his friend. “What the …” Blaine trailed off as his eyes widened. “Oh fuck!”

At the same moment Simon jumped, Clarke tumbled over the edge; both fell side-by-side and hit the inflatable at the same time. Liam’s wide-eyed gaze went to an unsuspecting Croía, and she screamed when the extra weight and force from the second person rocketed her into the air much higher than she was supposed to go. Her arms and legs flailed as she tried to gain control of her body’s position as she fell, but it was of no use; she plunged towards the water, landing awkwardly on her side with a splash, double the distance and height that anyone else had gone.

Liam, Blaine, and Alia immediately started swimming toward where she had landed as they all shouted her name. Liam surged past the other two when his adrenaline kicked in, coming up to her just as she surfaced above the water with a gasp, and he saw her wince in pain. “Croía! Are you alright?”

“My arm,” Croía hissed, treading to stay above the water only kicking her feet as she held her elbow with her other hand.

“Let’s get her back to shore,” Blaine said.

Liam looped an arm around her waist. “Hold onto me.” She wrapped her good arm around his shoulders, and Liam helped her back toward the shore. Once she was able to stand, she dropped her good arm from around Liam and grabbed ahold of her other to support it, but his arm remained around her as they walked out of the water.

The others, who had all jumped off the platform after watching the incident, rushed toward them. “Croía, I’m so sorry,” Simon apologized. “Clarke fell and we both hit the inflatable … I didn’t see him until it was too late.”

“It’s not your fault. And I’m ok,” Croía smiled weakly, fighting back a grimace as they stepped onto the grass.

“Is she alright?” Tatum asked as he and Kennedy made it up to the pair.

They all glanced down at Croía’s arm when she removed her hand. It was bright red along with half of her body from the way she hit the water. “Can you move it?” Liam asked.

Croía winced after just a subtle attempt. “A little.”

Blaine looked at her. “You might want to get it checked out, Croía.”

“I can give you a lift back to campus to the Student Health Service office if you want,” Tatum offered.

“That’s probably not a bad idea,” Alia said.

“I’ll go with you,” Liam nodded.

“Well, why don’t you and I grab the stuff,” Blaine suggested to Liam. “Tatum can take her and Alia over, and we can take the SUV with the guards back and meet them there.”

Liam hesitated for a moment before he nodded, still watching Croía; she glanced up at him, and he offered a halfhearted smile. “Go with them, and I’ll grab your bag.”

“Ok,” Croía nodded.

Alia wrapped a towel around herself then Croía, careful not to jostle her arm. “Come on,” she said, guiding her away with Tatum toward his car.

Liam and Blaine hurried over to where their stuff was on the ground, quickly gathering up theirs and the girls’ things. “Li, I’m sorry,” Simon apologized again. “I told them to stop dicking around up there.”

Liam looked over at Simon just as Clarke and a couple of others from his group approached them. “It’s not your fault,” he said before shooting Clarke a glare. “It’s his.”

“Sorry ‘bout that,” Clarke said. “It was an accident.”

“An accident that could have been avoided if you weren’t fucking around up on the platform!” Liam’s voice raised as he took a step toward him.

Blaine grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “Li …”

“We’re sorry,” Clarke reiterated, holding his hands up defensively.

Liam shook his head as he turned, resuming packing up their things.

****

When Croía and Alia arrived back at campus, Tatum walked them to the Student Health Services building; they thanked him before walking inside with Croía’s guard flanking the two. “Ma’am, should I phone your parents?” Jonas asked.

“No,” Croía shook her head. “I’m sure it’s nothing.” Not that they would care anyway.

“Trystan?”

“Definitely not,” Croía said. “He’d just worry. I’ll call if I need to. Thank you, though.”

Luckily, the clinic wasn’t busy; there were only a couple of other students waiting to be seen. Croía and Alia approached the desk, explaining to the woman sitting behind it what had happened; she smiled sympathetically and after getting some information from Croía, she stood, leading them back into a room.

A short time later, Liam and Blaine stepped inside the clinic, glancing around for the girls, not seeing them. The door leading to the exam rooms opened a moment later, and a woman stepped out, carrying a clipboard. “Excuse me,” Liam said as he rushed up to her before she could even make it out of the doorway. “I’m looking for Croía Thorne.”

The woman glanced down at the clipboard in her hand; it contained Croía’s information. She glanced up at him with a smile. “Are you a friend?”

Without even thinking, Liam spit out his next words. “Boyfriend. I’m her boyfriend.” Blaine snapped his head over to him with a grin.

Just beyond where Liam stood talking to the woman, Croía sat in a room with the door open, allowing both her and Alia to hear the conversation.

Croía’s eyes widened as she glanced at Alia, who was wearing a broad smile. “Did he just …”

“Yup,” Alia chuckled. “He sure did!”

Hearing Liam asking the woman to let him see her, and her explaining that they only allow one person back with the patients at a time and that there was already someone with her, Alia stood from her seat. “I’m going to step out so he can come in before he bum-rushes that poor woman out there to get to you,” she giggled. “You ok?”

“Uh, yeah,” Croía said, snapping from her daze. “I’m good. Like I said, it’s probably nothing. Thank you for coming with me, though.”

“Ok. I’ll meet you back at the suite.”

Alia exited the room, and after a moment of hearing hushed voices, Liam appeared in the doorway with her bag in hand. “Hi,” he said, looking her over as he stepped inside.

“Hey,” Croía smiled.

Liam approached the exam table and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips. “How’s the arm?”

“Little sore, but ok. They just did an X-ray.”

“I’m so sorry,” Liam shook his head.

“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything.”

“I know … but I feel bad that it was your first time out there and this happened …”

“Again, not your fault. And I’m fine. A little embarrassed … but fine,” Croía chuckled. Liam offered a halfhearted smile as he ran his hand across the top of her head. Unable to stop thinking of what she heard him say, she glanced up at him. “You told that woman you were my boyfriend …” she subtly smiled.

Liam let out a breathy laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck, and for the first time since knowing him, Croía swore she saw a hint of blush on the usually confident Prince’s cheeks. “You, uh … you heard that, huh?”

“Yeah,” Croía chuckled.

“I didn’t … I didn’t know if they’d let me in …” Liam trailed off, watching Croía nod as she dropped his gaze; she looked almost disappointed, and Liam took the opening. “But, Croía … that’s not the only reason I said it.” She looked back up at him. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk about earlier when I said that I was wondering about you and me …” He took her hand in his, brushing his thumbs across her knuckles. “I wanted to see what you thought about making things … official between us. I didn’t intend for it to come out this way,” he smiled sheepishly, “or to make you feel put on the spot …”

“You didn’t … make me feel like that, I mean,” Croía shook her head as she continued to stare at him. “And I … I like the sound of that,” she smiled coyly.

“Sound of what?” Liam teased as he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, unable to contain his smile.

“Calling you my boyfriend,” Croía whispered through a laugh.

“Good, because I really like hearing you say it,” Liam grinned before pressing a lingering kiss to her lips.

The sound of a throat clearing a moment later startled them apart; Liam stood up straight and they saw the doctor standing in the doorway, both offering him a rueful smile. He gave a courteous bow to them before stepping inside. “Well, good news: nothing is broken. You likely have a mild elbow sprain from the way you landed in the water.”

“Who gets a sprain from water?” Croía jested.

“You’d be surprised by the amount of water-related injuries I’ve seen, especially from those cliff jumping or leaping off that platform,” the doctor smiled. Liam and Croía listened to the man’s instructions for her as he placed her arm in a sling to help keep it supported. “It’ll be, at minimum, a couple of weeks before it heals. But you’ll be just fine so long as you don’t do anything to put any strain on it. Ice it every couple of hours for the first few days, then switch between that and a heating pad with some light movement to keep it from stiffening up.”

“Thank you,” Croía nodded.

“You’re all set,” the man smiled as he patted her shoulder. “If the swelling doesn’t go down within a few days or the pain gets worse, come back.”

“Will do.”

When he left the room, Liam looked at her. “Well … I guess it could have been worse.”

“Yeah,” Croía chuckled.

“Did you want your clothes?”

Croía looked down at the sling around her arm. “I’m not going to get my shirt on over this. But my shorts, yeah, please.”

Grabbing the jean shorts from her bag, Liam shook them loose before handing them to her. With one hand she managed to step into each leg, but pulling them up was a different story. He quietly laughed as he bent down and slid them up around her hips over her bikini bottoms; he met and held her gaze as his fingers brushed against her lower belly as he buttoned them.

Liam offered an amused grin as he slid the zipper up. “Ya know, when I imagined doing that for the first time, it was in reverse,” he chuckled. A blush bloomed on Croía’s cheeks, but she couldn’t help but laugh. He took the towel she had wrapped around her when she came in and draped it over her shoulders. “Come on, I’ll take you back to your suite.”

****

After arriving back to the suite and updating Blaine and Alia on what the doctor said, Liam helped Croía take the sling off so she could get in the shower.

Taking much longer than usual due to using mostly only one hand, and struggling to get dressed for the same reason, Croía eventually managed. She let out a breath as she sat on the edge of her bed once she had finished just as a knock came on her door.

“Croía?”

“You can come in.”

Liam stepped inside a moment later, smiling when he saw her. “You ok?”

“Yeah,” Croía chuckled. “It was a bit of a hassle, but I managed.”

“You need help putting the sling back on?”

“No,” Croía shook her head. “He said I could prop it on some pillows, so I think I’ll do that for now … once I figure out how I’m going to put my hair back,” she laughed wryly. Liam looked at her long wet hair that she had already brushed out before he extended his hand with a smile, gesturing for the hair tie around her wrist. “You’re going to put my hair back?” she giggled.

“Yeah,” Liam grinned.

Croía stared up at him for a moment with a curious smile before slipping the tie off her wrist and handing it to him. Liam sat on her bed near the headboard and she scooted back to sit in front of him before he positioned a couple of pillows across her lap for her arm. She felt him gently gather her hair into his hands; at first she thought he was just going to put it into a simple ponytail, but then her brows knitted with a smile when it felt as though he was doing something else.

“Are you braiding my hair?” Croía chuckled.

A low laugh escaped him. “Yeah … er, trying anyway.”

Croía smiled, fighting back the urge to turn and look at him. “Where did you learn to do that?”

“I wasn’t really taught. I watched my mom do my sister’s hair plenty of times growing up. I figured it couldn’t be that hard …” Liam chuckled. “I’ll be honest, though, I don’t think I have a future in hairstyling.” He smiled when he saw her shoulders shake with silent laughter. “You might want to call Alia in here to rectify this,” he snorted.

“It’ll be fine,” Croía laughed. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”

Once he reached the end of her hair, he twisted the tie into place before surveying his work. “I mean … it’s not terrible … but it could definitely be better.”

Croía reached back with her good arm, running her fingers down the length of the braid before pulling it over her shoulder to get a look; she giggled at the lopsided twists. “It’s perfect.” She glanced over her shoulder at him with a smile. “Thank you.”

“What are boyfriends for?” Liam smirked. Croía dropped his gaze as her smile widened at his words. He leaned forward, nuzzling her neck. “Still getting used to it?”

“Yeah,” Croía chuckled. She turned her head to look at him, so close that her nose brushed against his. She searched his eyes for a moment before closing the small space between them, pressing her lips to his.

*******

Liam, Croía, Alia, and Blaine sat in the living area of the guys’ suite on a Friday night after a grueling week of classes. Two bowls of popcorn sat on the table with some empty bottles of beer as the television played season two of The Loft.

It had been a few weeks since the outing on the lake; Croía was out of her sling after the first week, and now, her arm was healed and back to normal. And in the time since Liam and Croía had become an official couple, the Cordonian press had been tailspinning. They had journalists stationed outside of the university; whenever Liam and Croía left campus, they were waiting to get the newest photo of the couple. They had also dug up anything they could on the Princess of Drakovia’s family; her parents and country’s mysteriousness seemed to be both a blessing and a curse. Because there wasn’t much known about the Drakovian royal family, especially Croía as she had been kept out of the limelight, they didn’t have much to say about her.

That meant anything else they could find was fair game, however. Most of her other siblings were pretty much off the radar, leaving them to question where exactly they had disappeared to and why.

But there was one very well-known Thorne.

The story of Trystan’s possible involvement in the death of his fiancée and his banishment from Drakovia had resurfaced in the Cordonian media. It left Croía feeling a little irritated, but more than anything, she felt guilty. Liam couldn’t stop apologizing no matter how many times Croía told him he had nothing to be sorry about; it wasn’t his fault.

Trystan told her not to worry about it. In fact, it didn’t seem to bother him at all. He told her it wasn’t anyone’s fault, that he was used to it, and that it would eventually die down just as it had any time it got brought back up. Heeding his words, Croía forced herself not to think about it, hoping he was right.

Croía half-expected her mother to call, certain she must be furious with the attention her relationship with Liam was suddenly bringing to both her family and her country, but Croía still had yet to hear from either of her parents. They hadn’t called nor returned any of her phone calls.

But for the first time ever, Croía found herself not really caring.

Little by little, everything in Croía’s life was changing. She had things that she never did before. She was kept busy with school during the week and plans with friends on the weekends. She had Liam, her boyfriend. She found herself not having the time nor the energy to dwell on gaining her parents’ acceptance — something she knew deep down she’d never achieve — or the fear of never reaching their unattainable expectations. She had people around who cared about her without her having to endlessly vie for their approval.

For the first time ever, Croía was focused on herself and her own life.

A yawn escaped Croía from where she was nestled up against Liam’s side with his arm around her. He turned his head when he heard her, kissing her forehead. “Tired?”

“A little,” Croía chuckled.

“It’s gonna feel so good … to sleep in tomorrow,” Alia said through a yawn of her own.

Blaine pulled her tighter against him. “Well, we can go to bed whenever you want. My room is right there.”

At the invitation, Alia glanced over at Croía with a questioning look. “I’ll be fine walking back,” she chuckled. “You don’t have to leave for me.”

Alia smiled sleepily as she looked at Blaine. “Ok, take me to bed.”

Liam chewed the inside of his cheek in thought before he looked at Croía. “You know you can stay too, right?” She tilted her head back to look at him. “You don’t have to go back to your suite.”

Croía studied his expression for a moment. That was something they hadn’t done, among many; they had never spent the night together. She felt her heart rate slightly pick up at the thought. Things between her and Liam had been heating up; every kiss and every touch between them seemed more fervent and curious than the one before it, but they had yet to cross any lines into unfamiliar territory — very unfamiliar for her. Would her agreeing to stay the night come with expectations on his end? Not that she didn’t want to take things further. She did. But there were things she needed to talk to him about first and she hadn’t found the right moment to do so.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Liam said. “I just thought … instead of going back to your suite alone.”

Croía smiled, feeling that familiar flutter in her chest as she stared up at him. “Ok,” she replied.

****

After saying goodnight to Blaine and Alia, Liam and Croía headed to his room. He offered her a pair of his sweatpants and a T-shirt to sleep in; when she stepped out of his bathroom after changing, Liam glanced over from the bed and chuckled at the sight of her in his clothes that were much too large on her.

When she looked up at the sound of his laugh, Croía saw Liam laying in the bed, shirtless and clad in a pair of gym shorts. She swallowed thickly as she set her folded clothes on his desk chair before walking around the bed. Liam raised his arm in invitation as she slipped beneath the blankets, and she smiled; she scooted over, nestling into the crook of his arm as it came around her, and he reached back with his other, tapping the light on the nightstand to turn it off.

Liam shifted to get comfortable, and she rested her head on his chest. “I’m glad you stayed,” he whispered.

Croía couldn’t help but smile. “Me too.” She felt his finger blindly slide beneath her chin, tilting her face up; he pressed a kiss to her lips, then to her forehead before shifting his head on the pillow.

And with that, any thoughts about any expectations Liam might have about her staying the night were squashed. Croía drifted into an easy sleep in his arms, lulled by his soft breathing.

*******

The following morning, Croía began to stir awake, inhaling the lingering scent of Liam’s cologne. Her eyes fluttered open at the same moment his did, meeting his blue-eyed gaze. “Morning, beautiful.”

A sleepy smile spread across Croia’s lips. “Morning,” she whispered.

Liam gently brushed his hand across her cheek before pressing his lips to hers. Croía tilted her head up, and the kiss deepened as his hand slowly outlined the contour of her body, causing her to shudder from his gentle touch. Their limbs entwined beneath the blanket as the kiss turned more amorous; he notched his thigh between her legs, and she unwittingly arched into him as he pulled her closer, feeling her body thrum from the contact as her heart raced.

Suddenly, they halted their movements when they heard a knock on the door. “Li, you awake?” Blaine called out.

Liam let out an exasperated breath as he lifted his head. “No,” he answered, not hiding his frustration.

Blaine laughed on the other side of the door. “Sorry to disrupt, but Coach just called an impromptu meeting. We have to be at the field in 30 minutes.”

Liam closed his eyes as he heaved a sigh. “Alright. I’ll be out in a few.” He looked back at Croía as Blaine shuffled away from the door. “I’m sorry,” he smiled ruefully.

“It’s ok,” Croía said, her heart still pounding.

“Maybe we can pick this back up later?” Liam whispered through a coy smile before capturing her lips again.

Croía could feel the flush creep up her neck as he drew back. She simply nodded, knowing what needed to be said but not exactly how to say it. He smiled, placing another kiss on her lips before he shifted away from her and stood from the bed, heading into his bathroom.

Croía rolled on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She took in a few quick breaths, trying to unmuddle her thoughts.

***************************************

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