Chapter 349

I have to admit that the entire world feels a little surreal three hours later when I'm sitting pressed between Daphne and Ben in a booth, laughing and watching as Jesse, and Rafe, and Luca spray bottles of champagne into the air and down onto the crowd below, who are all going mad for it, screaming their approval and their love of the nation's Prince, and Duke, and renewed national boxing Champion.

"Oh, come on, Daph," I say, pressing a hand to my chest because I'm laughing so hard, "how can you go home after this!? It's way too much fun!"

"I have to admit!" she says, having to raise her voice almost to shouting levels so that I can hear her over the pounding music. "You guys are making it really hard!"noveldrama

And only about to get more difficult, I think as Rafe, grinning, comes over to the table and holds out a hand for her. Daphne smiles broadly as she places her hand in his, and then she laughs as Rafe pulls her up and into his arms, starting to dance with her.

I lean into Ben next to me, who wraps an arm around my shoulder. "I have to admit it," he murmurs, bringing his mouth close to my ear so I can hear him. "It does not make it any easier, knowing that your brother can dance."

I burst out laughing, snuggling closer to my friend and shaking my head. Poor Benny!

But he just laughs along with me and gives me a wink, passing me another shot of tequila from our collection on the table.

I take a little sip from it even as Ben downs his, because I'm already feeling pretty tipsy. It's been an incredible evening. It took a moment, of course, to get out of the stadium. Mom was waiting for us in Luca's dressing room, as I predicted, to fuss over him and magically heal all his wounds before Luca gave some press interviews.

Rafe pulled me begrudgingly away from Luca's side as mom worked and Luca interviewed, checking in on me and making sure that I was all right. But things got quite a lot easier after mom healed Luca's broken rib, and then after that short bit of press, the party began.

Luca came with us in the limousine, to my pleasure, and brought his mom and his Gran along. His Gran cried the whole time - happy tears as she pressed herself to her grandson's side and looked around at the royals, clutching a glass of champagne that she didn't drink. Gran and Linda declined to come into the club when we arrived, instead taking the limo home, but my parents and aunt and uncle shocked me by coming in with us.

"Oh, we need a little fun, mom said when Rafe protested that it wasn't safe - or appropriate - for the King and Queen to be out at a nightclub. "Besides, the people should see that their monarchs can party."

Honestly, I think that the whole reason they came was because it was very clear that Markie and Juniper really, really wanted to go in. The two of them were having a blast, and Jesse was doing a wonderful job of making sure that they were included in all the laughs, even slipping them a couple of drinks when our parents pretended not to be looking.

Still, about after an hour of that, mom and dad declared that they were taking Mark and Juniper home, and Cora and Roger sighed that they had to get home to the rest of their passel.

"They've probably tied the babysitter up again," Core murmured to Roger, her face genuinely worried.

He just shrugged and took another sip of his drink. "Kind of a crappy babysitter, if she allows her charges to tie her up in square knots that she doesn't know how to un-do."

Mom had kissed us all goodbye and wrapped Luca in a warm hug, telling him again how proud she is of him, how proud he's made the nation. And Luca had bearned to hear it - I think needing it after a lifetime of his uncle subtly implying that he's not good enough.

Since then, it's just been this drinks, and good times, and dancing, and all of us blowing off a great deal of steam after a crazy semester and an even more stressful night. We've been dancing, and singing, and celebrating our hearts out - and I've done most of it in Luca's arms, which has been...amazing.