Live life. Laugh lots. Love forever.

When Drake locked eyes with one of them they winked at him and he gave them what he hoped was a smoldering look before returning his gaze to Maxwell. “I hate to admit that I am having fun, but it’s not like this is all going to go away if I sit down for five minutes.”

Drake tried to side-step him to search the tables for Liam but Maxwell got in his way again. “Okay, maybe you’re right, but I might get into trouble while you’re gone. You know I can go from zero to sixty like that.” Maxwell snapped his fingers.

Several first-hand experiences could attest to the validity of that, and if Drake was honest with himself it was half the reason he was still out there on the dance floor with them. He was always protective of his friends—something he liked to think he got from his father—but sometimes Maxwell needed…special attention lest he drag them all into a mess Drake couldn’t pull them out of. But Maxwell was an adult, and he wasn’t his keeper.

And he just really needed a break.

“Well good thing Tariq’s here to keep you company,” Drake offered, clapping him on the shoulder.

Maxwell gave him a deadpan look and Drake slowly removed his hand awkwardly. Okay, maybe that was a weak excuse. They both knew that Tariq would either crumble under the pressure of trouble or bolt in the other direction…or crumble and then bolt in the other direction.

“Look, Maxwell, I’m not your babysitter or your bodyguard. If you really don’t think you can handle yourself for five minutes I’ll keep you in my line of sight, okay? If worse comes to worst I promise I’ll bail you out of jail.”

“You’re a true friend, Drake,” Maxwell said, placing a hand over his heart as if he was touched by Drake’s words. Still, even as he said that he moved to block Drake’s way again. “But maybe if you could stay just a little while longer…”

Drake frowned and crossed his arms. “Okay, what are you up to, Maxwell?” Maxwell opened his mouth to protest, but Drake continued before he could make a sound. “Don’t bullshit me. Your excuse was good but not that good. And you’re being way too persistent, even for you. So spill.”

Maxwell raised both hands up in surrender and took a couple of steps back; it was times like this he was reminded why he was glad Drake was on his side…most of the time. His mind wandered to a very likely scenario where Drake would probably wipe the Beaumont name off the face of the earth but he was pulled back to the present as Drake took a step towards him, closing the distance he created. “Look, it’s not what you think…or maybe it is what you think but it’s a good thing!”

“Maxwell…” Drake’s tone held a not-so-subtle hint of a warning.

“I—oh!”

Drake noticed Maxwell was staring at something behind him, and when he turned to follow his gaze Drake saw Liam and Rylie wrapped in a tight embrace. At Maxwell’s small cheer, Drake whirled back around to face him. “You’re trying to hook them up? That’s why you’re keeping me from going over there?”

“It’s not that I think you’d kill the vibe…too much…but who would want to interrupt that?”

Drake frowned as he watched Liam laugh. “Uh, me. I would very much like to interrupt that right now.”

Maxwell looked up at him with a mix of shock and horror. He had thought for sure that Drake would join him on his quest once he realized what he was up to. “What?! Why?”

“You can’t honestly think getting them together is a good idea.”

“Again, why?”

Drake crossed his arms. “First of all, Liam’s not even a one night stand kind of guy, which I know you know about him. Which means you’re trying to get them together, which is incredibly cruel to the both of them considering we’re leaving tomorrow to get him engaged to someone else.”

It was Maxwell’s turn to frown now. “It doesn’t have to be ‘someone else’…” he mumbled.

Drake snorted. “Right, because the court will really let some random woman from New York come in to vie for their future king’s hand in marriage. And what if she’s some gold digger? She’s a stranger, who would vouch for her? Then if she somehow managed to get in she has no idea what she’s in for with those people. She wouldn’t last one day.”

Vouch for her… A plan began to form in Maxwell’s head. “Apart from Olivia, Liam knows those women about as well as Rylie…maybe even less than now. And do you really think they want to be the next queen just out of the goodness of their hearts, that their families don’t want the prestige that’d come from getting their daughters hitched? I bet she’s tougher than you think.”

“Why are you defending her?”

“Why are you attacking her?”

“I’m not—” Drake cut himself off as he ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He had to admit Maxwell had a point, but this wasn’t some fairytale; Liam couldn’t ditch it all to follow his heart like his brother did. And I’ve seen firsthand what court will do to someone who doesn’t belong…

There was a tense silence for a few moments before Maxwell shifted awkwardly. “Look, they’re both adults, they can make their own decisions. And Liam wouldn’t lead her on, either; you know that, too. Just…give him one night. One night out of the rest of his life.”

Drake looked back at Liam and Rylie, saw how in awe and happy and himself he was with her, and sighed in defeat. “Fine. But if this backfires—”

“Heads will roll, specifically mine, I got it!” Maxwell interrupted him excitedly before starting to dance again and beckoning him to do the same. “Come on, Drake. Show off those moves!”

“Another bottle of champagne!” Tariq yelled as he sauntered over to them, swinging the empty bottle in his hand as he danced. “Who knew we’d find a decent vintage here?”

Drake lost track of time as he drank and danced with his friends (and a couple of women), but eventually he seriously needed to sit down for a breather. After swearing on a kraken that he wouldn’t go over to Liam and Rylie’s table, Drake sunk into a chair at a table on the opposite side of the dance floor as them.

It wouldn’t hurt to just look and check up on them, right? Drake asked himself as he took a sip of his champagne. Surely that wasn’t going to break his ‘contract’ with Maxwell. Discreetly, his eyes slid over to where he knew their table was…only to find it empty. Drake immediately sat up in his seat, his heart stopping for a moment. Okay, okay, there had to be a reasonable explanation for what was happening that didn’t involve kidnapping or injury or death.

As calmly as he could, Drake reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his phone, both surprised and relieved to see a notification for one unread message from Liam. Perhaps he didn’t hear the noise over the music or feel the vibration with all his dancing. Hurriedly he opened the group chat.

“Hey guys, before you start to panic I wanted to let you know that I am safe and sound.

Rylie presented me with an opportunity I just could not refuse.

And no, Drake, she did not coerce me into it.”

Drake huffed at the callout—Liam knew him too well—before continuing to read.

“Our location has been given to our driver; he will take you to us when you guys are ready.

Please do not rush to leave on my account.

I want you all to enjoy this moment. It is as much for you as it is for me.

See you soon.”

“Hey, you got the texts too?”

Drake looked up to see Maxwell and Tariq standing by the table, phones in hand.

“Liam, you sly dog you,” Tariq said approvingly. It was clear what he thought had happened.

“He sent it twenty minutes ago.” Maxwell looked back at the message. “Do you think that’s enough time for him?” He suddenly looked up, eyes wide, as Tariq elbowed him with a laugh. “I mean, not for that…at least I don’t think they left for that—”

“How about we just go to the limo and meet him…wherever they went,” Drake stopped Maxwell before he finished that embarrassing sentence. “If he’s not…ready…we’ll wait.”

After paying off their tab and summoning the limo, they were on their way to the location their driver was given. Drake spent the majority of the ride questioning the driver of how Liam seemed when they spoke, whether he was ‘being held at gunpoint’, both literally and figuratively. But the driver was confident that everything was on the up and up, and that Liam even looked excited.

Not long after that the limo slowed as they arrived at their destination, and Drake was the first to get out and take in their surroundings. Quaint little shops, darkened to show they were closed, lined both sides of the street; ahead was a pier, and to the right of the docks were the makings of a large park. In the muted quiet of the night the gentle waves of the water could be heard, but all in all there was not sight or sound of Liam or Rylie.

“What could they possibly be doing out here?” Maxwell asked as he came up beside Drake.

“Are we sure this is the right place?” Tariq questioned, and Drake approached the driver to pose the same inquiry to the driver.

“This is the location I was told to go,” the driver confirmed, and the three men mulled over what that could mean.

“Perhaps the driver was given the wrong place to throw us off? Give themselves more time alone?” Tariq suggested, his eyebrows going up suggestively.

A scowl appeared on Drake’s face, thinking something more dark than dirty, and Maxwell hurried to calm him down.

“How about we trust them, trust Liam,” Maxwell added, seeing Drake readying to start arguing about Rylie. “Let’s just wait here for a little while.”

Well, it wasn’t as if they had any other leads to go on. So, they waited. As they neared the ten minute mark, they noticed lights coming in from the water—a boat. And soon after that, two familiar figures could be seen walking from the docks and up the pier towards them. But they hadn’t noticed them yet, so Drake cupped his hands around his mouth as an amplifier and yelled.

“Liam!”

The couple stopped and looked towards them before waving. As they turned to each other and talked, Drake didn’t miss how they held each other’s hands.

Neither did Maxwell, who came up to clap Drake on the back. “See, have a little faith.”

Drake grumbled something, which was as close as an apology as Maxwell was going to get. “What are they doing? Why won’t they come over here?” He frowned as a minute turned into two, deepening as he saw Rylie nod at him and Liam turn to look, seemed to laugh, before they continued to chat.

“Seems like you made an impression,” Maxwell teased, but before Drake could say anything Liam was heading towards them—alone.

Before they could say a word Liam spoke. “Let’s go before I change my mind.” Without breaking his stride Liam continued on to the limo and got in without looking back.

Drake and Maxwell shared a look before they followed after him, but they, along with Tariq, waved goodbye to Rylie before getting into the vehicle. Things were silent for the beginning of the ride back to the hotel, Liam gazing out of the window lost in thought, before Maxwell cleared his throat. Despite Drake’s frantic hand signals to not say a word, Maxwell said something anyway.

“So…did Rylie not want a ride home or…?”

The fisted hand that was holding Liam’s head up against the window twitched. “She believed it would bring unwanted attention towards me.”

Liam’s wording caught Drake’s attention. “Towards you? Not herself?” That didn’t make any sense. Why would that even be a concern? Unless… Drake gasped. “Liam, tell me you didn’t…”

Maxwell and Tariq’s gazes kept shifting between Liam and Drake, not following. “What are we missing here?” Maxwell asked them.

Liam sighed as he closed his eyes. “I told Rylie that I’m the Crown Prince of Cordonia.”

A stunned silence followed Liam’s confession.

Maxwell was once again the one to say something first. “That’s…wow. Wow, okay, that’s out there now. How did she take it?”

“About as well as you are taking this news, actually.” Liam chuckled softly as he opened his eyes again and shifted to face his friends. “At least at first. Then she treated me like a normal person as if I’d never said anything. It was everything I could’ve hoped for.” And more, but what happened after that was between him and Rylie only.

“Well, I trust she’ll keep your secret,” Tariq said in support.

“Yeah, well I don’t,” Drake said under his breath.

“Then trust me,” Liam replied, hearing him despite the low voice Drake had used. Liam had always appreciated the way Drake never held back with him, but Drake had been testy where Rylie was concerned all night and Liam found it unwarranted. “She told me to pass along how much of a pleasure it was to meet everyone. I told her it was likewise; I hope I have not lied to her.”

That was the second time someone told him to trust Liam, including the man himself. Didn’t they understand that it wasn’t Liam he didn’t trust? “I’m just trying to protect you, Liam.”

Liam smiled ruefully. He knew Drake was coming from a good place, which was why he usually didn’t mind when Drake got like this. “I know you are, but I don’t need you to be your father, Drake. I just want you to be my best friend.”

Drake nodded—it meant a lot to hear Liam say that, especially after hearing how his father couldn’t have the same relationship with King Constantine that Drake had with Liam— but said no more.

“So…what else did Rylie say?” Maxwell prodded after a few peaceful moments when it seemed safe to bring their waitress up again.

“Oh!” Liam perked up as he remembered—something else that did not escape Maxwell’s eyes. “Rylie told me to tell you that she said ‘I said what I said’. Does that mean anything to you?”

“Does it mean anything to me?” Maxwell parroted incredulously. “She’s like a walking meme enactor! I can’t believe I missed that!”

“She did say you’d be sad you weren’t there for it.”

“Rylie knows me so well already.”

As Drake looked out the window, much like how Liam was earlier, his friends’ voices faded into the background until all he could hear were his thoughts. He had been too vocal about Rylie without any proof. A huge part of him felt justified in his actions, but there was a small part of him that felt guilty. While he tried to reconcile his feelings one way or another, Drake wondered if there was even a point to his inner turmoil.

After all, it wasn’t as if he was ever going to see her again.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

The next morning, as the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen of their suite, Drake scrolled through his phone, checking for any mention of Liam in the news or on social media. Even though running into Rylie was no longer an issue, she knew information that could blow up on them at any time. It was something best exposed while it was still fresh, but nothing yet.

Perhaps it’s still early…? Drake thought as he absentmindedly reached for the coffee pot, only for another hand to grab it before him. “What—”

“I didn’t take you as someone who’d be glued to their phone,” Maxwell said as he poured himself a cup.

“And you’re usually not up until the afternoon,” Drake ribbed back. “What gives?”

“I indirectly asked first,” Maxwell grinned impishly.

Drake rolled his eyes but relented. He wasn’t going to play Maxwell’s childish games and he had nothing to hide; that would imply he was doing something wrong, which he totally wasn’t. “Just making sure no surprise scandals or hordes of paparazzi were waiting for us outside the door.”

Confusion spread across Maxwell’s face. “Why would—” Then it dawned on him. “You think Rylie sold us out, sold Liam out.” Drake’s silence was a deafening answer. “And? Did she?”

Drake was reluctant to answer as if he was almost upset that he was wrong. “…No, but that doesn’t mean she won’t in the future.”

“And pass on the perfect opportunity she had to be in the morning news? Not to mention how easy it would’ve been for her to be seen in our limo, which she refused last night.” Maxwell retorted. “Just admit that you’re wrong about her, man.”

Drake stubbornly shifted against the counter he was leaning against. “That remains to be seen.”

Maxwell once again continued speaking as if Drake hadn’t said anything. “…Just as I’ll humbly admit that I was totally right for choosing her!”

Drake was almost afraid to ask. “Choose her for what?”

“I’m so glad you asked! It’s actually the reason I’m up so early. I need your help.” Maxwell rubbed a finger under his nose and took a quick glance at the closed doors of Liam and Tariq’s rooms before leaning in closer to whisper to Drake. “I’ve decided to sponsor Rylie so that she can contend to marry Liam.”

Drake actually spat out his coffee. “You what?” he hissed as he wiped his chin and turned to glare at Maxwell. “Have you lost your mind?”

“You actually gave me the idea last night; you’re right, she wouldn’t have been allowed into court otherwise.”

“That wasn’t—” Drake shook his head as that wasn’t the point. “Why her?”

“Why not? We’ve proven she’s not a gold digger, and she handled us pretty well, so I think she’ll do just fine against the other nobles. But more than that…didn’t you see the way Liam lit up around her? Even just mentioning her name would bring a smile to his face. I haven’t seen him like that since…like, ever. That’s more than good enough for me.”

“Life isn’t that simple, Maxwell.” Drake sighed before dragging a hand down his face. “So, what exactly do you need my help with? Seems like you already figured everything out yourself.”

“I can’t do this alone, but I can’t ask Tariq! You saw how he and I acted around her; we’re totally out of our element. And I obviously can’t ask Liam. You, though, she looked to you for normalcy. You can vibe with her—”

“Because we’re both commoners?” Drake finished for him, raising an eyebrow as if challenging Maxwell to argue otherwise—he didn’t. “That sounds like a ‘you’ problem, not a ‘me’ problem,” Drake dismissed as he moved towards the living room of the suite.

“I know you won’t do it for Rylie, and you probably wouldn’t do it for me, but doesn’t Liam deserve this?” Maxwell called after him, and Drake paused. “You’re his best friend. Don’t you want him to be happy, to at least have the chance to be happy with her?”

Drake wanted nothing more than for Liam to be happy. He couldn’t think of anyone else who deserved it more, who deserved the whole world at his feet not because of his lineage, but just because of him as a person. But this…

Before Drake could answer, the door to Liam’s room opened, and Liam rubbed an eye as he yawned, coming to a stop in the space between his two friends. “I knew I heard voices out here. What’s up?”

Maxwell stared at Drake’s back for a moment longer before plastering a smile on his face as he moved his attention to Liam. “I was just saying how I’m gonna take a later flight back to Cordonia.”

That woke Liam up more than coffee could. “Oh? By yourself?”

Maxwell opened his mouth, but Drake answered before he could make a sound. “No. I’ll be with him.”

Drake didn’t understand why it had to be Rylie out of everyone in the entire world, didn’t understand what it was about her that captured people so, and he didn’t think he ever would understand. But this wasn’t about him. Maybe he couldn’t take the weight of the crown off Liam’s shoulders or protect him in all the ways he wished he could, but if accompanying Rylie back to Cordonia was all he needed to do to bring happiness to his best friend, he’d do it. No question.

“We have some unfinished business left here.”