We match each other shot for shot until we both only have two cups remaining. The number of people in the dining room has tripled, drawn to the cheers and yells our performance has garnered. I’m focused on the game. Viv has a matching expression of concentration. I’ve run with her enough to know she’s got a serious competitive streak in the final stretch.

She shoots and misses for the first time, the ball just glancing off the rim of the plastic cup. Her features don’t give anything away as I catch the errant ball before it hits the floor.

I toss the ball immediately, not letting myself think about it. There’s a satisfying splash as it lands in the cup of beer. Vivienne’s poker face is impressive. She drinks the cup and tosses the ball back. It lands in the center of the cup this time. She quirks a brow at me as I drink.

We’re down to one cup each. She misses. I miss again. The crowd grows restless, impatient after our previously rapid pace. She misses. I miss again.

She doesn’t.

I stare down at the white ball bobbing in the solitary cup in front of me, genuinely surprised.

“I love you?” Viv calls out from the other side of the table, grinning.

I shake my head as Anderson spins her around.

“You were already one of my favorite people, Vivienne, but I think you just topped the list,” he tells her.

She laughs and comes over to me. “We good?” she asks, biting her lip adorably.

“I might have to retire some of my uncoordinated jokes. Let’s hope your driving skills don’t improve as well, or I’ll be completely out of material.”

Viv laughs before giving me a quick kiss. “I’m going to run to the restroom.”

“Okay, I’ll be here,” I reply.

As soon as she’s out of sight, I seize the opportunity to sneak out one of the side doors and through the neighbors’ yard until I reach the two SUVs parked across the street. Michael climbs out as soon as he spots me. “Is everything okay, Mr. Dawson?”

“Everything’s fine,” I assure him. “I just want to ask you about something. But, uh—I’m not really sure how this works,” I admit. “Since I’m pretty certain you have more authority than me.”

“I do, sir.” Michael nods.

I shift awkwardly and catch a twinkle in his eye.

“I’d like to take Viv—the princess somewhere tomorrow morning. Alone.”

Michael sobers. “Mr. Dawson, I’m aware the royal protocols are all still quite new to you, but the princess’s safety is of the utmost importance. You’re asking me to put the entire future of the Marcedenian monarchy at risk—”

“Look, I just want to propose to her!” I blurt.

Michael stops speaking.

“Preferably without a group of eight men surrounding us,” I add.

He smiles outright. “Okay, I suppose we can make that work.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I smile, buoyant. “Okay. Thank you.”

I head back inside and see Viv talking with another group of people. I keep walking out onto the back deck. Joseph, my former back-up, is sitting in one of the lawn chairs set out. I take a seat in the one next to him. The air is chilly, but it feels refreshing in comparison to the stuffy house.