Twice Upon a Time (8 page)

‘She stuck up for me whenever anyone was mean, and since she was one of the most popular girls and also one of the hottest, the guys took notice. And eventually, me being gay wasn’t an issue for anyone, least of all me.’

Gus nodded slowly, taking the story in. ‘What’s her family like?’

‘Her mother’s Italian, an opera singer. She mainly teaches now. She was abandoned by Cinda’s dad when she was preggers, so she raised Cinda by herself. She’s nuts but she’s cool.’

‘Where is the father now?’ asked Gus, his expression intrigued.

‘No idea,’ shrugged Jonas. ‘Besides her mum and her friends, she doesn’t have anyone. That’s probably why she’s so loyal and independent,’ he said, just realising it as he spoke. ‘She’s, like, the best person I know.’

Gus smiled genuinely. ‘She sounds like a good person,’ he said, almost to himself.

‘You’d better believe it,’ said Jonas, and he opened his magazine and kept reading.

Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Basil walked in with two delicious-smelling pizzas on thick wooden chopping boards.

‘Hey, Baz,’ said Jonas when he saw the man enter the room. ‘I checked out that fabric shop your wife told me about.’

‘Did you like it?’ asked Basil as he set up the pizzas in front of Gus and Jonas on the coffee table. Another servant entered the room with napkins, silverware and plates, and Basil set them out carefully.

‘It was great,’ said Jonas as he helped himself to a slice of pizza. ‘Tell her I agree about the embroidery though.’

Gus was staring at Basil and then at Jonas. ‘Do you two know each other?’

‘We’ve become friends,’ said Jonas. Basil was smiling warmly.

‘How did Adela go with that teething remedy?’ Jonas asked.

Basil raised his hands in surprise. ‘It worked! We would never have thought to put the rusks in the freezer!’

‘It’s a trick my sister used for her twins,’ Jonas laughed, turning to Gus to explain. ‘The little ones love it when their gums are sore, although their lips go blue.’

‘Why do you know about babies?’ asked Gus, shaking his head.

‘They’re my family, of course I know about them. And Basil and I have been having coffee each morning before he starts work, so I’ve heard all about his family.’

Gus glared at Basil, who stepped backwards towards the door, all business again. ‘Please call me if you need anything else.’

Jonas looked at Gus. ‘Don’t you like people talking to the staff like real people?’ he challenged.

‘I have no problem with you treating the staff with respect, but you must be careful not to blur the lines.’

Jonas laughed, and then he saw Gus was serious. ‘Mate, you have got to be joking.’

Gus took a plate and napkin. ‘I set very strong boundaries between myself and the staff. Well actually, all the public.’

Jonas found it hard not to roll his eyes. ‘You must be overwhelmed with party invitations then.’

‘I am, as a matter of fact.’

Jonas ate his pizza in silence and then wiped his mouth with the napkin and looked at Gus.

‘Why do you have such strong boundaries?’

Gus thought for a moment. ‘Because I need to have something private in my life.’

Jonas shrugged. ‘Maybe. But do you need to be so prickly? I bet all those invitations you get are from people who want something from you. Do you ever get any from people who just like you?’

Gus looked at the TV, chewing slowly. Finally he turned to Jonas.

‘I have no idea if anyone wants me for me – or for what I can get them.’

Jonas thought he looked confused and sad. ‘Hey, I didn’t want to bum you out,’ he said with an encouraging smile. He paused, thinking. A change of topic was obviously in order. ‘Do you have a girlfriend?’

Yes,’ said Gus, looking away.

’Then I’m sure your girlfriend likes you for you. And that’s all that matters, huh? Love is all there is.’

‘Maybe,’ said Gus quietly.

‘Do you love her? Will you marry her?’ asked Jonas, leaning forward.

Gus turned to Jonas and looked at him suspiciously. ‘Why so many questions?’

‘I’m just interested,’ shrugged Jonas. ‘I’ve never met a royal before.’

‘I’m not a royal. I’m just a person,’ said Gus gruffly.

‘A
person
with strong boundaries who wants to be called Prince Augustus?’ he challenged.

Gus turned red and frowned. ’I’m sorry about that, I was being an arrogant pig.’

‘Yeah you were,’ said Jonas with a smile. ‘But I get it, sort of. Coming home to find you have non-famous house guests would be a drag. But I promise we’re fun if you bother to give us two chance.’

Gus said nothing.

‘We can go tomorrow. I can get Cinda out of here, if you want us to leave. We’re not freeloaders,’ Jonas said firmly.

‘I didn’t say you were,’ said Gus rubbing his head tiredly. ‘Stay. Ludo likes you both. Just don’t mess up.’

Jonas glanced at his phone. ‘No word from our Cinderella. Hopefully they’re having dinner and not making out in the car and ruining your family’s reputation,’ he teased.

Gus’s eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, things got quite hot between them today, apparently. I hope Cinda can handle him and his sceptre,’ he chuckled at his lame double entendre.

Gus stood up. ‘Come on, we’re going out.’

Jonas clapped his hands. ‘Where? A nightclub? I could totes do with a dance. Any good DJs around here? Or live music?’

Gus stared at him for a moment and then shook his head, as though bringing himself back to reality.

‘We’re going to find them and make sure they’re all right.’

‘Just ring the bodyguard dudes. They’ll tell you what's happening,’ said Jonas. He suddenly realised how tired he was. He thought he might go to bed and dream about cute soccer boys in long socks and tight shorts.

‘No, I need to see for myself,’ said Gus as he walked out of the room.

Jonas followed him, sighing. ‘You know this is a little bit stalkerish,’ he said as Gus picked up some car keys.

‘I know,’ said Gus unapologetically as they headed out through the front door and down the steps to the black Ferrari.

‘Nice wheels,’ said Jonas, as he hopped into the passenger’s seat and looked around.

Gus started the engine up and quickly shot up the driveway and out onto the road.

‘Where are your body dudes?’ asked Jonas, turning to look out the back window but not seeing anyone behind them.

‘They don’t have to come everywhere with me,’ muttered Gus as they drove into town.

He parked the car in a dark side street and pulled on the baseball cap that was on the backseat. As they walked towards the busier, well-lit streets, Gus kept his head low.

Jonas walked next to him, wondering what it would be like to be constantly watched, on display.
No wonder the dude craves
some privacy
, he thought.

They neared a restaurant and Gus walked up beside the window, manoeuvring Jonas closer to the glass. ‘What are they doing?’ he asked.

‘Why do I have to be Nancy Drew?’ complained Jonas. ‘This is your stalker trip, not mine.’

‘Do it,’ hissed Gus.

Jonas screwed his nose up but peered through the restaurant window. ‘They’re in there. No-one else is in the place except for them,’ reported Jonas. ‘They’re drinking champagne, eating . . . oysters, it looks like,’ he said.

‘What else?’

‘He’s kissing her hand now, looking into her eyes,’ said Jonas as he gasped. ‘His hand is under the table! I see it climbing up her skirt! She’s gasping and biting her lip! Now she’s under the table, on her knees and –’ ‘What?’ Gus growled, pushing Jonas out of the way to see for himself.

Cinda and Ludo sat across from each other. Cinda was speaking animatedly and Ludo was listening, a dreamy expression on his face.

‘You lied.’

‘And you’re a stalker,’ shrugged Jonas, turning to walk back to the car.

Gus followed soon after, unlocking the door and hopping back into the driver’s seat.

Jonas turned to him. ‘Is it such a big deal if Cinda and Ludo like each other? What does it matter? They might even get married one day. Royals marry us peasants all the time now. Look at Kate Middleton, and Mary Donaldson, who married that Danish dude. You’re a snob and I must say it’s a very unattractive quality.’

Gus paused and then started up the engine. ‘He would never be allowed to marry an Australian girl from divorced parents. Our mother is very . . . traditional. It’s not even an idea worth entertaining. She might be a lovely girl but she isn’t from our world, and never will be.’ And then he revved the accelerator and sped all the way back to the villa, with Jonas hanging on for dear life.

9

Cinda’s night out with Ludo was wonderful. They had the most amazing meal and then headed back to the villa where they had drunk more champagne and danced by the pool to some sensual Spanish music Ludo was into. Cinda had danced barefoot in her fabulous dress – until they had both stripped to their underwear for a swim in the moonlight. Kissing under the water, kissing by the side of the pool, kissing anywhere they could.

But Ludo didn’t press Cinda for sex, even though she might have slept with him if she’d had any more champagne.

When they finally emerged from the pool, she could see the bulging erection in his underwear and she suddenly felt nervous. It just wasn’t the right time, she decided, although she could hardly imagine a more amazing date.

Wrapping herself up in a monogrammed towel, she kissed Ludo on the cheek. ‘Thank you for the most perfect date I’ve ever had,’ she said, and then she almost flew up to her room to lie in her beautiful bed and remember the touch of his hands, the feel of his lips, the sight of his erection.

It was undoubtedly the best date Cinda had ever been on. Back in Sydney she’d gone to movies and out for drinks or to the odd Thai restaurant, but no-one had wooed her like Ludo.

If that was how he treated her now, she could only imagine what he would be like in bed. Cinda’s experience with sex was limited. She had always been pursued by boys, but their assumption of her character was usually measured by her boob size.

She had lost her virginity to a boy from university that she’d met at a party. They had gone out a few times and Cinda, thinking she was falling in love, had had sex with him – and then he never called her again.

Her broken heart – or perhaps wounded pride – was mended by a few deep-and-meaningfuls with Jonas, who explained that at eighteen boys didn’t want love, they just wanted sex. But she was sure Ludo was different; she could feel it when they kissed.

That week, Ludo planned a different activity for Cinda each day, showing her (and Jonas, when he could be coaxed to join them) all over the island.

But even when they strolled along the beach, within sight of the villa, Ludo’s bodyguards followed at a discreet distance behind them.

‘Is it weird to go everywhere with them?’ she asked, glancing backwards at the guards, like she always did when she was out with Ludo.

‘I’m used to it,’ said Ludo lightly, but his face showed her he didn’t like it at all.

‘I’ve had a wonderful time,’ said Cinda as they held hands and looked out at the water.

‘Had?’ Ludo frowned. ‘You’re still here.’

‘I know, but I have to leave soon. You’ve already been too generous.’

‘I don’t want you to go. I could spend every day with you, Cinda,’ he said, and she saw he was completely serious.

Her mouth found his and they kissed until she pulled away. ‘Gus hates us being here. It’s making me uncomfortable,’ she said.

Although she had noticed that Jonas was spending more time with Gus this past week. She could only assume Jonas was keeping Gus out of the way, since she was so swept up in Ludo.

‘Gus can be a prick,’ said Ludo with a shrug. ‘Ignore him. I do.’

Cinda moved her hair out of her eyes as she looked at him. ‘I don’t want to upset your family.’

‘Please don’t go, Cinda. We’ve only just found each other,’ he kissed her again and she leant into him, her arms wrapping around his neck.

He’s intoxicating
, she thought, as she felt his desire pressed hard against her.

‘I have to keep painting,’ said Cinda, trying to think of other reasons why she shouldn’t stay with Ludo forever, pottering about in luxury. ‘I can’t stay in one place for too long. I need to keep seeing the world, find the views.’ He swung her around and she laughed, throwing her head back.