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TEO
Since it’s the off-season, and our family always stays at Hotel Schönes Wien, Hans and I were able to get a room. It’s small, which is fine with me, and the beds are comfortable, but I toss and turn most of the night. Now that I’ve cleared the air with Eva about my status, I want to come clean about my feelings, too. Our walk back to the hotel last night had been romantic, but after the royalty bombshell, I didn’t feel I could drop another one on her.
Who am I kidding? I chickened out. I know she likes me, but does she like me that much? Or that way? I’ve been crazy about her for years, and she’s been oblivious. The last few weeks here have allowed us to get to know each other better, but every time I’ve tried to get her alone, we end up with Hans and Lina. Or Andela. Is she avoiding a more intimate situation because she doesn’t feel that way about me? Or has fate just gotten in the way?
I need to know. After all these years, my feelings have built up behind a dam, and I feel like it’s going to explode and wash me away if I don’t let them out, slowly and carefully. I’m scheduled to fly back to Oregon in less than a week, and I can’t hold it back any longer. I need to get her alone and tell her how I feel. Take her on a real date and slosh my emotions over the spillway of my heart so I don’t breach the dam and destroy?—
Wow. That analogy got way out of hand.
In the morning, we meet the girls for brunch. Celeste manages to keep a couple of paparazzi at bay by allowing them to snap a few staged photos of the five of us in front of the restaurant. We pose by the sign, trying to look casual but dignified. Hans arranges and rearranges us so many times even the photographers get tired of his antics. Finally Celeste calls a halt and sends us inside.
Andela sighs as our meals are delivered. “Last time we’ll be able to eat here.”
“Really?” Lina stops with a forkful of omelet half-way to her mouth. “Why?”
My sister shrugs. “There are lots of royal-watchers who will see the pictures and have to try it out. The restaurant will become very popular. More people will come—they seem to think if anyone famous goes to a place, everyone famous will. Which, honestly, is kind of true. Anyway, it will be too popular soon, and too many watching eyes, so we’ll have to find somewhere else if we want any privacy.”
“But you go to the same bar in Freiberg all the time,” I protest.
“Why do you think I never post about it?” She smirks. “Besides, back home we’re just not that interesting. Everyone knows us. Right, Teo?”
I set my mimosa down. “That’s pretty much true. That’s why you didn’t figure out who we are for so long.” I nod an apology at Eva. “In Freiberg, we’re minor celebrities at best. If we don’t advertise our activities, no one bothers us.”
“I was kind of worried when Eduard showed up that time.” Andela wrinkles her nose. “He’s much more in the limelight than we are, but he likes the trendy places better.”
“But he had a personalized stein at your pub.” I frown, remembering. He sat at that bar like he owned it.
“He has them all over the city. I think he had someone deliver them to every pub in town.” Andela shakes her head. “He tries too hard. Now, if he had come to Vienna, it would be all over the news.”
Hans points at Andela. “And if Daiquiri Dela likes a place in Vienna…”
Andela throws her napkin at him, and Lina and Eva both poke his ribs. He’s reduced to a giggling mess within seconds.
When we leave the restaurant, a small crowd has already gathered on the sidewalk. Celeste intimidates them with her glare and calls a pair of taxis to take us to the train station. I’d hoped to walk, so I could spend a few more private moments with Eva, but my plans are thwarted when Celeste insists Eva ride with her and Andela to “throw off the crowd.”
We get seats in the empty business class car. I suspect Celeste arranged for the palace to buy the whole car. Protecting one royal on her own is hard but doable. Watching over both me and Andela is probably more than she’s comfortable with. Telling her I don’t need a protection officer won’t do any good.
On the ride home, we play cards, share videos, and tell stories. As the train pulls into Freiberg, the streetlamps begin to flicker on. Andi tells Celeste to go home. “We’re back in town. You did your job. There will be a big bonus this year.”
Celeste blushes at the praise and departs.
“We’re going to head home.” Lina kisses Hans’s cheek, then grabs Eva’s hand. “We’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
“Wait. We can escort you.” I take a half step toward the girls.
“We don’t need an escort to get home.” Lina rolls her eyes, then sweeps her cast from Eva to me and back. “And if you two didn’t work out whatever is going on between you already, it can wait until tomorrow. We have homework.”
Eva starts, and her eyes widen. “Oh, crap. I forgot about that paper. It’s due tomorrow!”
Lina tugs her toward the F-bahn entrance. “Exactly. I have so much work to do. We’ll see you boys tomorrow.”
Eva waves and lets Lina drag her away.
Hans smacks me on the shoulder. “I’m out, bro. I was supposed to write up a physics experiment this weekend, then someone dragged me off to Vienna.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you would have preferred to stay here.” I roll my eyes at him.
He grins. “Nope. But I’ve got a long evening in front of me. See you soon.” He hoists his bag onto his shoulder and jogs toward the big front doors of the station.
