Just a Holiday Hangout: A Royal Christmas Romcom (There's Gotta Be Something More Book 3) by Katie Nelson
Author:Katie Nelson [Nelson, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-11-01T18:30:00+00:00
Chapter 10
Arlo
âMom, why on earth do you guys think weâre engaged?â
Arlo and Ada sat in the living room across from his parents at their quaint lodging while Brooklyn watched TV in her room.
Francisca held out her hand. âBecause we saw the picture.â
âWhat picture?â
Arloâs father, Paulo, sat back with his legs crossedâsilent and stoic.
âThe picture of you proposing,â she explained.
âIâve never proposed to Ada."
âPaulo, show him the picture that was sent to you.â
Paulo pulled out his phone and tapped a button.
Holding up the screen, they saw a photo of Arlo down on one knee at the rooftop coffee shop in Big Bear. Ada had her hands covering her mouth, shock on her face.
Ada inhaled sharply. âArloâ¦â
âExplain that.â Francisca crossed her arms over her chest.
Arlo muttered, âThatâs not⦠what it looks like.â
Swiping right on the screen his mother said, âBig Bear Coffee posted the photo along with the caption, âCongrats to the cute couple that got engaged on our rooftop today!â Thatâs the two of you, correct?â
âYes, thatâs us, but I wasnât proposing. I was⦠groveling. It wasnât real.â
Francisca sniffled and held her hand over her mouth. âYou mean⦠it was⦠just a hoax? I⦠I thought you wanted to surprise us. Thatâs why you hadnât told us you were coming home.â
Arlo ran his hand through his hair. âHow did you find out I was coming home?â
âAfter I saw the photo, I spoke with Luiz to see if youâd told him you were engaged. Thatâs when he mentioned he wasnât supposed to say anything, but that you were coming home to DJ the New Yearâs Eve party. We just assumedâ¦â
âMom, Iâm sorry for the misunderstanding. Ada and I are just friendsâ¦â Then he looked at Ada. âWeâre friends, right?â
She shrugged.
âI was going to surprise you with a visit. Luiz wasnât supposed to say anything.â Arlo rubbed his hands together.
Francisca buried her head into Pauloâs shoulder. More sniffles could be heard.
âMom, whatâs going on? Whatâs wrong?â
His mom began full on sobbing.
Paulo patted his wifeâs shoulder. âYour mother⦠and I⦠just hoped you getting married meant⦠good things for you, for the island. Things have been tough the last few years. Everyone at the palace has been abuzz with excitement over a royal wedding and what that could mean⦠for all of us.â
âDadâ¦â Arlo hung his head.
Ada closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. âIâm sorry, Iâm so lost. Palace, royal weddingâ¦â
âShe doesnât know?â Francisca straightened. Paulo pulled out a handkerchief and she patted below her eyes.
Putting a hand to her chest, Ada tried to steady her breathing. âWhat donât I know?â
Arlo turned toward her and blew out a breath. âMy parents areâ¦â he paused and rubbed his forehead. âThe king and queen of Ilha de Segredos.â
After a moment, Ada burst out laughing. âIâm sorry. I swear you said your parents are⦠royalty.â She relaxed back on the couch. âThatâs a good joke. You almost had me.â
âHenrique, I canât believe you didnât tell her.â Francisca shook her head at him.
âItâs not the easiest topic to bring up.
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