I beamed at the television as I watched the book signing event. A kid of five took a picture with Esther Clyde, author of Red Bows.

It hurt I could not be there as co-author and illustrator. However, even if I can't be there, my creation is.
I shut my laptop and set it on the table beside the MP3. Pictures of my travels to different cities littered the wall. The semester was already over and I had not decided where I should travel next.

Istanbul, Rio, or Bora Bora?

I heard the door open and close downstairs. Gianna, the housekeeper, must be back from the supermarket. I grabbed the empty juice box and glass and hurried down the stairs.

"How was your trip, Gianna?" I asked the elder woman who had nose upturned haughtily at the mess her son, Luigi was leaving. Mud covered his tiny boots and stained the tiled floors.

"Principessa, it was uneventful." She gave me a small smile before glaring at her son. "Luigi, go get rid of those boots. I have to clean these floors again."

"I will help, Gianna." I turned on the tap and washed the glass I had used and disposed of the juice box. I mopped the floors and went through the items she bought while she scrubbed and cleaned it to its original squeaky clean glory.

"You remember Maria?" I nodded at her, eager for some juicy gist. "Turns out her baby is not her husband's. She has been cheating on him with that mailman. That is so shameful of her."

"Wow," I scrunched my face in disgust, "why would she do that to her husband?"

She shrugged, clucking, and shaking her head. The doorbell rang jerking us with a start. "Did you order something?"

"Not one I remember." I leave the kitchen for the door and opened it. A uniformed man with a cap and a packaged box in hand stood at the door. "Hello?"

"Hi. Delivery for a Miss Nora Ricci from Vionic." He brought out a pad and pen.

"Oh, that's me. I totally forgot the shoes I ordered last week. Thank you." I signed the pad and collected the package. I closed the door when he turned away.

I tear the package and admired the shoes. The newest edition is to die for. The pink and black lines were highlighted on the white sneakers. I put them on, glad they got my size right. Delivery mishaps are the worst.

"Those are very pretty." Luigi exclaimed. His muddy shoes were replaced with green flip flops.

"Your birthday is next week, right? I'm going to take you out to buy anything you want."

"Really? Thank you."

I ruffled his hair and walked around the house in my new sneakers. The doorbell rings again.

"Strange," I frowned, "I don't think I ordered anything else."

"I will go check." Gianna wiped her hands with a small towel and made for the door. After a while, she came back with a bouquet of red roses and a bottle of wine.

"Apparently, you got an admirer." she exclaimed looking confused.

"Who?"

"No secret letter or note. My bet is on that kid next door." She had a slight glimmer in the eye as she smiled.

"He's pretty sweet."

"Uh huh and you are out of his league."

Chuckling, I bring the roses to my nose and take a whiff. "They aren't fake either. Luigi, get me a pot please."

Wearing gloves, we placed the roses in the pot and poured soil into it. After watering it, I placed it in the balcony to receive as much sunlight as needed. I paused in my ministration to it. Who sent it?

I stepped back from the balcony, creeped out.

"Marco." I called out when I see my bodyguard walk into the living room. He gave me a small smile and bit into his croissant but frowned when he clocked in on my expression.

"What's wrong? Did something bad happen?" Marco is a very sweet guy that helped me when I first moved to Florence. He became my big brother in paper and person. Queen Gabrielle hired him and Gianna personally to stay and live with me.

"Someone sent those roses and a bottle of wine without leaving a message or note." I explained.

His face took a stoic change as he looked at the wrapper and wine bottle. "Don't leave the house again, Your Highness and don't open the door for anyone."

I pouted, "But I plan to leave on a trip in two days."

"Postpone to next week. I promised Her Majesty to keep you safe."

"Children," Gianna
and Luigi had the dining set, "come eat."

We sat at the table and prayed as per Gianna's dining tradition.

"Another of my finest pepso alla fiorentina. Luigi, make sure to finish your food so you can be way more muscular than Marco, okay?"

While Marco gave a small frown, Luigi obediently said "Yes, mama."

Gianna's dish was cuts of meat covered in red wine, garlic, and lots of peppercorn in a soup bowl. Slices of bread were by the sides. Trust me when I say, this dish is so delicious. My dad would be so jealous.

After eating, I returned to my room looking for my passport. I swear that thing always disappears after using it. My hand nudges a small box when I finally found the small blue and green card. I caress the box and opened it.

My ring.

It hurt looking at it, remembering all that happened in Lilaria. It's been over a year now and he still hasn't found me. That is if he is even searching. That should be comforting.

Right?

I closed​ the ring box and shove it away. A familiar pang in my chest brings tears to my eyes. I miss him. So much.

I wipe the tears away and turn on the television drowning myself in the romantic comedy playing on the screen.

A bark jolts me out of my sleep. Why is a dog barking? Did the neighbors get one? Why is it barking at ten in the morning?

Grumbling, I pull a pillow over my head. The dog finally quieted down and oh goody, I'm awake and can't sleep.

Disgruntled, I got up and yawn stretching my body. I scrunched my nose at my morning breath. I hurried to the bathroom to brush my teeth and rinse my face.

In my pajamas, I come down the stairs yelling a good morning. I watered the blooming roses and entered the kitchen.

I gasped inwardly holding my hand to my chest at the unexpected figure in the kitchen. Since when does Marco enter the kitchen without a shirt and why is there a dog in the kitchen? Where the hell is Gianna and Luigi? Now that I think about it, I didn't see Marco doing his usual morning warm-up.

Then who-?

My legs give out when he turned. I laid sprawled on the kitchen floor at the sight of some on I never thought to see again.

"Morning, Brian." He gave me that break taking smile that-

Wait! Hold up. I must be dreaming.

I slapped​ myself chanting to wake up and got up from the floor. A big brown dog had its tongue out panting and watching me amused.

"Say 'hi' Choco." He said to the dog.

"This is a dream. A crazy dream."

"Glad to know you dream of me." He served omelet from the pan to the two plates set on the counter.

"What are you doing here?"

"After a year and let's see nine months, you ask me that? You hid pretty good to be honest. Glad to know you took care of those roses."

"It was you? But how?" I couldn't help running my eyes down his naked skin. "And please get some clothes on."

He chuckled and stuffed his face with the food he made. "Come join me eat breakfast."

I shook my head. "No. Please leave."

His smiling face fell. "Why?"

"You can't just come in and pretend everything is fine."

"But everything is fine."

"You pushed me away even after I begged to see you. If it's to sign the divorce papers, I've got a pen. Let's get it over with and never see each other again."

"I'm sorry."

"It doesn't change anything."

"I know but I need you to forgive me."

"I already have and now I want you to leave." My resolve was breaking. If he stayed any longer, I might find myself clinging and begging him. "Please."

"I have something to say." He  came and stood in front of me.

"No." I said looking at everything else but him.

"I'm the Crown Prince of Lilaria and I'm sometimes very mean and act on impulse. I get angry easily too."

"No, stop."

"I try to do things right and I've learnt I've made stupid decisions in the past."

"That's enough and I never asked to hear any story. No more."

"I care very much about a certain someone with a male middle name. I messed up, tried to fix it and messed up again. While trying to clear my head, I unintentionally pushed her away because I thought she loved someone else. Now I know what I should have done, if only she will have me back."

"No and please, make use of the door. I don't want to see you ever again."

I slapped his hand away when he held my chin. He sighed. "No?"

"No." I clenched my jaw and grit my teeth. God, please leave already. I had a hard time trying to get over you because I'm scared you might be faking your feelings or ask for a divorce.

"Tell me no one more time."

"No."

"One more time."

"No! A hundred times more, it's still a no."

"Anna, look me in the eye and say no. I promise this is the last time I will ever talk to you again. I will go get the papers and wave you alone. I- I promise."

Jaws clenched, I glared at him and looked him in the eye. I opened my mouth but the word wouldn't come out. I cleared my throat conscious of the fact the space between us was so small. I opened my mouth again blinking the burn and looked away.

He leaned in and kissed me.

Crying, I drew him closer wrapping my arms around his neck. We broke apart, cheeks stained with tears.

"I missed you so much." I whispered.

"I missed you more." He kissed my forehead and hugged me.

We came out of the kitchen after a lot of making out and forgiving. Gianna and Marco were grinning. They shared a high five.

"You two knew?" I asked.

"It was mostly Marco's idea. He is a total romantic. That acting the other day was over the top. I should be on screen." Gianna giggled.

"I noticed how sad you were throughout the week especially when it was supposed to be your anniversary the other day." Marco seemed so proud of himself with his infectious smile and the way he puffed his chest.

"You broke the oath of secrecy." I exclaimed though I was happy he did what he did. I leaned closer to Nolan who hadn't moved his hand from my waist.

"Gee, you help a woman and she yells at you."

"Thank you, Marco."

"You're welcome. Don't tell the ladies this is what I do though. I only did it because you are special to me."

"Awwn."

"How special?" Nolan eyed him. I hit him playfully and rolled my eyes.

The next day was spent discussing about our lives while we were apart. Nolan was studying Political Studies at the Wisconsin University while I took Fine Art at the Florence University near home. His parents sought the marriage counselor at Grandma Penelope's insistence, and worked on their relationship. Grandma Penelope was still mad at me. She had everyone not say my name in her presence. Henry moved back to the States and occasionally visited the Royals. Though the tension and mistrust lingered, they did well to have fun as best as they could.

We cuddled in bed. I enjoyed having his scent around me. I don't want this to end ever.

"Anna, I don't want this to end."

"Me too." I laced my fingers in his.

"I have to go back to Lilaria soon."

"I know."

"I can't bring you back with me. At least not yet. The paparazzi would horde you if they knew you were in Florence instead of Paris."

"I know."

"While I'm gone, I want you to stick close to Marco and not associate with other guys especially blonde ones whose name start with 'H' and end with 'Y'."

I chuckled at how petty he is but nod nonetheless.

"I will be back next week and then we will take a trip to Rio together. I still can't believe you took all those trips without me. From henceforth, we go together."

"Deal. You must stay five feet from other women. Your mother included. I don't trust blondes."

"No problem. I got a thing for brunettes anyway." He laughed.

I, however, didn't find it funny. "Stay away from all brunettes except me."

"Darling, I got a thing going for a cute girl named Anna Bill, Crown Princess of Lilaria. No one else."

"Good."

He pinched my cheek and showered my face with kisses.

"You are stuck with me." I declared.

"With all the responsibilities, the paparazzi, my anger and the fact we might not always see each other?"

"Yup and nothing will change my mind."

"I love you, Anna"

"I love you too, Nolan"

He froze and so did I. I realized this is the first I told him I love him aside from the failed confession.

"Say it again." he sat up staring at me with such a happy face.

"I love you Nolan."

"One more time"

"I love you!"

"Again"

Laughing I said, "I love you very much."

He grabbed his phone and tapped away.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Extending my stay with you."

I laughed sitting up and hugged him with a grin on my face.

I can't believe I was caught between the two guys but I'm glad I chose him. It might be accompanied by long-distance but hey, I'm ready to stick like glue to him.

Now that I think about it, my roses must be red.

E kaaro o. That is good morning for non-Yoruba and foreigners. We have come to the *sobs* end of Caught Between.

Oh wait! There is an epilogue after.

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