Chapter 22 — A Weekend by the Sea
The weekend had finally arrived.
Mia had barely finished packing when Nathan walked into their bedroom.
"Are you ready?"
Mia looked up from her suitcase.
"Almost."
"You've been saying that for twenty minutes."
"Because I keep remembering things I need to pack."
Nathan glanced at the enormous suitcase.
"I think you remembered everything."
Mia zipped it shut.
"Now I'm ready."
Nathan picked up one of the smaller bags.
"Then let's go."
Their families had planned a weekend gathering at a beautiful beach resort house.
Both families would spend a day or two there together before returning to their usual lives.
It wasn't an official royal event.
There were no schedules.
No ceremonies.
No formal dinners.
Just family, the beach, good food, and a weekend away from their responsibilities.
By the time Mia and Nathan arrived, almost everyone was already there.
Mia's father stood outside the resort house greeting everyone.
Her siblings were scattered around the large property, while Nathan's parents had already settled inside.
The resort house was enormous, with several bedrooms, a spacious living area, a private pool, and a beautiful view of the ocean.
Mia stepped out of the car and immediately smiled.
"This place is beautiful."
Nathan came around the car.
"You like it?"
"I love it."
She walked toward the beach.
Nathan followed.
"You haven't even seen the inside."
"I've seen enough."
He laughed.
---
The first few hours passed peacefully.
Everyone explored the resort, talked, ate, and enjoyed the warm afternoon.
Mia eventually changed into something comfortable and headed toward the beach.
Nathan followed her.
They walked along the shoreline while talking about absolutely nothing important.
Mia suddenly stopped.
"Look."
Nathan followed her gaze.
A small crab was moving across the sand.
Mia smiled.
"It's so cute."
Nathan looked at her.
"It's a crab."
"I know."
"You've seen one before."
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like you've discovered a new species?"
Mia turned toward him.
"Because I can appreciate things."
Nathan laughed.
Mia threw a little sand toward him.
"Don't laugh at me."
Nathan stepped away.
"You're throwing sand now?"
"You deserved it."
"Why?"
"Because you were making fun of me."
Nathan shook his head.
"You started this."
Mia folded her arms.
"I did not."
They continued arguing for another few minutes.
Neither of them realized that several family members were watching them from the resort terrace.
Mia's brother looked at his wife.
"Here we go again."
His wife smiled.
"They lasted almost an entire hour."
Another sibling laughed.
"They really do behave like an old married couple."
Sofia glanced toward them.
"Don't say anything."
Her husband smiled.
"I'm not saying anything."
They continued watching.
Mia and Nathan eventually stopped arguing.
A few moments later, Mia said something that made Nathan laugh.
Then she laughed too.
Just like that, the argument disappeared.
They continued walking together.
Everyone on the terrace exchanged looks.
Nobody said anything.
But the question was still there.
---
That evening, everyone gathered outside for dinner.
The tables had been arranged near the beach.
There were lights hanging above them, music playing softly in the background, and the sound of waves filling the spaces between conversations.
Mia sat beside Nathan.
At first, they ate quietly.
Then Mia reached across the table for something.
Nathan moved the dish toward her before she could reach it.
"Here."
She smiled.
"Thanks."
Her sister noticed.
So did Nathan's mother.
A little later, Nathan's drink was almost empty.
Without thinking, Mia passed him the bottle.
He took it.
"Thanks."
"You were going to ask anyway."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Nathan smiled.
"You know me too well."
Mia laughed.
The people around them went quiet for half a second.
Not because anything romantic had happened.
It was simply the way they interacted.
Natural.
Unplanned.
Comfortable.
Mia's father watched them from across the table.
He didn't say anything.
He simply smiled.
---
After dinner, everyone gathered around a fire near the beach.
Someone suggested another game.
Soon, everyone was laughing again.
Mia sat on the sand beside Nathan.
At one point, she leaned slightly against his shoulder while laughing at something her brother had said.
She didn't even seem to notice.
Nathan didn't move away.
He simply continued listening to the conversation.
But several people noticed.
Sofia looked at her husband.
Her husband gave her a knowing look.
Sofia quietly whispered,
"Don't."
He smiled.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
"I was thinking it."
"Think quietly."
They both laughed.
---
Later that night, Mia and Nathan walked back toward the resort house.
The others had gone ahead.
The beach was quiet now.
Mia looked toward the ocean.
"I like this."
Nathan glanced at her.
"The beach?"
"The whole weekend."
He nodded.
"Me too."
"No royal duties. No meetings. No people constantly watching what we do."
Nathan smiled.
"People are still watching."
Mia turned around.
"What?"
Nathan looked back toward the house.
A few family members were standing on the terrace.
Mia stared.
"They're watching us?"
Nathan laughed.
"Apparently."
Mia shook her head.
"Why?"
"I have no idea."
She looked at him.
"Do you think they still think we're in love?"
Nathan paused.
Then he laughed.
"Probably."
Mia laughed too.
"We're not."
"I know."
They continued walking.
Neither of them realized that, behind them, their families were still watching.
They saw the way Mia and Nathan walked beside each other.
The way they laughed.
The way they could argue one minute and be perfectly comfortable the next.
Nobody knew exactly what was happening between them.
Not even Mia and Nathan.
But one thing was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
They were no longer simply two childhood friends who happened to be married.
Somewhere along the way, their relationship had started becoming something neither of them had expected.
And perhaps the most interesting part was that they were the last two people to notice.