Chapter 156

Iris was waiting for her at the airport. "Hey there. How are you?"

"I'm good," Pearl said, unconvincingly.

"How was Italy?" Iris asked, helping her put her bags in the car.

Pearl paused and sighed. "It was the best time of my life."

Iris drove her to Dylan's house. He was there, at the door, waiting to greet her.

"Hey there," he said, hugging her. "I'm glad you're home."

He walked her into the house. "I set up a room for you," he said, leading her to a newly remodeled bedroom upstairs. He had moved a bed in and bought her new bedding and blankets. All of her books and journals were neatly lined on a bookshelf and her clothes were all hung in the walk in closet.

"You didn't have to do this, I was expecting to come home to boxes piled up somewhere," she said.

"I remember your apartment. The boxes you left packed. I didn't want that for you here."

She smiled and hugged him.

"Thank you," She said.

"You've got a day to get settled and then we are off to New York. Better try to get some rest with the jet lag," he said. He didn't ask her about Rhys. Or her trip. They were close enough for him to know what he needed to say and when. She looked at the soft bedding and pillows and promptly fell asleep.

"Pearl. Are you hungry?" Dylan said, trying to wake her several hours later.

"No. I'm still so tired," She said.

It was daylight when she woke up again. She looked at her phone. 5 pm Saturday. Shit. How long was she out?

She went downstairs to find Blake and Iris and Dylan hanging out in the living room. "It's alive!" Blake said, doing his best Frankenstein impression.

"Very funny, fucker," She said. "Thanks for everything you guys did to get me moved out. You have no idea how much I appreciate it."

"Of course. We wanted to help after we found out what he did," Iris said.

"I wanted to help break his nose,"

Dylan said under his breath.

Pearl laughed, remembering the right jab Erik gave him.

"Well, fill us in. How was Italy?" Iris said. Pearl smiled. She told them about Fi crashing and visiting Florence. And also, running into Erik and Auggie. She told them about Rome and the polo match. The ball. Austria. And then she told them that Rhys showed up there.

"He did what?" Dylan said.

She told them that he lied and said he flew all the way there to see her when in reality he was there for a film festival, along with everything else he said. Then she told them about Erik laying him out. "It was glorious," She laughed. "I didn't even get the chance to tell him about the twenty five grand I put on his Amex card in Venice."

"So, just for the recap, you spent two weeks with the two princes of England in Italy, the princes cousin, a movie star, you met the prince of Monaco, the Vice President of the United States, you stayed in several five star hotels and the crown prince of England knocked your ex out cold? Did I get that right?" Blake asked.

"You forgot about the ball and seeing The Sistine chapel and Klimt," She said, smiling.

"Well, if you're going to go on a vacation, that's certainly the way to do it," He said, laughing.

Her phone rang. "Hello?"

"Nightingale." It was Erik. She excused herself and walked to her room. She didn't expect to hear from him so soon.

"Hello there, Prince Charming. I hope you are well."

"No. I'm a pitiful mess. Disgustingly awful. My brother can't even stand me," He said, making her giggle. "I can't believe the holiday is over and I miss you like this. When can I see you again?" He asked. She knew he was trying to keep it light but the longing she had for him was awful.

"You're the man about the world. When can YOU see me again?" She asked, smiling.

"I'll be there in 9 hours," He said. She laughed. She knew he was joking.

"I have to be in New York tomorrow night for the tonight show. I'll be there until Monday evening. Then I have to be in LA for promotional appearances starting Wednesday, and I'll be in LA until we open for the Stones in three weeks in Seattle."

"The Rolling Stones?" Erik asked.

"Yes. I sang for him at a bar in Chicago awhile back. He invited us. They aren't touring. It's just a one time show," She said.

"I know Mick. He played my father's birthday party a few years back. Great bloke. Good sense of humor," He said.

"Erik, I miss you."

"I miss you, too," Erik replied. "I can't turn anywhere in this country without seeing you face or hearing your voice."'

He told her he had a few things going on at home in London he needed to take care of but they agreed that when she flew out to LA in on Wednesday, she would stay at his house in the hills and he would meet her there. She was so excited she could barely stand it.

"So that was Prince Charming?" Iris asked.

"Yep," Pearl said, cracking a beer.

They laughed and talked until Pearl was the last one awake, sitting on her bed, writing a song about the prince she was falling for.