“Would you like some company?” he asked.
Christian smiled. “Sure. Have a seat.”
“I don’t have to if you want some peace. I didn’t realise Hilary had…”
“Sit down, little one,” Christian murmured.
Oscar slid into the seat opposite him, pulling his cup and cake towards him. He was quiet for a moment before he peered at Christian again. “Does it hurt?”
Christian chuckled. “A little. Eating is tiresome because it makes my jaw ache, but I can manage.”
“Are your ribs the same?” Raising his eyebrows, Christian tilted his head. “I saw you wince a couple of times.”
“Yes. My ribs are decorated like a rainbow at present.”
Oscar gasped. “Should you be resting?”
“If I didn’t get out of there, I would’ve gone mad. I’ve been ‘resting’ for days already.” He focused on his coffee, taking a sip.
Oscar bit his lip to stop from asking what happened. Instead, he used his fork to cut a piece of his cake and slide it into his mouth. The chocolate cake was delicious, and the reason he always had his supplier make an extra cake so he could take one home. He counted it as part of his wages. It didn’t help that he had a sweet tooth, something his Daddy would need to help him with when he had one who stayed longer than a night.
“What are you thinking about?” Christian asked.
Oscar opened the eyes he hadn’t realised he’d closed and studied him. Then he stared at his cake, pushing crumbs from one side to the other. He huffed a laugh. “I was thinking that I needed my Da…” He glanced over his shoulder. “I needed my Daddy to make sure I didn’t eat too many sweet things. I have something of a problem.”
Christian laughed. “Working in a cafe is probably not the best idea.”
“Don’t I know it. I’m sure my trousers are getting tighter by the day.”
“You look fine to me. I bet being on your feet all day balances the sweet addiction. I bet it’s not as bad as Henry and George, anyway.”
“Why?”
Christian put his mug down and curled his hands around it. “Henry loves fudge. Any flavour, any shape. Just fudge. If he had his way, he’d eat it every day. As for George, his addiction to love heart sweets easily pays a factory worker’s annual salary.”
Oscar chuckled. “I don’t feel so alone now.”
“You’d fit right in, don’t you worry.”
Oscar’s heart jumped with Christian’s words, though he knew the prince didn’t mean anything by them. There was no way he would fit in with royalty.
“I will be speaking tomorrow to a couple of people who might be interested in your…situation,” Christian said. “I will hopefully have more news for you tomorrow.”
Oscar swallowed hard, ignoring the pang in his stomach when he thought about someone else being with him. He couldn’t have a prince. “Thank you.” He drank his coffee, shoving down the feelings his traitorous body was bringing to the surface.
“What’s wrong?”
Oscar glanced up. “What?”
“You seem sad. Has something happened?”
“No, nothing. I’m okay.”
Christian narrowed his eyes on him, and Oscar fidgeted in his seat, wanting to make himself smaller. Not because Christian was intimidating, but because Oscar’s brain was already associating Christian with being a Daddy and someone he didn’t want to upset. He wanted to be good for him, even though they didn’t have that type of relationship.
“Oscar?”
He lifted his gaze to where his name had been called, and Hilary waved for him. He stood. “I have to get back to work. I’m glad you’re okay.” Oscar stepped away but turned back when Christian said his name softly.
“I’ll find someone. I promise.”
