Page 16 of Royal Desire

“Seriously, what the fuck does anyone have to do to get a sandwich around here?” Payne mutters.

Dean narrows his eyes. “I got tired of Uncle Sam bossing me around. And I know your grandma is one of the town’s busy bodies, so I know you know why I’m back.”

“I’m sorry about your dad,” I say sincerely. “And Grandma does keep me in the loop ... for the most part. She’s not getting any younger. I want to spend time with her and Blake.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Payne mutters. “If I have to put in my own order, I will.”

I pull in a deep breath and turn to the man I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to being around again. “Let me guess ... a double cheeseburger with fries and a Coke.”

Payne’s beautiful face screws up into a grimace as he motions to himself. “Things have changed. I don’t have the metabolism of a thirteen-year-old. I’m not about to fuck up my time in the gym with fried food.”

I roll my eyes. “Is your mother still dictating your life? I bet she bought you those shoes too.”

Payne’s eyes narrow. “My mother can barely dictate anything these days.”

“I remember all too well how much she got off on that,” I counter. “I’d say I hope you haven’t followed in her footsteps, but better hers than your father’s.”

Dean raises a finger, as if that will draw my attention away from years of built-up angst waiting to erupt like a volcano. “With the low crime rates, I have more time to hit the gym. I’m not normally a big lunch person, but I’ll make an exception and take that double cheeseburger with fries.”

We both ignore Dean. The bandage has officially been ripped off, taking a lick of skin with it.

It’s no-holds-barred. A free for all. And by the looks of it, Payne is unbridled.

He rests his forearms on the bar, leans forward, and lowers his voice. “You’ve been hiding out for over a decade, and that’s the second comment about my father I’ve heard from you today.”

The fakest smile tugs at the corners of my lips. “Imagine that. The mention of Owen Deacon hits a nerve. Trust me, you’re not the only one.”

Payne lowers his voice to a lethal level. “You have no idea.”

My brows rise, and my eyes go wide. “Oh, I know. You look like him. You dress like him. You took over his business ... Grandma told me you moved back into his house. What am I missing?”

Payne’s jaw turns to granite. If a glare could kill, I’d be dead behind the counter like in the old westerns Grandma enjoys.

Dean forgets about his double cheeseburger. “I knew this was going to be good, but you guys are putting on a show that rivals every shitty high school performance you used to star in. You’re really bringing the emotion for the townsfolk.”

I bite my lip and look around. Winnie is gripping her crutches like they’re pearls. The retired club is turned in their seats. And an older woman who I’m positive is in Grandma’s Bible study has her cell pointed right at us.

Great.

Grandma will know about this before I have a chance to go home and wash the bacon smell off me.

“Well.” I stand up straight and swipe his empty water glass off the counter to refill it. “History shows I can’t count on Payne to finish what he starts when it comes to the theatre, so I’ll save my breath.”

“Really? You’re still hung up on that after all these years?” Payne demands. “I had no choice.”

“Here we go,” Dean mutters.

“But you did have a choice. Doing the right thing is always a choice.”

Payne shakes his head and proves some things never change, because he starts talking to himself. “Here we go, back to high school shit. As if I didn’t pay for that enough back in the day. I was going to get kicked off the team if I didn’t go to that tournament.”

“Since the horrible memory is burned on my brain, you skipping show choir finals for an out-of-town basketball tournament was not good. You got your ass handed to you.”

Dean points between me and Payne. “That was an epic week. It was the only time you two broke up. I mean, other than the last time you broke up, which I guess was the official break up—the final break up.”

Payne crosses his arms. “Ruby does all the breaking up. Though sometimes, she doesn’t bother breaking up. She just disappears, leaving some to have to figure that shit out on their own.”

I’m still gripping his water glass so tight, I’m surprised I don’t shatter the dang thing. I pull out the drink gun and press go on the water. My nerves are shot, and the glass overflows before I realize what I’m doing.