Page 10 of The Royal in Room 3

“I had a delivery that didn’t go smoothly”—I sighed—“but I didn’t want to break my promise to Tony. I know how much promises mean to him and how little he trusts.”

I inclined my head to observe Phoenix, the owner of Halo House, knowing he would understand more than anyone else how important promises were to the people he housed. They came from a variety of circumstances, mostly youths kicked out of the homes that should have offered them a safe place to be themselves. Instead, they’d either been thrown out by family members for coming out, or they’d been treated so horribly that they’d run away.

Tony was one of the teen runaways who’d chosen to distance himself from his parents. He’d overheard them making plans to send him to a conversion camp after he came out to them as trans and gay. The years he’d spent on the streets before a police officer had brought him to Halo House had scarred him. Three years ago, he would never have been caught dead within a hundred feet of me, much less hug me. Although he’d come a long way, he had trust issues and multiple diagnoses that made him feel safer in little space.

He was also the angel—what we referred to them as rather than tenants or guests—who’d lived the longest at Halo House. Most angels were in and out in less than a year. Tony was in year five, but he’d started seeing a caregiver recently, so that might change.

“Are you hungry?” Phoenix asked. “Because we have leftovers from dinner. Shannon and Dean cooked.”

“I didn’t have time to eat, but I should get going.”

“Let me at least make you a plate.”

I nodded and followed Phoenix, the squeals of happiness behind me making me smile. In the kitchen, Phoenix flittered around, taking huge containers of food out of the fridge.

“You’re coming tomorrow night, aren’t you?” he asked.

Tomorrow he was throwing an engagement party for my last little, Kim, and her fiancé. Given that my duty to Kim had ended when I’d helped her secure an apartment so she could go off on her own, I hadn’t planned to attend.

“I don’t think I will,” I said.

Phoenix frowned. “Of course you’re coming. Kim’s now another Halo success story because you took her under your wing.”

“I’m happy for her, but our contract ended. She now has a Daddy who will continue to help her grow, and she knows that if she needs anything, she can always call me.”

“You know, if you’d shown her the slightest interest, she would have been yours, right?”

“Hmm.”

He sauntered over to the counter, his movements fluid, hinting at the dancer he’d been when younger. I was almost a foot taller, but he didn’t ask for help in reaching for the glass Tupperware in the wall-mounted cupboards. Once upon a time, I would have offered to help, but after almost a decade of friendship, I knew better.

The long, kimono-style sleeves of his wrap flowed back from his stretch, revealing the gnarled skin tissue adorning both arms from the fire he’d escaped over three decades ago. My chest tightened briefly with anger before I remembered the asshole responsible for hurting him was behind bars.

I watched Phoenix quickly scoop food into the containers, then smacked the corners of the lids in place. He handed them to me. “Here you go. There’s always too much food in this house.”

Because he made sure he had enough in case of emergencies. Not everyone who made their way to Halo House stayed for shelter. Some showed up for a hot meal or a shower. Phoenix didn’t turn anyone away, even when he should have sometimes.

He walked me to the front door and held it open for me. “Please show up for at least fifteen minutes,” he said, stalling me. “You never take any praise for how wonderful you’ve been in helping out our angels.”

“You know I’m happy to help. I don’t need anything.”

“Fine, I won’t push you. But are you sure you don’t want to take another sub under your wing? You’re so good with them.”

“You know I always take a break in between. It’s self-care for me, so when I do accept someone, I’m at my best and can give them the time and care they need.”

“I guess that’s what makes you the best.” He heaved a sigh. “The day you decide to settle down is the day I’ll cry myself a river.”

My lips twisted in wry amusement. “We know that’s not going to happen. Only short-term arrangements for me. I do not need the illusion of a lifetime.”

Phoenix gasped and glanced over his shoulder, as if afraid one of his wards would overhear my pessimistic view on love. “Jude, you don’t really believe there’s no happily ever after, do you?”

I raised an eyebrow. “I know you’re not talking to me about happily ever after.”

“My case is different,” he said quickly. “I had my happily ever after already with Raymond, and it was everything I could have hoped for.”

“But you’re still alive, and I know a certain cop who would love for you to give him a sign that he can ask you out.”

Color suffused his cheeks, and he glanced over into the night, frowning at the headlights of a car turning into the driveway. “Aaron and I are…friends. Without him, Halo House wouldn’t have been able to help so many members of the community. I’m grateful for his help. That’s all.”