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That friend stayed at the door, watching as Royal and I pulled away. Ramses had waved a hand at me, pointing at me and telling me to text him in the morning. He’d wanted to make sure I was okay, and looking around, I spotted my phone. It was on Royal’s end table, a note next to it.
The screen was filled with more than one text, one from Ramses, of course, about checking in and then about a million from my dad. He griped about me taking off, telling me he’d come for me if I didn’t return, but since he couldn’t possibly know where I was, I rolled my eyes at that. He was obviously serious about me getting back to him and, at the end of his rant, left me details about the hotel I was supposed to be staying at with him. I also got a few calls and a couple texts from Aunt C. as well.
Oh, God. He recruited her too.
Those two seemed to really be a pair these days. I brought Dinah under my arm, opting out of texting my aunt right away to look at the note that’d been next to my phone.
Hey. Anyone ever tell you how goddamn beautiful you look while you’re sleeping? Shit. My fucking heart.
Who knew I had a romantic on my hands, and I grinned, the note so obviously from Royal.
I didn’t want to wake you, but I am making you breakfast. It’s going to take me a second, so when you’re ready, head downstairs and go outside to the back. We’re going to have a spring breakfast like I used to do when I was a kid with my family. I want to tell you more about Grace and Mom. Out back in the gardens was their spot. I’ll see you soon.
I didn’t know it was possible to be filled with so much warmth, so much love, but this boy was getting me there so hard and so fast it wasn’t even funny. He was a part of my life now. He was my life, and I’d happily give in than retreat. I think we needed each other, in so many ways, and whipping my legs out, I put Dinah on the floor, then grabbed my shorts off the floor. I couldn’t find my shirt but found a very nice replacement to put over my sports bra.
I buttoned down Royal’s shirt, the thing hitting me right at the thighs. I didn’t even have to do anything pervy like take a whiff or anything. It just naturally smelled like him, and after bunching up my hair with a tie around my wrist, I led Dinah out of the bedroom. I’d only been in Royal’s large Victorian house once, but it was easy to navigate considering the light cooking scent in the home. The aroma got stronger as I followed it down a grand staircase, the house’s walls filled with photos from history. There were so many of a young Royal with his family it wasn’t even funny and two others who looked so much like him. His sister, Grace, was his spitting image despite her red hair, slightly older but both held that same ethereal glow. The same went for Royal’s mom, also a redhead and so lovely. Their presence allowed me to ignore the fourth member of their family, a father whose smile seemed to fade as Royal’s mom and sister disappeared from the photos. Eventually, Royal’s dad wasn’t in any of the pictures at all, just Royal in his sports gear and things. His dad abandoned him, abandoned everything, and for a second, my stomach tightened that he might be home today. He wasn’t my biggest fan, and considering all the obvious with my sister, Paige, I despised him as well. Something told me he was far away from this house today, though.
Mostly because I caught his son happy.
Royal’s back faced me in the kitchen, a naked back with muscles that roved and striated beneath golden skin. He had bed pants on, his sandy blond hair tousled and perfect, as he rocked broad shoulders while he cooked. He had a song playing, one about sunshine in the morning, and I grinned, lounging against the doorframe. He had a grand display set up on the kitchen island, an array of fruits and toast stacked in perfect levels. Toeing inside, I snuck a strawberry from the spread before backing out. I’d been given explicit instructions to meet him out back, so that’s what I was going to do. He looked so perfect anyway, really happy.
He was even whistling.
He did that to himself, no one else there to give a thought about it or judge. I found it so sweet, and after I left the kitchen, I urged Dinah to go in there with him.
“Keep him company, okay?” I said, patting her head, and like she knew, she walked that way. I smiled, padding down the hallway and finding my shoes. I wandered around a bit, but eventually, I found a pair of French doors that led to the back of the house.
The smell of sunshine nearly floored me, the whistling song of spring right in my ears. We’d had so many dark days before this, cold and harsh, but it was like the world was transformed and brand new. I didn’t even need a coat today, pulling the door shut, and what a wonderland befell my eyes. I’d been through Royal’s backyard before, but it’d been nighttime when Jax snuck me over here. The boys lived next door to each other, possibly their whole lives.
I stepped down onto cobblestone steps, following the trail to a koi pond with active koi. They swam around lily pads with big, white open flowers, completely beautiful.
“God, Royal. Your mom was something.” I’d been told she’d designed the whole landscape, large billowing flowers open and looking for sun. The whole world smelled so good, and within it, I found Royal’s setup for breakfast under a willow tree. His mom had a large one right in the corner of the property, a table beneath set for two. Eyeing it over, I noticed Royal had a couple of starter dishes out there covered with mesh netting.
I pulled one of the domes off, sneaking a piece of melon this time. It was so fresh the juice gushed from my mouth, and I laughed.
“You don’t deserve that. None of them do. None of you do…”
I recognized the voice, but wasn’t able to turn around and confirm who’d spoken. A hand covered my mouth.
The bag covered my head next.
Twenty
Paige - age seventeen
It took me a short millennium to find Royal, and by the time I did, I shook my head. He was on the couch, beefcake surrounded by shortcake. He had actually two conquests under his arms tonight, the blondes hugged up on him like some kind of entree. Rolling my eyes, I stepped up to him in my kicks and an outfit way too good for the likes of this place. People were actually vomiting off the balcony. I frowned. “I’m ready to go. You ready?”
A spool of feathery blond whipped in my direction, my best friend of many years. Royal’s arms immediately left the girls. “I can be. Everything okay?”
No, I wasn’t okay. I was at this party on the other side of fucking town when all I wanted to do was wash my face off and take a bath. I shook my head, and in two more seconds, he started to get up.
Blonde on the right held him back. “Who’s this bitch, baby?”
About to pop off on this bitch, I only had the thought before my best friend pushed blonde number two off his lap and the other far the fuck away from him. He straightened out, dusting himself off like he was trying to rid himself from the sea of skank.
“This girl is my best friend,” he said, crossing the room to me, then pushing an arm around my shoulders. He touched my face. “You all right?”
I was and didn’t need his consoling. I was simply bored, and nodding, I let Royal do his caveman thing. He, Jax, Knight, and LJ were always doing that shit, a superman complex in all of them, but since I was over this whole goddamn night, I was entertaining it all at the present. I slid on my leather jacket. “Yeah, just ready to go.”
