Page 107 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

King

I don’t like it when you aren’t in my bed.

The feeling is mutual, handsome.

King

Love you, Dandelion.

Love you more, Forbidden King.

twenty-eight

Kingston

The party had been great.The food, the booze, the poker games, and the music had all been a hit. It was dwindling down, and Nash and River were collecting beer bottles that were littered all over the yard as I walked Coach, Bobby, and Slade to the door.

“Thanks for a great night,” Slade said, dabbing me up and clapping his hand in mine.

“Yeah, thanks for coming. Being sober at these is never easy,” I said, surprised that he’d stayed as long as he had.

“Romeo’s been really good to me. I can handle a night of nonalcoholic beers for that dude any time. And he’s marrying my sister, so he’s family now.”

Slade Crawford had impressed the hell out of me. He’d been speaking at the high school about his struggles with addiction, and he was doing one hell of a job working at the gym. I knew it wasn’t easy, and he took things one day at a time, but from where I was sitting, he was off to a damn good start.

Bobby clapped me on the back and thanked me after I pulled the door open.

And then there was Coach.

He held out a hand, and I did the same. “Thanks for having me. This was a lot of fun. And I’m glad that my mere presence doesn’t seem to annoy you anymore.”

He was a little drunk, but he was also pretty spot on, and I felt like an asshole, seeing as he’d clearly noticed that I didn’t care for him.

“I’m sorry about getting off on the wrong foot.”

“Don’t give it a thought, mate. I think we both know why you had a problem with me. But I think it all turned out as it was supposed to. I’m happy for you. For both of you.” He winked before walking out the door, and I realized everyone in town seemed to know what was going on.

Tomorrow morning couldn’t come soon enough.

I’d made a conscious effort not to drink much tonight, because I feared I’d slip or say something before I got the chance to talk to Hayes.

I closed the door and made my way back to the family room, where Romeo, River, and Nash were sitting, staring up at Hayes, and I didn’t miss the look of discomfort on their faces.

I cleared my throat. “What’s going on?”

Hayes looked at me, and I knew in that moment that he knew.

He fucking knew.

It was the look in his eyes—pure rage and anger.

The disappointment.

“I went to use your bathroom because the other two were full at the time. And I wanted a magazine to read while I was in there, so I went to your nightstand. And I’m just asking the guys why the fuck my sister’s evil eye necklace is on your nightstand. I know she’s stayed here before, but she stayed in the guest room. And she’s been back at home for a while now. So, I’m going to ask you once, King. Why the fuck is Saylor’s necklace on your nightstand? In your fucking bedroom.”

“Listen, I told you I wanted to talk to you tomorrow. I’ve got some stuff I need to say to you.”

“You’ve got some stuff that you need to say to me? Because you don’t talk to me every fucking day? You need a formal appointment for this?”

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