Page 94 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

Nice fucking try. You’re taking lessons. Move your goddamn feet and do whatever Beans wants you to do. We promise not to give you a hard time until we’re alone, and then we’ll razz the shit out of you.

Hayes

I can live with that. If she wants you to dance, just do it. You danced all around that ring in the fight. How hard can this be?

Romeo

Touché.

Nash

Because ballroom dancing and boxing are so similar?

I’ve got to go. I’ve got a hot lunch date.

River

I hope Midge puts the wrong cheese on your sandwich and you shit your pants, you lactose-intolerant dickgoober.

Hayes

I like dickgoober. Storing that one away for another time. I’ve got to get back out there.

Be safe, Hayes.

River

Ride or die, boys.

Nash

Friends till the end.

Romeo

Watch your back, and get your ass back home in one piece.

When I walked into the Golden Goose, Midge and Ruby were chatting at a table, and my brother’s girlfriend waved me over.

“Midge, you’re looking less grumpy today. I take it Doug is treating you well?”

“Very perceptive, King. Maybe it’s all those romance books I’m reading lately.” She smirked before walking away.

“I think you are the only person she actually likes,” I said, sliding into the booth and giving Ruby a kiss on the cheek.

“What can I say? I’m a real peach these days.” She laughed and did this little shimmy in her leather coat. Ruby Rose put on a good front of being a complete badass, but she had a heart of gold.

“You really are. And my brother is having a fucking meltdown that he wasn’t invited to lunch. You’ve really turned him into a whiny little pussy.” I paused when Letty came over to take our order.

Ruby chuckled. “Oh, trust me, I know. He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that I was going to lunch with you and didn’t invite him.”

I leaned back in the booth when our drinks were set in front of us, and I reached for my soda and took a sip. “All right, so what did I do? Did I fuck up?”

“You’re not in trouble. Why would you assume you fucked up?”

“I don’t know. Have we ever had lunch alone?”

“No, but that doesn’t mean we can’t,” she said, shaking her head and smiling.

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