Page 37 of Royal Rising

Edie has always been important to me. I don’t think she knows just how much. All the big things in my life—she’s been a part of. When I was playing ball, I called her after every game. She came to the Briar to watch me win it. She sat in the pew behind me at my mother’s funeral, tears sliding down her face, her hand on my shoulder, my back, making sure I knew she was there for me.

The thought popped into my head fully formed and ready to be spoken aloud—that I could be king with Edie at my side. So I said it. Sort of.

And she said no.

I slump into the chair behind the desk.Crap.

That’s why I’ve never made a move on her. You don’t mess around with your best friend because what happens when things go wrong—you lose your best friend. And that’s the last thing I want.

Because there have been times that I’ve wanted Edie.

Lots of times.

The night of our high school graduation when Dad let me host the party at the castle. Edie, wearing those cut-off shorts that showed off long legs and the Katy Perry T-shirt I bought her when she took me to the concert, was beside me all night. I had thoughtmaybe… the beer I drank made me think,why not…

And then Stef Davies pulled me into the gardens.

The day I came back from Baltimore, cut from the team, my shoulder messed up, and I stopped at the hotel where she was working. She looked up from behind the desk, her dark hair cut short to her chin, and smiled.

I didn’t do anything then because I knew I was as messed up as my shoulder, but I lived with the regret for quite a while.

There have been so many of thoseI want Ediemoments over the years that most have blended into a heaviness in my heart. If I could guarantee the safety of our friendship, I would make so many moves on Edie, in a heartbeat.

But she’s not interested. And I would mess it up.

Like I just did.

11

Edie

What just happened?

I lean against the office door for a moment to catch my breath.

He… Kalleproposed?

I can’t believe him.

Kalle asked me tomarryhim.

Marry, as in husband and wife. As in, more than friends. As in, sharing a bed.

At least, that’s what I assume he meant because I know Kalle and he wouldn’t want to be married and not enjoy marital relations with his wife, friend or more than friend.

The thought of me and Kalle in bed together—

When he asked me—which technically he didn’t, now that my brain is working properly. It was more of ayeah, we should do this, like asking a buddy to get a beer.

I’m the buddy he wants to marry.

It’s not a good feeling. It was a great feeling for a split second; all I could think about wasYes! Yes, I’ll marry you andohmygodmomisgoingtofreak.

And then reality crashed down. The fear. The disappointment in the certainty that he doesn’treallywant me. I’m like a security blanket for Kalle, nothing more.

And then—did he just do that because I’m dating his cousin?

Because Kalle has never, ever given any indication that he thinks of me as anything other than a friend. Sure, there might have been times where I got the sense that he might have been tempted to make a move, but he’s never, ever said anything to me.

---