Page 72 of Royal Rising

“Us?” I nod. “I think we can make it work.” It guts me that she sounds so uncertain. How can she convince me if she’s unsure? Maybe we should—

“I can’t lose you,” I mutter.

Edie cups my cheek with her hand. “You won’t.”

I really hope not.

Edie doesn’t start work until four today, so I’m stuck with my own company for the day, since Dillon and Chase have the day off. I’ve never gotten close to their replacements, mainly because they usually stay in the car and don’t say much when they follow me around.

The rain continues, sheets of it pouring down but the thunder and lightning seem to have stopped. The bar isn’t as busy as it’s like the town can feel we’re near the end of it.

Or else they’re sick of my place.

I change the kegs for Bethie, spend a nice half hour talking to Lennie Tak, and even throw some darts with Ken McKibbon. I get the paperwork finished before Edie tells me to do it.

I text her sixteen times.

I spend the rest of the time thinking about her.

Edie has been a constant for half of my life. She’s the only person other than my family that I completely trust to have my back. Thinking about changing the dynamic between us should be terrifying, but instead, I find myself impatient.

Regretful. Why didn’t we figure this out earlier? We wasted so much time. Or did we? Would it have worked between us?

Will it work now?

What if the first time I kiss her, Edie decides I’m not enough. I’m not what she wants.

I doubt that will happen, but there is the uncertainty of the future. Edie knows what I want—I want her. I want her… forever.

Do I really? And is it only because I think she can steady me if I become king?

What if I wasn’t going to be king? Would I still want Edie England?

23

Edie

Enid: Details! Date with Mathias! What happened?

Iglance at myphone, at the text that has been waiting, albeit impatiently. What happened with Mathias? Coffee, dinner, kiss. Things going well—until Kalle decided to be a wrecking ball and take a swipe at my burgeoning relationship.

Would it really have been a relationship? Would it have gone anywhere? I had butterflies for Mathias, but they were the tiny, just-hatched type that can’t really fly on their own. And how Mathias spoke to Kalle, finding out how he treated his cousin, kind of squashed them flat.

Despite the kiss. It was a good kiss. A solid eight.

Kalle’s going to be a ten, I can just tell. If he ever gets around to putting his money where his mouth is.

Or where I want it to be.

The whole morning has been full of thoughts of Kalle distracting me from dishes, laundry, and other chores I was happy to be distracted from.

I can’t even have a text conversation with my sister without my thoughts jumping to him. I’m sure Ella is going crazy with the triple dots vibrating on screen.

Ella: Why haven’t you spilled the tea yet?

Ah, Ella. She’s a grade seven teacher and once she picks up on some slang the kids use, that’s all we hear for the next year.

Me: Too busy… sorry!

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