Page 62 of Tormented Kings

“So this little bromance might become something?” I smile, knowing they weren’t really friends before joining the Host Club but have gotten closer since.

“Maybe. But I’m not fucking any of them,” he states, and I laugh in surprise.

“I never expected you to.”

“But if you play your cards right, I could see Preston bringing your boy, Dec, to his knees.” He grins, and my face flushes. “Does it bother you? The two of them having feelings for one another.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Trust me, I'm the last person who should be upset with having feelings for more than one person.” I give him a pointed look. “If anything, I feel bad. I can only assume Preston hasn’t taken any steps towards having something more with Declan for the same reason he won’t with me.”

Grayson nods. “I think you're right.”

He walks me to the car and hands me my bag back. “Thanks for coming tonight,” I tell him.

“No, thank you forcomingtonight.” He grins, and I die.

“Good night, Grayson,” I mutter as my mom starts up the car.

“Good night, Pretty Girl. See you soon.”

I think I like the idea of being down the hall from Grayson, even if I might miss my cozy little cottage.

Chapter 14

Declan

My lids start to droop as I struggle to keep my eyes on my phone screen. Preston should have been here a while ago, and he’s not answering my texts. Maybe I should call him?

No. I’m sure he’s fine. He was only looking for a place to crash. That's it. He said he had to do something before coming here, so whatever that is must be keeping him.

I shouldn’t have been so excited to get his text asking to stay the night. I have Sadie, I shouldn’t be pining after someone who doesn’t want me.

But then Sadie’s words come back to me, the way she talked before Grayson and I took her together, asking me if I wished it was Preston and me that was about to fuck her together.

The idea of that has me harder than I think I’ve ever been. The amount of times I’ve fantasized about that exact scenario is too many to count.

Was that just her playing around, or would she really be okay with Preston and me being something more? Not that it would ever happen.

Preston has shown no interest in me, and I’m not about to make a fool out of myself by admitting my feelings.

Eventually, my eyes close, sleep winning over.

They don’t open again until I hear the sound of keys unlocking my dorm room door. Sitting up, I rub the sleep from my eyes, frowning.

Panic that someone is breaking in fills me until I see Preston walking through the door, and I let out a little sigh of relief.

“What time is it?” I ask, voice cracking as I look down at my phone.

“Late,” he murmurs, shutting the door and locking it behind him. “Sorry, I’m so late.”

“Is everything okay?”

He stands by the door in the shadows. “Not really. But when is my life ever okay?” He lets out a humorless laugh, and my heart hurts for him. I wish I could take the pain away from him. Give him a safe place to be himself. Because while he might not want me, I know he wants Sadie. Even if he can’t see it himself. Or maybe he can and he’s choosing to play ignorant.

He sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair before stepping into the moonlight streaming through my window.

That’s when I get a good look at his face. I’m on my feet and over to him in a second. “Fuck, Preston, what happened?”

My hand reaches out to touch his black eye, but I hesitantly lower it again.

---