Page 26 of Royal
Didn’t check my phone.
Morning, sunshine.
It’s okay.
I poked my head into your room.
You were sound asleep.
See you downstairs in
thirty for coffee?
Yes!
My brow creases. How the hell did she get back to the house after me? She must be totally caught up in this boyfriend she’s seeing. Zane, I think she said his name was? I’ll have to ask her about him later.
I inhale deeply, getting a whiff of pure male. It surprises me at first until I remember I’d worn the shirt Emory had loaned me to bed. I grasp the collar and pull it up to my nose. It smells the way it does outside after a hard rain. Crisp. Fresh. Captivating. I think he must have worn this shirt, because I’d caught a hint of the same scent when I’d thrown my arms around him last night in thanks when we finally made it all the way here. I still can’t believe he walked all that way with me. He could have ditched me in favor of driving home. But he hadn’t. And despite the shoes from hell that Freya had given me to wear, I’d enjoyed my time with Emory. A lot.
I glance back at my phone, then grumble as I pull open the text Davis sent me. I know I told him to keep his distance, that I wanted to do this on my own, but I’m perturbed that he didn’t give me any warning about Royal. He had to have known this would be an issue for me because it’s a real wrench in his plans for this year, too.
Reading the four short lines he sent, I only get more ticked off.
Did you know Royal is here?
Stay away from him.
He’s going to cause trouble.
I mean it, Echo.
With my jaw locked tight, I angrily jab my thumbs at the phone screen.
No shit.
Thanks for the heads-up.
But you’re a little late to the party.
My hands shake, and I drop the phone to the bed to cover my face. I’ll let him figure out what the fuck I meant by that. Am I referring to the manic chase through the woods? The mind-boggling encounter at the fight? Honestly, both. I groan, irritated with myself and the entire situation. Davis couldn’t have warned me in time. He wasn’t even here for the first disastrous encounter. I’m just pissed that once he moved into that house—the SIN house where Royal resides—he’d waited so long to say something. Gritting my teeth, I exhale slowly. There are sure to be fireworks if Davis confronts Royal about anything at all. From the way Royal has come at me, I have no doubt it’ll be ugly.
Everything that happened after the accident between the two of them is a fucking blur to me. The severing of their bond that fateful day had been instantaneous, and the odds of them repairing that friendship are slim to none. But right now, their problems are the least ofmyissues.
Reality crashes down as it hits me full force—I’m going to have to deal with Royal Kaplan at every fucking turn. Untangling our twisted history is nothing I want any part of. I can’t. Not now. There’s too much at stake.
Once I’m dressed, I hurry downstairs to find Freya already pouring coffee.
“When’s your first class, little sis?” she asks as she lifts a steaming mug to her lips.
Oh, thank goodness. Maybe we aren’t going to discuss the shit show after all. That’d be preferable, honestly. I exhale, clearing all thoughts of the entire debacle from my head. “Um, nine. I have three in a row on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, done around noon.”
“Ah, shit. My first one isn’t until eleven, or I’d go to campus with you.”
“Oh.” I hold up a hand with a shake of my head. “I’m a big girl. I’ll figure it out. That’s what online maps are for, right?”
“I had a feeling you’d be pretty independent.” She turns and pours a second mug, holding it out to me. “Coffee?”
“Yes, thanks.” I gladly accept it, then go about adding a bit of cream and sugar to it while more sisters amble into the kitchen, seeking sustenance and caffeine. A few minutes go by while a herd of bleary eyes and slow-moving bodies put cereal into bowls or throw bread in the toaster.
