Page 8 of Royal
Chapter 3
Royal
“I think an important part of being an adult is knowing how long to dunk the Oreo in milk before it crumbles,” Brysen said, examining the cookie in his hand.
He was one of my best friends and one of the only people in my life I fully trusted. With his small body, blond curls, and big hazel eyes, he frequently used his cute factor to his advantage. Pretty sure that boy could get away with murder.
“What if you don’t like Oreos?” Kyler, my other best friend, asked.
They were eight years younger than me, but our age difference didn’t matter.
Brysen raised his brows. “Um, then you’re not human and must be destroyed.”
We were at my house on a Friday morning. Brysen worked nights as a bartender, and I didn’t have to be at the news station until two. Kyler was a full-time writer and lived in California but had come to visit. We’d met up early that morning to spend some time together before Kyler left later that day.
“Speaking of not being human,” I said, leaning against the kitchen counter. “Did you see the new episode ofAncient Aliens?”
“Ah, fuck.” The corner of Kyler’s mouth lifted in a smile. His freckles were on full display, and his light brown hair had been cut shorter. He had one hell of a tan, too. Probably because he’d just returned from a safari in Africa with his movie star boyfriend. “You’ve said the magic words. Now, he won’t shut up for the next half hour.”
Brysen was obsessed with aliens, and he one-hundred percent believed they were real. He had all types of whack theories about them. Any time he learned of another conspiracy, he’d call me and tell me all about it.
And thus, he began his play-by-play of the new episode.
Kyler went over to the refrigerator, looking inside at what I had stocked before pulling out stuff to make cheese omelets. While he searched for a skillet, Brysen talked and stuffed his face with more cookies.
It was nice having them over. My three-bedroom house got lonely sometimes with just me in it. Seeing my neglected kitchen get some use was also nice.
I cooked on occasion, but I mainly heated up my dinner in the microwave or popped it into the oven. Other than my mom, who sometimes came over to cook for me, Kyler was the only person who used it.
“Thanks for inviting us over, R,” Brysen said with his mouth full, after finishing his discussion about alien abductions.
“I’m just glad we could get together,” I responded. “It’s been too long.”
A few months before, Kyler had moved to Los Angeles with his boyfriend, Declan Price, but he tried to visit Addersfield at least once every few weeks so we could catch up. Brysen traveled with him sometimes when he could get off work. They’d gone to London about two months ago, and now Brysen wanted to be an architect. Just one of his many, ever-changing career ideas.
“How’s work going?” Kyler asked as he cooked breakfast.
“Same old.” I sipped my coffee. “Beth is relentless.”
She was the other anchor at the station and was constantly trying to fuck me. Five times I’d told her I was gay. She either had memory problems or was incredibly dimwitted. Or perhaps she was one of those women who thought she could turn me straight.
“Bitch, if I were you,” Brysen said and wiped the Oreo crumbs from his lips, “I’d tell the guy in charge you’re gonna quit if that whore-bag isn’t fired. She’s not even good at her job.”
“Pretty sure, between the two of us, the director would choose Beth over me. Seeing as how she’s fucking him.”
“I could have her fired,” a deeper voice said from behind us.
Declan walked into the kitchen, his dark hair messy and his green eyes sleepy. I’d told him and Kyler they could stay at my place when they came to Addersfield, instead of them having to get a hotel.
“Thanks for the offer.” I chuckled at the thought. “But I can take care of it.”
“If you change your mind, let me know.”
Admittedly, it’d taken some getting used to, having a movie star around. Kyler had loved the guy for years, going total fanboy every time Declan had a new movie out. Then, Kyler had been cast as an extra for one of Declan’s movies, and that’s how they’d met. Now, they were inseparable. Kyler traveled with him to every movie set, and honestly, I didn’t think there’d ever been two people who loved each other more than they did.
Declan walked over to Kyler at the stove and kissed the back of his neck. My friend grinned at his boyfriend before scooching him out of the way so he could grab some plates.
I looked away from them.
