Page 77 of Fierce- Royce

“That is a big part of it for sure,” she said. “I think we are both aware of it and will work to make sure it doesn’t change. Then I’m asking myself if I’m being selfish or not thinking that.”

How many times in her life had her parents told her that? She was selfish and put herself first.

She didn’t try to be. Even with as much as Royce was working, there was part of her that wanted to be with him more but would never ask. He didn’t need that on his shoulders.

Besides, she was fully aware that was one of the reasons he was single and why they went into this relationship the way they had.

“No,” Raina said. “You’re entitled to feel the way you are. I wasn’t thrilled I was being set up either at first.”

“I didn’t have a problem with it,” Megan said, grinning. “But I did see Jonah first.”

“Royce and I have worked together for a few years. So yeah, I’m not sure if we were on their radar or not until recently.”

She had thought of that too but then told herself to not get bogged down with it.

“I don’t put anything past them,” Raina said. “Maybe it’s just taking longer than they thought. Who knows? I’m not suretheyeven know.”

“They act like they’ve got it all together,” she said. “But it’s anyone’s guess.”

“I’m glad it’s working out for you,” Megan said. “Funny how we all fell for it.”

Chloe snorted. “We’ll see,” she said. “For now I’m just going on with my life like normal and not letting them be aware of what is happening in my personal life.”

“We’ll have your back,” Raina said.

She watched as her two friends left her office and then got back to work.

If she thought there would have been bad feelings over them not knowing, she was happy to say that didn’t exist.

She picked up her phone and sent a text to Royce. Might as well let him know that two more people were added to the list of their secret. At some point they’d have to decide when they’d make it more official.

She tossed her phone back down and went back to work. She’d hear from Royce when he had time. Sometimes it wasn’t until late at night and she was fine with that.

It was better than always worrying and waiting for communication. Guess there was someone out there for everyone and it’d just taken her a long time to find it.

Most women would hate this, but she was fine with it. She felt she was getting the best of both worlds. Her space and a hot guy.

Damn it. It was sounding like it was about her again. Geez.

At lunch, her phone rang when she was walking back to her office. She’d gotten up and spent thirty minutes with Raina and Megan. It was nice to get away from her desk.

When she looked down she saw it was Dane calling her and answered right away. It wasn’t like him to call her and she wondered if something was wrong.

“Hey,” she said. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he said. “I had a quick break and I wanted to check in on you. It’s been a bit since you got the letter from Emily. I know you talked to Mom and Dad. I wanted to see how you were feeling about it all.”

She used to fill him in on so much in her life when she was younger. But then he was busy in college and she was going about her life too and didn’t want to bother him. Once Melanie was in the picture, she kept her distance too.

“I decided to look into her a bit more. I want to know what I’m getting into. I’m not sure I can shut the box now regardless. It’s better to know more before I reach out. If I do.”

“Do you need any help?” Dane asked. “Anything I can do?”

“No. A friend of mine recommended a PI and I went to see the guy last night. He’s going to do some basic research. Things I can’t find. Hopefully there isn’t anything horrible to find out, but I need to know that.”

“I understand. If you need help with this,” Dane said, “let me know. Maybe I’ll consider him doing it for me too.”

“What?” she asked. “Why?”

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