Page 95 of The Daredevil

CHAPTERFORTY-NINE

MICHELLE

“It’s okay,Mom. I’d rather you get well. We can meet you another time,” I said over the phone.

We were supposed to meet Mom and Charles for Thanksgiving lunch at her place in Newport, but she’d gotten the flu the past week and hadn’t gotten better.

“I’m so sorry, honey. I wanted to meet your boyfriend. This flu has been kicking my butt. Shows my age.”

“Do you have enough food and medicine?”

“Yes. Charles has been taking great care of me.” She coughed.

“Okay. I’ll let you go. Say hi to Charles for me. Get well soon.”

I turned to Royce, who sat on his couch looking perfect. He was reading something on his phone. His blond hair had grown long, with a few strands falling past his eyes. It seemed like every time I looked at him, I discovered something new. The past few days, I’d been staying over at his luxurious apartment that gave me a first-class view of the WaterFire event from the forty-fourth floor. The WaterPark was right below us. The living room windows were mostly glass, allowing for an abundance of light and a view of the city life.

To me, Royce was very much a nature guy, but he adapted well to the city’s sophistication. There were so many surprising sides to him that made him irresistible, but I fear the more I discovered, the more in love I’d be. And that would make it harder when I had to leave, right?

Could this exquisite and intelligent man be all mine? But for how long?

Royce had made it clear that he didn’t believe in love. What would happen if I told him I loved him? He’d probably freak out and break things off, telling me he’d warned me. A warning couldn’t stop me from feeling what my heart wanted. Royce made me feel safe, loved, and free. I didn’t regret falling for him, nor would I regret wanting to dive deeper.

I chose this path, and I’d live with the consequences no matter what.

Stop thinking negative thoughts. It’s Thanksgiving. Be thankful.

I was grateful to him more than I could ever say.

“My mom still has the flu, so we can head over to your aunt’s place early. Does she need help cooking or something?”

“Sure, Aunt Klara would like that. Do you need to drop anything off at your mom’s?”

I patted his cheek, appreciating his thoughtfulness. “She’s all set. Her boyfriend Charles is there with her.”

Thirty minutes later, we were in the South Providence neighborhood. It had several multi-level homes, and many of the buildings were being renovated. Royce pulled his Land Rover into a small driveway behind a Toyota Corolla of an adorable house with a fence all around the yard. It sat on a main road where city buses went by.

“How did you meet Remi and your other friends?” I asked, wondering how boys from affluent neighborhoods connected with boys in more impoverished areas.

“Through an RPG game called The Seven Realms. I took two city buses to meet up with them downtown. Forrest and Arrow lived only a few streets apart from me. We didn’t grow up in rich neighborhoods like Remi and Grayson, but we became close friends despite our different backgrounds.”

Royce grabbed a fruit basket and a bottle of wine from the backseat and used his key to open the door. “Aunt Klara, we’re here.”

She wore a bright red apron that read “Love is the Best Ingredient.”

Royce placed the fruit basket and the bottle of wine on the kitchen table and offered his aunt a big hug.

Aunt Klara turned to me. “It’s so lovely to meet you, Michelle. I’m Klara Smith, his favorite aunt.”

“My only aunt,” he said.

Aunt Klara had the same green eyes as Royce. She pulled back her shoulder-length blonde hair with a simple fabric headband. A strong-boned face and good looks ran in the family.

“Likewise. Thank you for having me over for dinner. Royce told me you’re a superb cook.”

“Did he now? I guess he was raised well.” She winked at me.

Royce flexed a bicep. “Look at what all your food did to me.”

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