Page 56 of Evil Villain (The Royal Court)

“I mean, Nikita could kick just about anyone’s ass,” I said.

Brayden nodded. “I know. Plus, he’s not all that weak himself, it’s just…” He kicked the water. “Old habits.”

“We’re a group, aren’t we?” I said with a laugh. “We’re so fucking dysfunctional we can’t see straight.”

Nikita laughed. “Yeah, andI’min therapy.”

“Maybe we need a good, old fashioned clearing of the air,” I said. Both Nikita and Brayden looked at me strangely, and I rolled my eyes. “Oh come on. Are wenotgoing to acknowledge the big-ass, Nathan-shaped elephant in the room?”

They looked at each other, then back at me, and Brayden was the first to break, oddly enough. “Being around you two really freaks me out. I mean, I was so jealous of you, Cherri. Then I was jealous of Nikita. I’m not really all that jealous at all anymore, but I don’t know how to get my mind off of it, you know? It’s like…” He looked at me. “We’re clearing the air, right?”

I swished around in the water. “Let it out.”

“I hated you. I mean, I fuckinghatedyou. Whenever Nathan would be trying to run around behind your back, even though Iknewit was because he didn’t really have feelings for you, I encouraged it. I wanted to torpedo your relationship.”

“That’s not really news to me,” I said.

He shrugged. “Then he started going out with Nikki, and I was happy for him, but I had these feelings too.” I could see Nikita sitting as still as I was. It was the most open about his feelings Brayden had ever been, at least with anyone other than Kyle. “I don’t really think I feel that way anymore, but still when he walks into a room my heart… does the thing.”

“Maybe you still do have feelings?” Nikita said.

Brayden shook his head. “I don’t, though. Nathan was like… the one who helped me realize it, but now…” His voice faded away.

“Kyle?” I said.

Brayden’s hands came up to his face. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

Nikita smiled widely. “That’s awesome.”

“I’m so scared though. Like, terrified.”

“True love is scary,” I said. “Right Nikki?”

Nikita rolled her eyes. “Horrifying. Seriously. It fucking sucks.”

We shared a quiet laugh and a moment of mutual understanding for one another. “Can I tell you something else, Brayden? My heart still does the thing too.”

Both Brayden and Nikita looked over at me. “Really?” Nikita asked.

“Yeah. For four years he was my boyfriend. I always stood closest to him or would kiss him or whatever. I’m still very drawn to him, just not romantically. I think that’s why my stomach gives out a little, because I don’t know how to reconcile what I want our relationship to be with what it used to be.”

“Yeah!” Brayden yelped. “That’s it exactly.”

“I’ve talked to him about it, and I think you should too. Trust me, he’ll be super understanding,” I said.

“Plus, helovesyou,” Nikita said. “Not that way, but he really does. You two were so close, and the wedge between you now, he feels it and talks about it often. I know it’d make him feel so much better if you guys could take steps back towards where you used to be.” Nikita looked at me. “You too.”

Something between relief and excitement filled the space between us. “Yeah.”

“And maybe if you do that, you two can stop being so goddamn weird with me,” Nikita said. “I want to be friends with you guys, for real.” Then Nikita’s eyes widened and she looked over at me. “Oh my god, you know what I just realized?”

“What?”

“If I end up with Nathan, and you end up with Deon, which I think is where we’re headed, we’ll be sisters-in-law.”

“Oh shit! That’s true!” I splashed the water out of pure excitement. “I’ve always wanted a sister!”

“Can I have a really big role in your weddings?” Brayden asked. “For friendship reasons, but mostly because I like attention.”

---