Page 62 of A Royal Menace

Back in my empty classroom, I pull my phone from the desk drawer where I stashed it earlier. Pulling up Cackle, I see my message to her this morning, read and still unanswered. I start to type out an apology, then pause before deleting the words and closing out the app. Pulling up my text thread with “Elle” instead, I read through our last several messages.

Me:Good morning!!

Elle:Wow. Two exclamation points? Must really be a good one.

Elle:Also, good morning!!!

Me:Hahaha. Now, who’s overusing the exclamation point?

Elle:What can I say? I love Mondays.

Me:Really? You do? What happened to “Happy Monday” being an oxymoron?

Elle:Well, I love THIS one, anyway.

Me:Me, too, actually. I had a really good weekend.

Elle:So did I.

Me:Look at us out there, crushing life.

Elle:#winning

Me:#killingit

Elle:Have a great day, Emmett.

Me:You too, Elle.

Elle:I need a man’s perspective. What does it mean when a guy you like doesn’t want to give you his phone number and only wants to chat via DM’s on social media?

Me:Sometimes the universe gives us the exact thing we need at the exact right time. Thank you for being that thing for me.

Elle:Why does that sound like a goodbye?

I never responded to her last message. I planned to tell her everything in person, but I was too late. And now, she won’t talk to me.

All I can do is give her the time she needs to figure out how she feels. I can’t make her talk to me. I can’t force her to accept my excuses and apologies.

The ball is in her court, now, and I can only hope she chooses to give me a chance to explain.

Inhaling deeply and holding the air in my lungs, I type out one last message from “Emmett” to “Elle.” A message that will tell her I know she now knows the truth. That I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. And that I won’t pressure her to hear me out.

Me:I’m so sorry, Callie. When you’re ready to talk, you know where to find me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Callie

“Happy Friday, everyone,”Naomi says to start off our staff meeting, but I keep my head bowed, my eyes on the floor.

It’s been a long week. Royal hasn’t tried to talk to me since Tuesday, but I’ve seen the desperation in his gaze every time our eyes met. He wants to talk to me, to hash this out, but I haven’t felt ready. I don’t know when I will.

And the worst part? The worst part is that despite my hurt, anger, and humiliation, Imisshim. I miss both of them––RoyalandEmmett. Even though, logically, I know they are one and the same, it’s hard to reconcile that fact when they each meant something different to me. Emmett, despite our anonymous online relationship, was a good friend. Someone who brightened my day without really trying.

And Royal…he was everything. A friend, a lover, a companion, a teammate. Everything.

I haven’t told anyone about his deception. I know I should probably talk to Joey and the girls about it. They knowsomething is up with me, but I’ve refused to give them any details. They’ve guessed that there’s trouble between Royal and me, but they don’t know what that “trouble” entails.

---