Page 66 of A Royal Menace

I’ve got this. Everything is going to be fine. Callie will forgive me, and our relationship will move forward, stronger than ever.

I repeat the mantra in my head again as I stop in front of her door. Taking another long, cleansing breath, I lift a fist and knock. My heart pounds in my ears as I wait, and thirty seconds feels like an eternity. I stiffen when I hear the deadbolt disengage, then the door is swinging open, and there she is.

My throat clogs as we stare at each other silently for several long moments. Callie’s body is tense, but there’s a flicker of relief in her eyes that’s impossible to miss. She’s happy to see me, despite her hurt and anger. New hope sparks in my chest, and I clear my throat.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she murmurs, then steps to the side in silent invitation.

I walk inside, careful not to brush against her. As bad as I need to touch her, it’s not the time. Not yet.

Callie closes and locks the door, then leads the way into the kitchen area. She motions for me to take a seat at the table, then slides into the chair across from me. We stare at each other awkwardly for a couple of beats, then I clear my clogged throat again.

“It smells really good in here,” I say.

“I’m making chicken enchilada soup for lunch,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

I nod in response, but my mind is spinning. Was that an invitation to stay for lunch? Or will she drop the hammer and kick me out before eating the soup all by herself?

I brush the thoughts aside when I notice Callie staring at me, obviously waiting for me to start the conversation. Swallowing thickly, I square my shoulders and hold eye contact as I speak.

“I swear, Callie, I didn’t know you were Elle until you gave me your phone number. I would never deceive you like that.”

Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips. “Why didn’t you just tell me? Why did you insist we use DMs, instead?”

I blow out a harsh, self-deprecating breath. “I’m so sorry about that. I panicked. I wasn’t sure how you’d take it, and I was terrified you’d assume I knew the whole time. That you’d end this thing between us. I couldn’t let that happen. Not like that.”

She nods like she’d assumed as much. “And that night?”

“I was going to tell you. I swear. I planned to sit you down and talk to you about it after dinner. It’s why I invited you over in the first place. But you were staring at me with such need the whole time we ate. It was making me a bit scatterbrained. And when you straddled me, my mind went completely blank, and my body took over. I can honestly tell you Iforgotall about it.

“Afterward, I told you I had something to talk to you about, and when you didn’t respond, I realized you were already asleep. I decided to tell you first thing Tuesday morning, but you were gone when I woke up. I didn’t want to tell you at work, but aftertalking it through with my brother, I decided I couldn’t put it off for another minute. But when I got there, you were already leaving. I was too late.”

She watches me without responding, and my skin starts to itch. I can’t take her silence, so I speak.

“I really am sorry, Callie. You have no idea how much I regret not telling you the second I realized. Please tell me I haven’t fucked this up. That you’ll forgive me and give me another chance. I can’t lose you. I never thought I’d feel this way again after Hope. But somehow, you ended up with her old number, and we formed this inexplicable connection. We don’t have to call it fate or kismet––I’ve never actually believed in that type of thing before––but it’s like there was some cosmic hand guiding us, driving us together. Emmett became best friends with Elle while Royal was falling for Callie. This thing between us iseverything. It’s special. I know you can feel it, too. Please.”

Her eyes look glassy as she stares at me for a while longer, then she nods to herself, seeming to have come to a decision. She swallows visibly, then nods again, more for my benefit this time.

“Don’t ever lie to me again.”

I shake my head aggressively as my own eyes fill with tears. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Okay, then,” she says, and I’m out of my chair before she can blink.

Rounding the table, I take her hands and pull her to her feet. She laughs as I lock her in a tight embrace, and her arms curve around my waist to hug me back. Dipping my head, I nuzzle into her neck as broken, emotional words flow past my lips.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. I’ve been in agony this week, knowing I’d hurt you and might lose you. I couldn’t lose you, Callie. I can’t. I care about you so much, and I love being with you.”

She pulls back to meet my eyes with a watery smile, saying, “I feel the same way, Royal. I want this to work. You make me happier than I’ve ever been. I need you.”

I lean in and kiss her, and she kisses me back with wild abandon. A calm settles over me as her hands release me and drive up into my hair, gripping it tightly. I pick her up, and her legs curl around my waist, her ankles locking behind me.

This is where I’m meant to be. Right here, with Callie in my arms.

And right here is where I’ll stay, as long as she lets me.

God, I hope she lets me stay here forever.

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