Page 67 of Exes Don't

“You’re the spare heir if I’m not mistaken.” I’m impressed with my ability to keep my cool. Duke is an imposing figure, and in spite of all the charm he wields, there’s something about him that feels off. Call it intuition. “How would you feel if…something came up and prevented him from taking his rightful position as leader of Penwick?”

Duke doesn’t remove his penetrating gaze from my face for what feels like an obscene amount of time.

“That depends,” he says finally.

“On what?”

“Whether it was his choice to abdicate or something else entirely.”

“What else would it be?” I’ve stopped walking now, determined to get some real intel. My dad would tell me I’m pushing too hard, but I’m throwing the rule book out the window here. Anton deserves my best effort, and dang it, that’s what I’m going to give him.

Duke shrugs and blinks, as if he’s done with this conversation. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m merely saying that I’ve considered the possibility. I’d be ready if I needed to step in. I love Penwick, and I would be proud to serve our people. That’s another way Anton and I have always differed. I like the confinesof our small island nation. It’s comfortable to me. A safe place. I feel like we can make a difference right from our little corner of the world. But to Anton, Penwick feels like a prison. He’s always wanted to get out.”

I want to pound my head into the nearest wall. Nothing about this conversation has provided any clarity.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to use the restroom.” Duke ducks into the bathroom, leaving me with Charles.

I turn to the man, who is nearly a foot taller than me. He rivals Anton in size, and he’s got a hard look on his face.

“Is he always so forthcoming but not really forthcoming at the same time?” I ask.

Charles chuckles. “Basically. Duke is an enigma. That’s why I’m here.”

“You have any information for me?” I ask, my voice low.

He shakes his head once. “If I did, I’d share it through the proper channels.” He glances around. “Not here, out in the open, where anyone could overhear.”

I make a point of glancing around the deserted hallway, because give me a break. I’m done with this guy. “Stick close to him.”

Charles’s jaw clenches. “I don’t take orders from you.”

“Me telling you to do your job isn’t an order. It’s an expectation.”

25

The Math Works

Anton

Rose hugs Poppy, Noli, Mack, and Collin goodbye before they leave the stadium.

“We’ll see you tomorrow for book club,” Noli calls over her shoulder. “Don’t miss it.”

“Seeing as how I’m running it, I think I’ll be there,” Rose says with an eye roll. “Sisters,” she mutters.

I fight back a smile, even as the pit of longing in my chest turns into a Grand Canyon-style gorge. I envy the easy way the Kasper siblings interact and the love they extend to their family’s newest members, Mack and Collin. There’s obvious affection there.

As two-thirds of the Kasper sisters and their partners are in their car heading home, I am three-thirds confident that I want to be the final third to their family pie chart.

Don’t question that. The math works.

“I hope they were alright.” Rose draws me from my thoughts with a smidge of trepidation lacing her tone. “They can be…a lot.”

“They’re great,” I assure her. “Did you get everything you needed from Duke?”

“Yep.” She smiles brightly as he approaches with his assistant, Charles.

And I’m officially jealous of my cousin. I want Rose’s smile pointed at me.

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