Page 67 of Shattered Souls
A warmth envelops my back as I stand upright.
“Ry,” Royce pleads in a low voice.
The girls’ focus shifts to the threatening presence at my back, their throats bobbing.
Grabbing Royce’s hand in mine, I squeeze it. I just have one more thing to say, then we can leave.
“Royce is the most respectful, loyal, honest man I have ever met. Whatever youthinkyou know, I can guarantee you, it’s all lies. Maybe you should think about the harm spreading such unfounded gossip can do to a person before any more bullshit spews from your mouths.”
Spinning on my heel, I keep Royce’s hand tucked in mine as I march out of the coffee shop. The smack of cold air only seems to fan the flames of my anger as I stalk down the path, visibly fuming.
How dare they talk about him so openly like that.
Even worse, he was within hearing distance. They had to have known that.
Bitches.
I rarely use that word, but it’s fitting in this instant.
“Ry.” Royce pulls me to a stop, and I blink out of my murderous rage, finally seeing him for the first time.
“Royce.” Stepping into him, I press my forehead to his chest. “I’m so sorry. I should never have taken you in there.”
His hand comes up to cup the back of my head. “Not your fault, sweetheart.”
“You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”
His blasé shrug somehow makes it worse. “It is what it is. The rumors have been around since last year. No one has any real idea of what happened to get me kicked off the football team, but everyone speculates.”
I frown up at him. “They were the same girls I overheard talking about you in the library last semester. The blonde said it was her cousin…”
His gaze darts back and forth between mine. “She might be. I didn’t recognize her, but for all I know, she could be Melissa’s cousin.”
My lips tug down in a pout. “I don’t like it if she is. They shouldn’t be talking about you like that.”
His chest vibrates with a contained chuckle. “Yeah, I saw that. Got worried for a moment that you were going to drag them out of their seats by the hair.”
“Now that you say it, that’s not a bad idea.” I make as though I’m going back there, and he tightens his hold on me.
“Hold on there, Tiger. I think you’ve done enough for one day.”
“Well, if you change your mind, just let me know.” I give his chest a condescending pat. “Don’t you worry, Royce. I’ll be your bodyguard.”
My teasing earns me a rare smirk, and I totally take that as a win as he tucks me into his side, and we walk aimlessly down the campus path.
“Did you really just say pie hole?” He does a poor job of hiding the laughter in his voice.
I groan, burying my face in my hands. “It just came out in the heat of the moment. I don’t even know where it came from!”
He gives up the fight and laughs out loud. “Well, it gave me flashbacks to fifth grade.”
“Can I ask,” I hedge, glancing up at him through my eyelashes. “You told me your dad paid her family off, along with the school, last year, but you never really talk about your dad… or your family.”
He blows out a long breath, and we walk in silence for a moment before he responds. “That’s because he only did those things for himself.”
Not understanding, I frown up at him.
“All that truly matters to my dad—to my family—is theKingreputation. The accusations against me… not exactly the kind of press they want to be associated with.That’sthe reason my dad paid off the family. He didn’t even care enough to hear my side of the story. He received word of a scandal and immediately went into damage control. It was the same last year when the Ellingtons sabotaged any potential I had at going pro by contacting Halston and trying to get me expelled.
