Page 35 of Defying the Crown
As I exited the car, I took a deep breath, reminding myself of Erik's caution. I wanted to cherish this moment with Daniel, but I knew I would have to navigate it cautiously—one step at a time.
Chapter 15
Daniel
I woke at dawn, my nerves crackling with anticipation. The kitchen needed to be spotless before Harald arrived. Empty takeout containers vanished into the trash. Dishes that had lounged in the sink found their way into cabinets. The coffee maker sputtered to life as I wiped down every surface twice.
My phone buzzed. A message from Harald lit up the screen:"Good morning handsome. Can't wait to see you again."
My heart skipped. I typed back:"Morning! Before you come over, fair warning about my roommates..."
"Should I be worried?"
"Let's just say Jayda and Caleb are... unique. She's a goth punk rocker with a heart of gold, and he's the world's most sarcastic hipster. They're also ridiculously protective of me."
"After everything you've been through, I'd expect nothing less from true friends."
I smiled, touched by his understanding."They might interrogate you. Especially after Alex."
"I welcome the challenge. I'll win them over with my charm and good looks."
"Cocky much?"I snorted, arranging fresh flowers in a vase - a touch Jayda would definitely notice and tease me about later.
"Only stating facts. But seriously, I promise to be on my best behavior. Your friends matter to you, so they matter to me too."
The sincerity in his words warmed my chest."Just be yourself. That's who I..."I backspaced, hesitating. Too soon for that word."That's who I like spending time with."
"Same here. See you soon x"
I tucked my phone away and surveyed the apartment one last time. Everything gleamed. The coffee table magazines aligned at perfect right angles. Fresh pastries from the bakery downstairs waited on a plate. Now I just had to survive the next hour without completely losing my mind over what was to come.
The sound of Jayda's bedroom door opening made me jump. "Danny! Is that coffee I smell?"
Here we go.
"Okay, ground rules for breakfast." I planted myself in front of Jayda and Caleb, who lounged on the couch with matching smirks. "No embarrassing stories. No death threats. And absolutely no mention of-"
"Alex?" Jayda arched an eyebrow. "You mean the walking trash fire we warned you about?"
I winced. "Yeah. That one."
"We hated that snake from day one." Caleb adjusted his beanie. "Remember when he 'forgot' his wallet that time at dinner? And made you pay for his fancy wine?"
"Or how about when he kept blowing off our game nights?" Jayda's dark lips pressed into a thin line. "Always with some lame excuse about work."
The memories stung. They'd tried so hard to show me Alex's true colors, but I'd been too love-blind to see it. "I know, I know. I should have listened to you both."
"Damn right you should have." Jayda softened her tone. "We're just looking out for you, baby."
"Which is why we need to properly vet this Harald guy." Caleb grinned. "Make sure he's worthy."
"Please don't scare him away." I dropped onto the couch between them. "He's different. He actually listens when I talk. And he's genuine and kind and-"
"And we still need to test him." Jayda patted my knee. "That's non-negotiable."
"What kind ofbest friends would we be if we didn't put him through his paces?" Caleb nudged my shoulder.
I groaned. "Can you at least promise to be somewhat nice?"
