Page 47 of Evil King

Our first date had gotten cut short that day when everything went to shit, and before we could have our first date, our first kiss, our first time together, we were ripped apart. All I could think about when I was in prison was getting out and picking up where we’d left off. Why did everything have to get so messed up? Was I meant to believe it was a complete coincidence that not only was she taken, but she was dating my brother when I got out? Either Nathan, my dad, or both had done that intentionally, and as frustrating as it was, there was nothing I could do about it until she was willing to realize that The Royal Court was no good for her.

I shook the thoughts of Cherri out of my mind, collected a couple of mugs of apple cider, and then went to where Annika had found a bench near an open fire. We pulled out some of our pumpkin seeds and apples to cook as we talked and got to know each other more.

“I’m having an amazing time,” Annika said with a smile. “You came up with this idea really fast.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. Truth told, I kind of had it in the back of my mind.”

“For someone else?” she asked. My jaw went a little slack, and she shook her head. “It’s okay. Be honest. You’ve been kind of distracted, and I can see that you’re thinking of someone. Don’t worry. I can take it.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Maybe this was a bad idea. Not you. You’re great. I honestly didn’t expect to really like anyone so soon. Something recently fizzled out with someone I’m kind of…in love with.”

Annika nodded. “Truth be told, I’ve got feelings for someone too. I’m not normally so, ‘Nice to meet you. Let me jump all over you!’” She laughed. “This guy in my debate club, Kevin.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve been crazy about him since the sixth grade, but I’ve always been just a friend to him. After, like,allthis time of never getting anywhere, I was beginning to think I needed to just find someone else. Then you turned up.”

“So we both rebounded after not getting to be with the people we’re in love with?” I asked. “That isquitethe coincidence.”

“Maybe we could read it on each other subconsciously,” Annika replied.

“Yeah, maybe.” I had a handful of pumpkin seeds on a griddle sitting atop the fire, and I shook the handle to shuffle them around. “It fucking sucks, right?”

“Yeah. I think we can both agree that we’re fucking hot.”

I nodded. “Hell yeah, we are!”

“Why should we be keeping ourselves on coals for these people who don’t even know how to value us?” Annika asked.

I laughed. “If only it were that easy.”

“Why can’t it be?” she asked. “We’re here, right? We both know the deal. If I’m thinking about it in terms of friendship, I think you’re pretty awesome.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I think you are too.”

“So let’s not overthink it, then,” she replied and then stuck out the hand of hers that wasn’t holding an apple over the fire. “A pact. Until those shitheads get it together, we use each other.”

“Like friends with benefits?” I asked.

She nodded. “The best kind.Actualfriends withactualbenefits.”

That sounded like a pretty good deal. I reached out, took Annika’s hand, and shook. “Uh, yeah. That shit fucking checks out. Deal. Only thing—can we not tell your brother? He will kill me, or try to, anyway, and then I’ll have to kick his ass.”

She laughed as she nodded. “Absolutely.”

The rest of the date was the most enjoyable time I’d had relaxing and laughing with someone since I got out of prison. Annika did decide to push the envelope of our benefits, and once we’d finished roasting our treats, we ended up making out a little bit until we were shooed away by one of the staff for violating the family-friendly atmosphere of the orchard. We snuggled into one another on the hayride back to the front of the property and happily chatted the whole way back to her house.

I’d already called an Uber to take me home, so I walked Annika up to the door and gave her Sicily’s keys to return to him. When she reached out to take the keys, I yanked her hand in for a kiss. “Gotcha.”

She smiled. “You did. I had fun.”

“Me too.”

“It’s nice being with someone without having to worry about the politics of it,” she said. “Can we do it again tomorrow? Is that too desperate?”

“Nope,” I said. “Let’s do it.”

She winked at me. “I’m leaning into the double-meaning behind that phrase.”

My lower half pulsated with excitement at the insinuation. “Good.”

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