He must have accomplished that feat since Mr. Lindquist was finally allowing his daughter’s hand to go to Royal. My buddy and his girl were their own happy little fairy tale, and I was happy for him. It was hard not to love December, just like her sister Paige.
Jax: Obviously, I was just giving you a hard time.
Royal: Right. Any other opinions? Maybe from someone who actually has a girl?
I lifted my eyes to the air but allowed that one. I didn’t have a girl, but didn’t want one. These motherfuckers were totally weighed down since they got women in their lives.
No, thanks.
I had my own battles at the present to deal with, particularly a stepsister down the hall I wanted to wake up from her sleep and hound. I wasn’t done with her, not by a long shot. I’d gotten her right where I wanted the other night, let her know her place.
The tears only let me know I had.
I’d been surprised to see them, unexpected, but I passed them off as more of her head games. She’d wanted me to stop by giving emotion, but I called bullshit on that. The girl was full of shit, but her faux tears let me know how desperate she was. That I was getting to her.
And once that happened, my bio dad would know where I stood. He’d know who I was and wouldn’t be able to fuck with me, my mom, or our family anymore. The asshole needed to pay for his sins, and I’d be the Grim fucking Reaper. My stepsister would be a casualty for his sins. The girl was mine to have.
Mine to shatter.
Knight: Anyway, let a master take a look.
LJ: Right. And, Jax, how the hell are you even up before noon?
Me: I’m up because of you motherfuckers.
Royal: Then go back to fucking sleep. God. Guys?
LJ: I like it, R.
Knight: Yeah, it’s cool, but is it a little impersonal?
Royal: What do you mean?
Knight: I mean, it seems really flashy for Em, right?
I decided to chime in since I agreed. December was casual. A lot like Paige had been in that way.
Me: Yeah, not really her style.
Royal: Fuck, I was afraid of that. She told me earlier at breakfast she just ordered my groom’s gift and I got fucking panicked. Next, thing I knew I was at Prinzes’ Jewelry.
His family’s company, I supposed Royal could have any fine merchandise he wanted—at any hour. Outside of the jewelry store, the Prinze legacy owned half the banks in town as well as many other small businesses.
Royal: I guess I’ll have to think more about this.
Knight: Well, when you do, lend me some help for something for Greer. Our anniversary is coming up, and I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.
I nearly howled in laughter in my bed.
Me: Anniversary? Seriously? Y’all been dating, what? Like five seconds and you’re getting her something already?
Knight: Try a goddamn year, fucker. This fall? Anyway, enough from your single ass.
LJ: Yeah, enough, bro.
Well, Jesus if they didn’t want my fucking help, then they didn’t have to get it.
I tossed my phone and the device started buzzing moments later. I saw Royal’s dumbass face flash across it, a picture of us both at the lake when we were kids. We used to fish all the time, neighbors for life and my first best friend. I loved all my brothers, but Royal and I had been day one bros being neighbors our whole lives. He’d stayed at my house countless times when his father had beaten the shit out of him growing up, my moms going to bat for him whenever Mr. Prinze decided to show his sorry ass to come and get him. My moms would never let him go, protecting him. Eventually, Royal got stubborn, and my moms couldn’t step in as much as we got older. Royal was his own man and had his own battles to fight. Pops got his just desserts in the end, though. That fucker was gratefully behind bars, more than one of us happy about that. He’d deserved that shit, and free of him, Royal finally got to live his life, be happy.