Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

“Why didn’t you mention him? I don’t understand, Emily.”

“You’re never here. Did you want me to text it to you? That seemed weird.”

She looked angry. “This is somehow my fault?”

“Are you mad I’m dating someone?”

She folded her arms. “No. Yes. I’m mad I don’t know about it. How did this happen?”

“We met at that bar you took me to—”

“No, not that. The part about you and me not sharing big information like this. Although, yeah I do want to know about him. But, this. You and me. How did this happen? I knew more about what was going on your life before you moved here. How could you have dated a man this long and I had no idea?”

I sighed. “You’re busy. I’m busy. You have Preston. It’s not like our calendars really match up anymore. Or have at all since I moved in.”

I looked over my shoulder. Vaughn was finishing off the donut and reading the news. Over the past few months the apartment had felt like ours. Vaughn’s and mine. We spent every night here except one or two when he needed to leave earlier than usual for a meeting. Occasionally he was gone for business.

Greer hadn’t slept here in so many nights I had lost count. I knew she had dropped by to grab more clothes because she would message me, but that was it. I thought back to how things evolved.

“When I first went out with him it seemed too new. I didn’t want to jinx it. You know that feeling?”

She nodded sadly.

“And then it kept going. We kept seeing each other and I didn’t know how to drop it into a conversation. I’m sorry, Greer.”

“It is my fault.” Her shoulders slumped.

“It’s no one’s fault. I’m not mad at you. I miss you. I do, but I’m not mad. I’d love it if you could hang out and get to know Vaughn a little bit. Are you leaving right away? Can you stay?”

“Preston wants me to go to brunch with his parents, but I think I can get out of it.” She pinched her lips together. “I’m going to get out of it. Hold on, I’ll be back on the deck after I call him. This is more important right now. He’ll understand.”

“We can plan something later, if you want.”

I noticed she had brought in her work bag and a few file boxes and dumped them in the living room.

“No. No time like the present. I’ll be right out.” She shooed me, pulling out her phone and I walked out to the deck to talk to Vaughn.

“How did that go?” He looked up at me.

I laughed. “Besides her walking in on what I was about to do, it was fine. She was embarrassed. I think she’s going to hang out for a little while so you two can get to know each other.”

He sat forward. “How long?”

I nuzzled in next to him, stretching my legs out next to his and pulled the blanket on top of me.

“I’m not sure. She’s calling her boyfriend Preston now.”

Vaughn clicked off the tablet. “I could go if you two need time.”

I shook my head. “I want you to at least meet her for more than five seconds.”

Greer stepped onto the rooftop. “Sorry about that. I’m all free.”

“No problem.” I smiled. “I would offer you a donut, but Vaughn ate the last one.” I elbowed him in the ribs.

“Guilty.”

Greer pulled up a chair next to us. “I brought some coffee out. It’s cold out here this morning. You two don’t look very cold though,” she teased.