King Me (King Me Duet 1)

“Hey, handsome.”

I glanced up to find the dark redhead waving me over. With time to kill, I obliged and walked over to the spot I’d stood earlier.

“We should trade phone numbers,” she said.

Her toothy grin faded as I spoke. “Natalie has it. When you guys have the details, she can get it to me.” I didn’t wait for her to respond. I left and was reminded why I was the asshole Natalie didn’t think I was.

Not wanting to wait around in the hospital, I took to the streets. It was quiet and I didn’t think I’d find an open restaurant when I spotted a pizza place declaring they had the best original New York-style pizza. Though indoor dining wasn’t open, the owner took pity on me as I stood out on the sidewalk trying to eat a slice. He waved to me and pointed at an empty table in the back away from the windows. I ended up with another slice. When I was done, I was sure I’d found my go-to late night restaurant.

The call to grab my father came about twenty minutes later. I was already headed that way and didn’t rush.

“You took your time,” the grumpy Royce complained.

“They didn’t give me advance notice. I’ll work that out for the next time,” I said.

“You better. No reason I can’t fire you. You aren’t any son of mine.”

I sighed heavily, resisting the urge to say anything. He was the client. I could be the bigger person. In the end, I had truth on my side. But after I secured his seatbelt, the look he gave me, like I was worth less than dirt on the bottom of his shoe, set me off.

“Would it really be that bad if I turned out to be your son?” I asked.

His one-word answer shocked me. “No.”

It was then the nurse tapped me on my back and I remembered she was waiting to get out of the cold and into the helo.

“Sorry,” I muttered to her, stepping aside.

After she was in and the door was closed, I got myself in. Flying this bird had been a rush I’d missed. The flight was far too short and Connor was waiting at the elevator door when we landed. He was helping our father out before I opened my door after shutting things down. I didn’t get to ask Royce any further questions. Like had he changed his mind about me?

The nurse took the elevator with Royce. Connor and I took the stairs. When we made it to the second floor, Bailey stuck her head out of a room where an amazing aroma of cooked food was drifting from.

“Can you stay for dinner?” she offered.

She reminded me of the double date dinner, and I checked my phone as it had chimed while I was flying. Natalie had messaged me. “That’s really nice of you, but I have plans tonight. Maybe another time.”

She looked disappointed. I had to say, I didn’t like seeing her upset. She was such a sweetheart from the little I knew about her.

“Yeah, next time I’ll invite you in advance,” she said.

I nodded and Connor took me down another flight of steps. That’s when it hit me that the kitchen was on the second floor. New York was strange because, from what I’d seen, the house was big enough to have the kitchen on a lower floor.

“Thanks,” Connor said when we reached the door. This time instead of catching me off guard and slamming me into a wall, he held out a hand. I shook it. “Father had no complaints. I appreciate you being professional under the circumstances.”

“My mother taught me no less.” It was important for me that he had respect for her because he thought that she was sleeping with both brothers.

“She raised a solid young man.”

“We’re not twenty years apart,” I scoffed.

“I know how old you are. I’m still older… and wiser.” His smile was a lot friendlier, and I hoped we were breaking down the barriers from our first meeting. “By the way, the girls want to go to the park with you and not with Kalen or me. Something about you not hovering. Do you think you could come by tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

Then I was down the steps and in my truck. Before I left, I checked Natalie’s message.

Natalie: Dinner at the hospital at 7pm. Don’t make it weird. Indoor dining is closed with this exception.

Me: I’ll be there. Maybe I can get a sponge bath after.

I put my key and turned over the engine before I got her reply.

Natalie: Just Eww.

I sent back a winking emoji and headed to my temporary digs. I could’ve shaved but I didn’t. The stubble drew a clear distinction between me and the clean-shaven love doctor. I also didn’t change my jeans and flannel shirt. This was me, love it or hate it.