Royal Prick (A Stepbrother Romance #2)(65)

“Yeah, it’s got a little bit of heat to it,” she responded as I slurped some more of the chili into my mouth.

“Are you trying to kill me, Mom?” I groaned, swallowing past the heat. Again, another bubble of laughter left her throat.

“You go to the East coast for six months and turn into the biggest baby ever. Don’t tell me Viviana didn’t know how to cook.” The mention of that bitch’s name completely ruined my mood and my mom could instantly tell. My spoon fell into my bowl, and I pushed it away from me. My appetite was gone.

Why the hell did I have to let her get under my skin? Why couldn’t I just let it go and enjoy a night with my mom?

I hated myself for letting so many people down: my mom, Noelle, my father. I couldn’t handle the pain that came with loving people. It hurt way too f*cking much.

“I’m sorry, Royal. I didn’t mean to bring it up. I know you’re working through your emotions on the matter, but talking about it might help.” My mother’s voice was soothing and understanding, and I loved her for it. I loved her for caring enough to let things be as they were, allowing me to come to her when the time was right.

“It’s okay…” I assured her with a smile.

“I just feel like I’m at fault for a lot of shit that’s going on right now. I want to make things better for everyone involved, but I don’t know how. All I know how to do is protect myself from the pain and in doing so I hurt everyone I care about.” I was thinking out loud, still my mom just sat there listening, not judging me or lying to me by telling me I was wrong.

“Time heals all wounds, honey. I learned that back when your father and I ended things. I still loved him, but I had to learn to let go of what happened otherwise the pain would have never eased. It would’ve eaten me up.” There was so much truth and honesty that could be heard in her voice. I wished I was half as strong as my mother. I wished I had even an ounce of the courage she had.

“Do you ever miss Dad?” I asked without thinking saying the first thought that popped into my head.

“Every single day. Eventually you learn to deal with change when it’s the only true thing in life. Change occurs no matter what you do. It sucks that your father and I couldn’t have our happily ever after, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles.” I respected her more now that she was more open about discussing the past and the things that happened with Dad. Maybe it would help get things off my chest if I opened up to someone, then I could move on.

“I think I’m in love,” I blurted out, knowing that I could tell my mom anything and she would understand. I wasn’t typically one to explain my emotions, but right now I knew I had to. I didn’t know what I was feeling, and I needed help understanding what I was going through. If anyone would get that it would be my mother.

“With who? A girl back at your father’s?” My mother questioned with excitement. I had never brought home girls, nor did I ever gone on dates. It wasn’t my thing. I f*cked them once and moved on. It was the easiest type of relationship. The no strings, no feelings, no complications. I was the I won’t call you later kind of guy. If a girl wasn’t into that then I wasn’t the right guy for her. That was until Noelle came along.

“Her name’s…” Before I could even finish my sentence a loud pounding sounded on the front door. My mother and I both shoved from the dining room table at the same time, both of us scurrying toward the front door to see who it was. It wasn’t typical for us to have company, especially this late at night. Unless of course my mom made a new friend I didn’t know about yet.

“Noelle?” Her name slipped from my tongue as I stared at her through the glass window of the front of the door. My heart sank into my stomach. If she was here it could only mean one thing. Something happened at home; something with her mother or maybe even Mark. There was no other reason that she would come all the way here. Was there?

“Hi!” My mother gently pushed me out of the way so she could open the door and then welcomed Noelle in. I felt self-conscious and embarrassed almost immediately. We didn’t live in the projects or anything, but this house was nothing like hers. Nothing like what she was used to. We didn’t have a lavish staircase, or a finished basement. We didn’t have a huge kitchen with granite countertops. Things here were plain. It was simple and completely unlike anything she ever had growing up.

“Umm, Hi! Is Royal here?” Noelle’s sweet voice met my ears, and I kid you not the sound of it instantly brightened my day. I wanted her. I needed her. God I’ve missed her so much. We were right back where we started.

“Yes. please, why don’t you come on in?” It was snowing an hour ago, and I wasn’t even sure how she managed to get here let alone find my address. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with fear. Was her flight okay, did she get sick? Did she just get released from the hospital? I stepped into view, and our eyes collided. The rope I severed between us by leaving started to twine back together. The fibers forming and pulling me back toward her heart.

This girl owned me. She had my f*cking heart in her hand, and she was squeezing the ever loving life out of me. We stood there for several minutes just staring at each other. There was no one and nowhere else that mattered in this moment. Just the two of us.

“Are you okay?” I couldn’t help but ask the question that I was dying to find out. I had to know that she was okay, and that she didn’t hurt herself trying to get here. I had to know that she didn’t leave because she was attacked by her mother or someone else.