Cracked Kingdom (The Royals #5)(76)

“Ohh, when it gets warmer, let’s try that.”

Beside me, Easton grumbles about how he should’ve never brought me here, but I know he’s teasing. He woke me up in the best possible way and announced, even before we got out of bed, that it was already the most lit morning of his life. It was definitely the most active morning of mine.

And last night was… I can’t even put it into words. Easton was so gentle and so amazing and… My cheeks heat up as I remember how slow he’d gone, how patient he’d been with me. Considering his reputation for being a bit of a slut, a part of me thought he’d be all about himself, but he hadn’t been selfish at all. He’d been…amazing. My cheeks get even hotter.

We totally need to get a bed at the apartment and a big one at that. And I wonder if there are sheets that don’t pull away from the bed? That would be nice.

Ella sighs, a long despondent gust of air that has us all turning toward her.

“What?” Easton asks.

This time I’m the target of the pointing spoon. “I recognize that morning blissed-out look. That used to be my look,” she complains. “Thank God stupid football season is almost over and I’ll get to spend some decent time with Reed.”

Across the table, Sawyer pushes his bowl away. “Can we talk about something other than the two of you screwing my brothers?”

I turn scarlet and stammer, “We—I—there was—we didn’t.”

Easton reaches over and whacks his brother across the top of his head. “Shut up, you’re embarrassing Hartley.”

“What about me,” Ella says in an aggrieved tone.

“Since when do you get embarrassed?” He pats her on the head, gets up and drops a kiss on the top of mine. “We better get going. Ella drives like a ninety-year-old grandma, so if we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”

“I drive the speed limit,” she protests.

“Like I said, grandma style.”

Ella tries to hit him but Easton easily slides out of reach. The two chase each other around the kitchen as Sawyer and I watch from the table. Someday, Dylan and I are going to be like that with each other—comfortable and happy and loving.

I take the moment of privacy to turn to Sawyer. “I don’t know if this will piss you off, but I’m sorry about the accident and your brother.”

He drops his gaze to his nearly empty bowl and stirs the spoon aimlessly. I don’t know what thoughts are buzzing through his head until he raises a pained gaze to meet mine. “It wasn’t your fault and we both know it,” he says in a low, resigned tone. “We were driving too fast. We were…distracted by shit going on in the Rover, so don’t apologize anymore. Seb will come around. We’ve just been dealing with a lot of…stuff,” he finishes.

I wonder what stuff means, but I feel like it’s not my place to ask. I’m just relieved that he feels that way. I don’t want Easton to be alienated from his family over me.

“You done?” I tip my head toward his bowl. “I’ll take it to the sink with me.”

He nods and pushes it my way. He flicks an unhappy glance toward the doorway, probably waiting for his brother—who is likely waiting for me to leave before coming out. I hope he’s right and that Sebastian does come around, because this love between East and me is so new that it wouldn’t take much to snuff it out completely.

On the way to school, I lean against the headrest and listen as Easton and Ella chatter on the way to school about Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday and how they both hope that State does terrible in its last few games so that Reed doesn’t go to a Bowl game. Easton says they should go to Aspen, and Ella wants to go somewhere warm.

“It’s the winter,” she tells him as she drives about five miles per hour under the speed limit. “And in the winter, people go to warm places.”

“No, in the winter, you go to snowy places because snow only exists for a short amount of time, whereas there is always someplace warm in the world,” he counters.

“There is always snow at Everest,” Ella proclaims.

“You can’t ski at Everest.” He twists in the seat. “Babe, back me up here.”

I flip one eye open. “Can’t you ski year-round in Dubai? I think I read that once.”

“This is what you remember?” he says in a wounded voice. “You’re supposed to be on my side. Make up shit that backs me up.”

“Can’t. Sister solidarity and all.”

Ella raises a fist in acknowledgment.

“Sister what?” East exclaims. “What about this morning when I had my tongue in your—”

I fly forward and slap a hand over his mouth. He licks the center of my palm. I yelp and fall back.

“—in your mouth,” he finishes, a wicked glint in his eye. “What did you think I was going to say?”

“Nothing. You were going to say nothing.” I glare at him, but inside, my heart is doing little jumping jacks of happiness. I loved every single thing Easton and I did last night. And…yeah…I have zero complaints about his tongue.

“And we’re here. Saved by the Astor Park bell,” Ella announces as she turns into the school parking lot.

I’m not sure who was saved—Easton or me.