Cracked Kingdom (The Royals #5)(88)

He laughs and then groans. “Stop saying funny things. It hurts to laugh.”

I mock gasp. “Who would’ve imagined that your stomach would hurt after getting one of your kidneys removed?”

He sighs. “You still pissed?”

I lower my voice and repeat his words back to him. “‘Don’t do anything dangerous. We’re only there to take pictures.’”

“Okay, so maybe I was a little reckless.”

I peer over the top of my book. “A little? That’s like saying yesterday’s twelve-inch rainfall was a sprinkle.”

He grunts a non-response and then pounds his head on the pillows. “Now I know why Seb wanted to leave immediately. I think I’m getting sicker each minute I spend on this bed. Shouldn’t I be up, moving around? Doing physical therapy or some shit?”

“I don’t know, Doctor Royal. Since you’re the expert, why don’t you tell me?”

“Were you always this sarcastic or is this a new thing developed for my torture?”

“New thing developed for your torture,” I answer.

He pats the side of the bed. “I think your torture would be more effective if you were closer.”

I set my calc book aside. “Is that right?” I glance toward the door. The last time the nurse caught me lying in bed with him, I almost got thrown out. Only his haughty reminder that he was Easton Royal saved me. Wealth has its privileges.

East makes room for me, wincing lightly as he moves. “I think the VIP suites should have bigger hospital beds,” he whines.

I climb onto the sheets and tuck my hand under my head. “I don’t think they’re meant for two people.”

“Yeah, well, maybe if the beds were bigger and a guy could sleep with his girlfriend, he’d heal faster.”

“I’ll drop that in the suggestion box before I go to school in the morning.”

He runs a finger across my forehead. “I appreciate that.”

We stare at each other. We’ve spent a lot of time since he woke up just staring at each other, memorizing each other’s features. We’re both so grateful to be alive. I stop his hand in its trek across my forehead and bring his fingers to my mouth. I lace our hands together and clasp them to his heart where I can feel the steady beat of his life blood moving through.

It’s odd, because my life is divided into halves, but the demarcation line isn’t when I lost my memories. It’s before the park and after the park. Before the park, I had no answers. Now I’m full of them but the knowledge doesn’t make me feel better. Before the park, I seriously considered breaking up with East because his brother, Sebastian, was so opposed to us being together. After the park, I’ve decided that only an act of God will sever East and me. And even then, I think I’d fight heaven or hell to be back by Easton’s side.

Easton presses a kiss to my knuckles. “I’m sorry for everything.” Everything being that his dad killed mine.

“Me, too.” When Mom came to the hospital, she was full of fire. She was going to sue the Royals. She was going to send everyone to jail. I think she meant me, too. I explained to her about the evidence we had against Dad for the bribes, and she shut right up.

Dad’s crimes will eventually be exposed. The police found a USB drive in Steve’s pocket that had a full accounting of Dad’s shady deals—not just with Steve, but with many others, including Mrs. Roquet. Steve had done that for insurance, in case my dad double-crossed him. There really is no honor among thieves.

“How’s Astor Park holding up?”

“You’re a hero. I think they’re going to hold a celebration in your name. Ella is telling everyone how you threw yourself in front of a bullet to save me, your dad, her, and maybe even all of Bayview.” I pat his cheek. More seriously, I add, “No one knows the stuff Steve said at the end.”

“I don’t care,” he replies. “I think having a near-death experience can clarify what’s important. Callum’s raised me since birth. He never once let on that he knew I wasn’t his biological son—but blood doesn’t amount to much here, does it? Steve only cared about himself. And the fucking coward killed himself because he didn’t want to go to prison. What a jackass.” He chokes out a broken laugh, because it hurts him more than he wants to admit. “Seriously, though, I know who my family is. Gid, Reed, and the twins are my brothers. Ella’s my sister. Callum’s my dad. Maria’s my mom. And you, you’re my heart.”

I blink to keep the tears at bay. You wouldn’t think I had any more since I’ve done nothing but cry buckets since I woke up in the hospital with no memory.

“I saw Dr. Joshi in the hall. He asked me how my memory was and I told him it’s still shit.”

“Yeah?”

“He said I’d probably never regain all my memories.”

“How are you feeling about that?”

“Surprisingly okay. I mean, maybe in a year I’ll break down in the middle of the college cafeteria in distress, but for now I’m okay with it all. Dylan’s safe. You’re alive. That’s all I want.”

We sit there for a ridiculous amount of time, just smiling at each other, because it wasn’t so long ago that this simple pleasure might have been taken from us forever.