Cracked Kingdom (The Royals #5)(90)

Steve O’Halloran never understood. He never realized that he was in Callum’s heart all these years, receiving love and forgiveness and acceptance despite all his sins. He kept searching for fulfillment and never found it—not in the money, the cars, the danger. He slept with Maria Royal, not because he loved Maria, but because he loved what Callum had. A family of big strong boys who were fiercely loyal. Who loved with their whole beings. Who fought for everything they believed was right and good and worthwhile in this world.

I could let myself be sad about my loss of memories. I could spend years bemoaning that my father never loved me, that my mother is more interested in her money, and that it might take a while before my sisters learn that we’re on the same side. If I did that, I’d turn into a Steve or a Felicity or a Kyle, where the hate takes up so much space in my heart that there’s no room left for joy.

Instead, I can be a Royal and open my heart up to receive all the precious love that Easton wants to shower on me. So I wrap my arms around the sun and let him warm me from the inside out.

I’m a Royal because I’m loved by Easton Royal.

There’s nothing more pure and wondrous in the world than that.





Chapter 34





Hartley





“They’re ready for you, Hart!” my sister Dylan yells from the bottom of the stairs.

“I’ll be right down,” I holler back.

“I’ll finish this,” Easton tells me. “You go on.”

This being the making of the bed that was delivered earlier this morning. Dylan and I live with the Royals now, which is the most surreal thing in the world. But we didn’t have anywhere else to go once Mom and Parker moved to Virginia. The scandal was too much for either of them to endure. To Mom’s credit, she tried, but as more and more of Dad’s cases were revealed to be frauds and convictions were expunged, she couldn’t take it anymore. After the first of the year, she packed up everything. Parker followed shortly after.

Fortunately, Callum offered to take both me and Dylan in. As Easton said, we were Royals—or at least Callum and everyone else treated us as such. At first, we stayed in the main house, but both Dylan and I are loners, and I think Callum recognized that we would be more comfortable in our own space. So he cleaned out the huge area above the detached garage, which had been used for storage before. Then he hired a contractor to turn the space into an apartment for us.

East has been cracking the whip over this project, which served the dual purpose of proving that he’s becoming a responsible adult and ensuring we finally have some privacy, because I’ve refused to leave the apartment to sleep in his bedroom while my baby sister is here.

He’s taken to sleeping on the sofa many nights. I’ll admit, it makes me feel safe. Both of us are taking a year off before we go to college. I want to spend time with Dylan, and East’s been allowed back in the air. He told me he doesn’t care if he ever goes to college. I gave him a book about engineering in hopes he’ll change his mind.

Within the addition, Dylan and I each have our own bathrooms and bedrooms along with a sweet kitchen and small dining area. There’s even a small deck built off the back, and if you lean around the corner, you can see the ocean.

“You should go, too. You’re the Man of Honor,” I remind him.

“It’s Best Man,” he insists. “How many times do I have to remind you people that my role is Best. Man.”

“Whatever you say, Man of Honor,” I tease and then run off so whatever punishment he has in mind can’t be meted out. I trip down the stairs, cross the cobblestone courtyard, and slip through a side door and into the Royal mansion.

I grew up in a big house, but the Royal place is on an entirely different level. Just like how their life is on an entirely different level. It's very glamorous, but anyone who knows the Royals knows that all of that richness came at a price.

But today we’re not going to dwell on the past. Today is a day of celebration, a day to look toward the future.

I don't have all my memories back. There’s a spot in my life that’s just a big hole. But if I had to start new, this seems like the right place to do it. Easton says that I kissed him first on the top of the Ferris wheel, and that in keeping with tradition I kissed him first again. I think what he was trying to say was that I am the same person today as I was a year ago and that the loss of my memory hasn't changed me.

I made mistakes in the past. I should’ve never left Dylan, although when I was fourteen and she was ten, I didn’t have a lot of options. She promised me that Dad never hit her, but she didn’t deny that he was emotionally abusive. He mocked her illness and didn't take her seriously. Mom was embarrassed by her. All those anxieties only served to worsen her condition. She didn’t want to take medications because she wanted to pretend she didn’t need them. That way the criticisms of our parents wouldn’t stick.

She’s so much better now. The Royal brothers have taken her under their wing, spoiling her rotten. But Easton’s been the best of all because he told her that he felt the same way. He validated her feelings and helped her accept that her bipolarity was just like a physical illness. She adores him. I think she’d throw me into the ocean if she had to choose between the two of us.

Easton battles his own demons. Sometimes when he has a stressful day, I know he wants a drink. His hands will tremble. His eyes will flit all over the room and then he'll have to go do something, whether it's laps in the pool, a run along the beach or, if Dylan isn’t around, I can exhaust him in other ways.