Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(140)

“What will it be?” the bartender asks after I sit down.

“Just a soda.”

I’m pulling some money out of my purse when I hear the girl next to me hiss, “Seriously, dude? How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?”

I take in her blonde hair with bright pink tips and the various tattoos and piercings she has.

She looks like a tough chick who can hold her own just fine.

“Come on, sexy,” the guy whines. “I just want to buy you a drink.”

Visibly aggravated, the girl slams her hand on the bar. “I’m good. Thanks.”

When the guy protests, she bites out, “You’re wasting your time, dude. I don’t play for your team.”

That doesn’t deter the guy at all. “No way in hell is a smoking girl like you gay.”

I bite back the urge to ask him what being beautiful has to do with someone’s sexual preference, but the girl scowls and says, “I’m serious, douchebag. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

Deciding to help her out, I place my arm around her shoulders, “Hey, baby. Sorry I was late.”

She blinks up at me in confusion before she catches on. “It’s okay.” Leaning into my touch, she glowers at the guy. “I was just telling this asshole here that I was waiting for my gorgeous girlfriend.”

I narrow my eyes at the asshole in question. “You can fuck off now.”

He mutters something under his breath before he takes a sip of his beer and the bartender returns with my drink.

I go to pay for it, but the girl waves a hand. “Nope, it’s on me.”

When I protest, she shakes her head and says, “You did me a favor and came to my rescue. Paying for your drink is the least I can do.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m Kit.” She leans in. “And the name of my new girlfriend is?”

I can’t help but laugh. There’s a genuine aura about her that I dig. “Bianca—”

“If you two hotties are gonna hook up, can I at least watch?” the asshole from before cuts in.

I’m about to tell him off, but out of nowhere, some tall, scary guy rushes over to us.

Before I can blink, he grabs the dipshit’s collar. “If you don’t stop hitting on my wife, the only action you’re going to get tonight is that beer bottle shoved up your ass.”

The guy’s eyes widen and he looks like he’s about to shit his pants. “Sorry, man. I didn’t know she was taken.”

Kit pinches the bridge of her nose and I notice the glint from her wedding ring. “Dammit, Preston. What are you doing here?”

His entire focus shifts to her. “We need to talk.”

Despite my curiosity, I slink off the barstool because that situation sounds complicated as fuck and I want a drama-free night.

I’m about to go to the bathroom to apply some more lipstick, but my phone buzzes with an incoming text.

Jace: Where you at?

Bianca: At the bar. Where are you?

Jace: Look to the left.





When I do, I spot Jace, Cole, and Sawyer in the middle of the nearly empty dance floor.

Sawyer’s pretending to reel Cole in like a fish and Cole’s flailing his arms, pretending to be caught.

Good Lord. It would be embarrassing if they weren’t so damn cute together.

I smack a kiss on Jace’s cheek. “Hey. Where’s Dylan?”

He takes a sip of his drink. “She’s still backstage with Landon.”

Sawyer practically has heart-eye emojis flashing in her brown orbs at the mention of Landon’s name. “I can’t believe we’re hearing Landon Parker sing his new song tonight.”

I have no clue who Landon Parker is, but he’s obviously a big deal if Sawyer’s this excited about it.

Then again, her favorite musician is Nick Jonas…so there’s that.

Cole looks like he’s bursting at the seams and ready to pop any moment.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I tried to wait for Dylan to come back, but I can’t hold it in any longer.” He looks at Sawyer. “I have to tell them.”

Sawyer beams. “Do it.”

Excitement lights up his features. “Okay, so…I have some really big news.”

Jace and I exchange a glance.

“Great,” Jace says. “Spit it out.”

Cole takes a breath. “The Patriot’s organization reached out and strongly suggested that I declare for the draft early. Obviously with Tom Brady leaving for Florida and all, they need a new quarterback.” He peers at Sawyer who’s blinking back tears. “And evidently…they want me.”

Holy shit. This is huge.

Jace and I both erupt in cheers and rush to give him a hug. I can’t believe my freaking brother is going to be an NFL football player.

“Damn, that’s huge,” Jace exclaims. “But what about finishing school?”

Cole shrugs. “What’s the point? Yeah, an education is important, but I’ve wanted to be in the NFL my entire life. Who knows if I’ll ever get another shot at it. Plus, I can always finish school on the off-season.”

He’s right. He needs to jump now before the opportunity slips from his fingers.