Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(58)

Chapter 26





Oakley





I’m standing in an empty classroom sweeping shit into the dustpan when I hear footsteps approaching behind me.

For a moment I wonder if it’s Jace coming to finish the fight we started a couple weeks ago, but then I hear it.

“Do you have a death wish?”

Cole. The other Covington brother.

And my former best friend.

I spin around. “What the fuck do you want, Covington?”

Eyes swirling with rage, Cole crosses his arms. “Stone tells me you keep bothering Bianca.”

At that, I laugh because the little shit is not only a sissy, he’s also a tattletale.

Cole takes a step forward. “What the fuck is so funny, asshole?”

I give him the truth. “That Bianca’s fiancé is such a little bitch he came running to you to snitch on me.”

For a moment I swear I see his lips twitch before his expression turns stoic. “He’s worried about her.” He shakes his head. “But that’s not the point. The point is how many motherfucking times do we have to tell you to stay the hell away from her before you get it through that thick skull of yours?”

I’m about to argue that Bianca’s a big girl and if she wants me in her life, I’m not gonna stop her, but then he says, “Was it not enough that you almost killed Sawyer because you sold her drugs? You had to try and take out my baby sister too?”

And there it is.

The massive cinderblock of guilt lodged in my chest rears its ugly head.

I could stand here and make excuses. Tell him that Sawyer approached me about getting her Adderall so she could study and when I realized she had a problem, I tried to get her to stop…but it was too late.

But it doesn’t fucking matter.

I never should have sold her that shit to begin with.

She was my friend. Someone I cared about.

And I treated her like a run of the mill customer.

A quick buck to make ends meet.

And Bianca?

There’s no excuse for what I did to her.

It’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life.

I look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry.”

It’s the God’s honest truth. Fuck knows I never meant to hurt either of them.

I can tell he’s fighting the urge to take a few swings at me, however, whatever he sees in my expression has his anger dissipating and being replaced with sadness.

He rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, sorry doesn’t fucking cut it, Oak. Not this time.”

I have no retort for that because he’s right.

He exhales sharply. “Real talk? If you ever actually cared about her, you’d stay the hell away. She’s happy now, man. Really fucking happy.” His eyes meet mine. “Let her go.”

A nagging, troubling feeling turns my gut to lead as he walks away.

“Cole,” I call out before he exits the classroom.

He stops. “What?”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

Confusion spreads across his face. “You don’t think what’s true?”

“That she’s happy.” Gripping the broom handle, I add, “Call me crazy, but something isn’t right there. He’s not good for her.”

I fucking feel it in my goddamn bones.

He snorts. “Nah, I’m not gonna call you crazy, but I will call you jealous.” His jaw locks. “She’s happy with Stone. Trust me, if she wasn’t, we would fucking know. And unlike you, he’s a good guy who wants the best for her.”

“I want the best for her too.”

Which is exactly why I’m fucking telling him this shit ain’t right.

“Then stay the hell away,” he growls before walking out.

I can’t.

Not only because my heart doesn’t like that idea.

But because of the fucked-up feeling churning in my gut.

The one telling me not to walk away.

Because she needs me.





Chapter 27





Bianca





I find Oakley mopping an empty classroom in the psychology building.

I approach him cautiously, hoping like hell he didn’t change his mind about being friends. “Hey.”

He pauses. “Hey yourself.”

“Look,” I start, taking a step toward him. “I know things were a little crazy the other day, but I was hoping we could still hang out.”

Part of me is expecting him to decline, but to my surprise, he doesn’t.

“I work twelve to eight during the week, but after that I’m free.”

“Well, most of my classes end before five, but I have a class that gets out at seven on Tuesdays.” Remembering Stone will be at work tonight, I add, “Do you want to hang out after you get off? You can come up to my dorm and I can order us some dinner.”

His eyes travel over my face and his lips curl into a soft smile. “I’ll be there.”

I can’t help but smile myself. “Good.” Giving him a small wave, I spin around, however due to the wet floor, I end up slipping.

I’m about to hit the floor face-first, but Oakley wraps his arm around my waist, catching me.