ROME
“What the fuck are you all doing here?” I shot a glare at my friends marching in my direction.
“Nice place you got here, bro,” Kye said. Of course, they knew this place. They helped me install the camera and security system of the cabin.”
“You did not answer my question. I’m here because I wanna stay away from someone like you all.”
They all smirked because they knew that was impossible, and I was fooling myself. Honestly, I really could use their help. I wanted them to tell me to move on, and I also wanted them to tell me to fight for Carly.
“Cenric and Sadie extend their congratulations,” Linden said.
“For what?” I opened the gate.
Zee parked the SUV in my driveway, and they all jumped out as if I had just opened the gate to the hottest sex club in town.
“I’m happy for you, bro.” Sax hugged me so tight, slapping my back.
“What are you all talking about?”
“If I hadn’t known you, brother, I would have believed you for a second. So this is how you’re going to play it? Fine. You and the Princess.” Sax snapped his fingers on my face.
I clenched my jaw hard, ignoring the tightness in my chest.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but she’s gone. She went back to her country. I might as well create a new dating profile for myself. Who’s willing to volunteer?”
They exchanged a look as if I was gone mad. Well, fucking yes. I was going crazy alone in the place where I made love with her. Every corner of this cabin reminded me of my Carly and not the princess I found out two days ago. And it fucking hurt that she was gone, but I wanted to be here because I didn’t want to forget about her beautiful face and her laugh and what we shared together.
It was not even twenty-four hours, and I felt like I was falling apart, and here I was, lying to my friends that I was ready to move on. And I felt like I was betraying her even if it was a complete fucking lie.
“I know how you feel, man. That’s why we came all the way here to the cabin in the woods,” Kye said.
“Well, thanks for wasting your time, but I’d rather be alone.” Another lie. I really needed someone to tell me and give me hope that I still got the chance to see Carly again.
“Sorry, brother, but it’s not gonna happen.” Zee just pulled a cooler from the SUV. “You’re not getting drunk alone.”
In a matter of minutes, chairs were arranged in a circle, just like in the old times. Cold beers opened, the pit fire lit up, grilled began smoking, a table was set up, and we started chatting. Somehow, I managed to laugh even if my chest was still heavy. I was still lucky I had these guys willing to go to hell with me.
“Get your ass up here, Ryder. The grill is ready,” Kye called out.
“Be there in a sec,” Sax grabbed a beer before he stood. “Bro, I’m gonna ransack your fridge. Is that okay?”
“My house is yours, too.”
“But not your Princess.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes.
“Langston!” I froze in my seat. It didn’t miss in Linden’s prying eyes.
“You need to play guitar and sing, brother!”
“Fuck you, Zee! No fucking way.”
“That bad, huh?”
I glared at Linden, who looked amused. “You should have told me.”
“Not my secret to tell. And you are not even tempted to check her on Instagram or Google.”
“Your advice, remember?” I ranted. “And here I thought you were my brother.”
“I am. But thank you for taking my advice. You know I’m really good at it.”
“And that’s why you are still single.”
He grinned. “Not ready to gamble my heart.”
“Again.” I was still glaring.
“Whatever, brother. But I am happy for you.”
I let go a shuddering sigh, not even realizing I had been holding my breath. “I don’t know. I feel like I just lost her. I can feel her slipping away.”
“It’s not even a fucking day, and you’re already thinking negatively and being dramatic.”
“I was the one who pushed her to go home. I thought it was best for her,” I admitted, shaking my head as I tried to get rid of those thoughts.
“And how about you?”
I frowned. “I said what I wanted her to know. If she still feels the same about me, maybe there’s one in a million possibility that we can make it work.”
“Kennedy Gilby and her brother made it through.” Hearing it coming from my best friend, sparks of hope expanded in my chest, but it crashed down too quickly.
“Kennedy did not run a business like me. I had a big obligation here, and so does she over there. I don’t see how it will work for the both of us.”
“We always have a choice, even if it seems impossible. It’s still a choice.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?”
He shook his head. “You can’t let this one go, can you?”
“I’m just curious. And your silence speaks volumes, man.”
“I was approached by-”
“Seth Thorn.”
“Yes. Not to pursue what I was about to do.”
“Did he say why?”
“It’s a matter of royal security protocol. And that hit me, that Carly is more than just a pretty face and assistant.”
“What else did you find out?” I pressed further now that he opened up.
“Just what you can find on the internet. I did not dig further. I signed an NDA, man. I shouldn’t have been discussing this with you, but you already found it out.”
“Her brother seems cool for a prince.”
“What’s he like? I mean, meeting a prince and all that?”
“You already met a prince once, remember?”
“An ass one.”
We barked out laughing.
“Still, he is a prince.” I drew a deep breath. The pain in my chest was still there. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I was blinded by my feelings that I ignored those signs.”
“Or perhaps you are afraid to figure out something you might not like.”
“Probably.” I nodded as I looked at the bottle in my grip. “She told me her family is powerful. And dude, she doesn’t even know how to crack an egg.”
We laughed out loud again.
“And you slept with a princess. How cool is that?” It Sax.
“Fuck you.”
“See?” Amused, Sax pointed his finger at me. “In love.”
“He never froze when someone called him, but Langston is how she calls her, isn’t she?” Linden joined forces with Sax.
“Because I call her Storm.”
“Is that her real name?”
“She has six names.”
“What’s with royals and their long names?” Kye came in.
“Yeah, so as her brother. Carly is Carlott Laylin Jemaine Storm Gattewarde Braynburd.”
“Wow. And she really looks like royalty. Remember when we first saw her at NightSalker? The brunette.”
I looked at Sax. “And then she-” I blinked it off.
My friends went silent.
“Fate always finds a way to lovers if they are meant to be.” Zee slapped my shoulder. “So, just chill out.”
“That’s true, man. Remember how Mykel and Adley met?” Sax said.
“Let’s not forget about Cenric and Sadie. I mean, her father is his mortal enemy, but love conquers all.”
“Yeah, that too. I didn’t believe in that shit, but after meeting them, everything was possible. But you also have to do your part. Like not just sit your ass here and wait for the star to fall on your lap. Just like running a billion-dollar reality empire. Success didn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work, sleepless nights, failures, rejections, determination, and of course, your hope and willingness to make it possible.”
Linden stared at Kye in disbelief. “For a second, I thought you were just a tall blond walking tank.”
“Never underestimated a blond, Linden.”
“Hey, Langston. Your phone is ringing!” Zee yelled from the porch.
“Who’s calling?”
“Don’t know, bro. I don’t recognize the code,” he said as he brought me my phone.
My chest filled with hope.
“Probably your princess.” Linden gave me a hopeful smile.
“Langston.”
“Langston?” My heart beat faster as soon as I recognized the voice from the other line.
“Storm?” I watched my friend exchange looks.
“Langston, he’s gone. I barely saw him, Rome. He’s gone.” I could barely understand what she was saying, but she kept repeating the word he’s gone. And Carly was crying. This didn’t sound good.
I was already rubbing my temple when I asked her, “Sweetheart, calm down. Slow down. What do you mean he’s gone? Who’s gone, Storm?”
“My grandfather, the King. He’s gone.”
“Wait a sec. The King is dead?”
“Yes. He passed away hours ago. I need you, Langston.” She was sobbing, and I couldn’t do anything. I felt helpless.
I shut my eyes for a second to withdraw air into my lungs. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Sweetheart. My deepest condolences to your family and your whole country.”
“Thank you, but I need you. Please? I can’t believe this is all happening.”
“I’m here for you, Storm.”
“Can you come? I need you. I need to see you.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll see you soon. Your heart is safe with me.” The line went off.
I took a moment to recollect. Everything happened so fast. And I lost all hope I had for Carly and me.
“It’s true, bro. King Kamrun IV is dead,” Kye confirmed as he watched a live video on his phone.
“Is that Carly’s father giving a speech?” Sax asked.
“Yeah. Now the King.” Linden turned to me. “What are you going to do now?”
I stared at him. My mind went blank. “I don’t know.”
“Maybe it’s time we visit Capria with Langston’s jet.”