Page 32 of Fit for a King

“What is it, Bennett?” Nicholas’s words were much sharper than usual, but when he looked in my direction, I stepped forward anyway.

He was frustrated, I could see and feel that—hell, everyone could—but it was about so much more than Charlie’s mistake. It was a combination of things stemming from the quick turnover from prince to king, his expected nuptials, the new life he was still trying to navigate while keeping sane, while everyone else, like Prince Gabriel, got to wake up as if it were just another day.

I understood all that, but that still didn’t excuse his treatment of Charlie, something I felt the need to remind him.

Lord knew why. It wasn’t as if Charlie and I were friends.

“Don’t you think Charlie’s time would be better spent cleaning up the broken glass?”

Nicholas opened his mouth as if he were about to refute that, but I hurried on before he could get a word out.

“I’m sure he understands the gravity of his mistake and feels terrible. Why not let him rectify it and move on?”

Charlie made a choking cough beside me, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off the man looking at me with a mixture of disbelief…and respect.

“Very well,” Nicholas said, and raised a brow. “The game was practically over anyway. My guests and I will retire indoors and I’ll leave you to help Charlie rectify his mistake.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Bennett.” He inclined his head in farewell, and while it wasn’t anything other than my name, his softer tone and inflection made my heart beat a little faster.

The group of four crossed the immaculate gardens, and as they disappeared around one of the tall hedges, Charlie finally raised his head.

“Are you insane?”

“Excuse me?”

“You can’t talk to the king like that.”

“You would rather he continue ripping into you?”

“Yes,” Charlie said, exasperation lacing his voice. “You just made it worse.”

What was his problem? I’d just saved his ass. But instead of thanking me like any other normal person would, Charlie had to act like a shit.

That was what I got for trying to help.

I nodded toward the broken glass. “I guess you can handle the cleanup on your own, then, since you don’t need me. Have fun with that.”

“But—” he started, but I turned around, gathered up the towels and the king’s wet jacket, and left him there to handle the mess he’d made by himself.

Considering what a jerk he’d been on both occasions we’d crossed paths, it was surprising when he found me a few hours later at the house. I was picking up Nicholas’s freshly cleaned jacket when he cornered me, and I fully expected him to chew me out for not helping with the broken glass.

After all, the entire downstairs seemed to know about the incident by now, but it wasn’t Charlie’s screw-up they were gossiping about.

It was me. And my so-called “correction” of the king.

Charlie blocked the door, leaning up against it and crossing his arms.

Great. Here we go.

“You could’ve thrown me under the bus today,” he said.

I blinked. “What?”

“I sent you to Baxter’s office your first day. You could’ve gotten me back for that.”

This was not at all where I’d thought he was going, and I frowned. “Okay…” I said slowly.