Page 47 of Heavy Crown

“Wouldn’t have come,” Brice says, accepting his glass of wine from the waiter. “He and Jules are chest deep in planning their honeymoon back to Tanzania to build a new charity initiative.” His expression turns from open to concerned after he takes his first sip of wine. “Wilson, I’m giving you a blanket statement right now—are you ready?”

I meet his light-brown gaze and nod.

“Everything I say is confidential, royal business. You cannot repeat anything I say, ever, to anyone outside our circle. If I have been drinking, do not believe anything I tell you. It’s all lies.” He purses his lips and turns to Posey and Brent. “What else does she need to know if she’s going to run with us?”

“She can’t tell Alex what we get up to.” Posey sips her wine and raises her eyebrows in mock innocence.

Brent chuckles and shakes his head. I’ve learned Posey’s antics amuse him for the most part, but Posey said they were a source of frustration when they first started dating.

Brice snaps his fingers. “That’s a big one. He’s going to be king, and as much as he’s my brother, he’s also the future monarch. I do not need any lectures from him on top of the ones I receive from our parents.”

“Alex is my friend,” I hedge. The idea of keeping anything from him doesn’t sit right with me. He’s done more for me in two weeks than most people have done in my entire life.

Brice turns to Posey, but there’s a teasing glint in his eyes. “We’ve got a spy amongst our lot.”

Posey laughs, and Brent joins in.

“It’s just—he’s done a lot for me.” While he might be teasing, I want him to like me. My greatest weakness is wanting everyone to like me. If he pushes much harder, I’ll probably agree to keep his secrets against my better judgement.

“Don’t worry, Wilson. I won’t hold your allegiance to my brother against you.” Brice takes another sip of his wine, and then he drags a deck of cards out of his jacket pocket. “Who’s in?”

Brent groans. “I told you to leave those at home.”

“They’re my talisman. High card? I won’t even make you play Truth and Tequila tonight.”

Brent shakes his head but draws a card off the top of the pile.

“That’s our cue to visit the ladies’ room,” Posey says, and she sets down her wine glass.

I follow her lead and slide my glass onto the small coffee table between us. She weaves through the other people seated in the VIP area.

“Rory?” A familiar male voice rises above the din of people talking.

I stall my step and turn in the direction of my name. Derrick is at the edge of a group of men who I recognize as investors in the McGuinty golf empire. A few of them I’ve met when Derrick brought them into the kitchen to sample “our” famous desserts.

Posey appears at my shoulder, and Derrick makes excuses to his group before striding over. He glances at Posey before grabbing one of my hands and lacing our fingers. Instead of drawing away, I’m stunned at the familiarity. In my mind, we’ve been broken up for ages, not just a few weeks. When Alex peered over me in the hospital room, a switch flipped, time reset.

“Have you been getting my deliveries?” he asks.

While I did get the things Posey delivered, I haven’t gotten anything since Alex left. Did he put a stop to Derrick bribing his way back into my heart?

“Have you sent something recently?” I ask.

“Flowers, yesterday. Orchids.” His brow furrows. “Did you get the Rollerblades at least?”

“I did, yeah. That was very thoughtful.” A reminder of another time, another place, how we used to be happy together.

“I thought I would have heard from you by now.” He stares at me expectantly.

Now it’s my turn to frown. “What were you hoping to hear?”

“I’ve been asking for another shot or at least a chance to talk, face-to-face.”

I withdraw my hand from his grasp and glance at Posey. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Come on, babe. Two years. I think we owe it to ourselves to talk things out.”

The image of him and Janessa in bed together surfaces. Who owes who? Did I realize our relationship was slipping away? Am I partially responsible for his betrayal?