Page 156 of Guarded King

He squeezes my hand. “You’ll always have me. No matter what. Just like I’ve always had you. And one day, you’ll meet a man who’ll realize his world doesn’t revolve around the sun, it revolves around you.”

I squeeze his hand back. “Love you, dad.”

Sitting back in my chair, I muster a weak smile.

“So, do I need to start looking for an apartment of my own?”

Carol’s eyes widen and she shakes her head. “This is your house, not mine.”

“Your home is here for as long as you want it,” Dad says. “But you’ve already given up so much for me, love. It’s time to put yourself first. If you want to stay, I absolutely want you here. If you want to enjoy being young and free again, then I’ll be behind you all the way. Whatever you do, I hope you’ll keep painting.Because you’ve been happier over the last few weeks than I’ve seen you in a long while.”

I nod, even as the truth presses into me, heavy and inescapable. I’ve loved painting again, but my happiness had just as much to do with Roman as it did with art.

And I’m not sure how to untangle the two

I takea sip of my coffee and let out a contented sigh.

Lola grins. “Sounds like that was just what you needed.”

“It really was.”

“I’m so glad you called.” Sophie sits across from me at the small wooden-topped table, sipping her own coffee.

The smile I give her is small, but it’s genuine. “Me too. It’s about time my two besties met.”

When Lola called and said Jamie offered to look after Christopher for the morning so we could catch up for a girly brunch, I asked if I could invite Sophie too, knowing they’d get along well.

Sophie takes another sip and surveys the pastries at the table before selecting a Danish. “I miss catching up at lunch. The other day, I was so desperate for company, I asked Samson to join me. Never again. That guy spent the whole time talking about how amazing Cole is and how he wants to be like him one day. He has a serious man crush.”

Lola and I laugh, but Sophie’s expression turns serious. “How are you feeling about things now? Have you and Roman been talking?”

Even though it hurts to talk about him, having the ability to open up to both my friends is a relief.

“I’m okay. And no, we haven’t talked. I needed the space to really get perspective.”

“That makes sense,” Lola says.

“But it’s not easy.” I swallow, willing the ache inside me to subside. “Realizing you might not have meant as much to someone as you thought you did. It hurts.”

“Do you really think that’s the case?” Sophie rests her elbows on the table and leans closer. “Honestly, I was surprised at first that Roman actually made a move on you. For him, that’s a pretty epic statement. I can’t imagine you aren’t important to him.”

I run my finger up and down the smooth surface of my cup, keeping my gaze averted. “It’s just… I don’t know. He made it clear that the King Group has to come first. I understand where he’s coming from and why it’s so important to him, but gambling with my heart and livelihood, hoping that will change, that he’ll ever put love above work …” I shake my head. “Regardless, he needs to focus on getting through this, and I don’t want to make things worse for him.”

Sophie presses her lips together and studies me before speaking gently. “I don’t know that he’s focusing all that well, to be honest. Yes, he’s throwing himself into the EcoTech acquisition, but he seems… off. Like he’s there, but not really. It’s obvious he’s not okay. Even Tate seems worried.”

It makes my heart ache. “I miss him. But I need to protect myself. I don’t want to be a secret he hides from the world. Especially not one that threatens everything he’s been working toward his whole life. I want more. Ineedmore.”

“You deserve more too.” Lola arches a brow and sinks her teeth into a croissant.

Sophie picks up her Danish and nibbles one corner. “It’s unfair how things turned out.”

“It isn’t fair.” Lola sets her pastry down and wipes her hands on her napkin. “But maybe this is a chance to find yourself again. With your dad feeling better and Carol in the picture now, this is the perfect time to figure out what you want to do with your life. What you really want to do, not what you think you should do. And you’re painting again. That’s the silver lining. Ilovethe portrait of Christopher you’re doing.”

My heart lightens a little. I sent her a progress photo a couple of days ago. I’m rusty, so there’s definitely been some trial and error involved, but so far, I’m happy with it. When I’m painting, I forget about all my troubles. Well, except when I work on my portrait of Roman.

“You’re right,” I say, doing my best to ignore the pang in my chest. “I need to focus on what makes me happy.”

“Maybe this is the push you need,” she says. “Have you thought about getting your own place?”