Page 54 of Declan

Chapter 13

Kyler

“Idiot,” Royal muttered as he watched Brysen climb the bluff. “The water isn’t warm enough to swim. He’s going to freeze his nuts off.”

It’d been a while since we’d been able to hang out together, so that Saturday we’d made plans to go to the lake, do some fishing, and just chill. The first day of summer was in a few days, and even though the temperature had been warm lately, Royal was right about the water. It wouldn’t be ice cold, but it’d still be cool.

“He’ll learn his lesson,” I said before popping a baby tomato into my mouth.

We’d brought a mix of junk food and healthy stuff. All about that balance. I tried to stay somewhat healthy with my eating, especially recently. Having a casual fuck buddy like Declan Price was all the encouragement I’d needed to look my best.

“You seem happier,” Royal said, eyeing me over his beer.

Surprisingly, Brysen had kept his mouth shut about me banging Declan. But I felt guilty for keeping it from Royal. It sort of felt like a betrayal.

“I am,” I responded, angling my head toward the sky. The sun felt amazing on my skin. The day was warm with a slight breeze in the air. And it was quiet. Only the sounds of nature—and Brysen squealing as he felt how cold the water was—surrounded us. “I’ve been seeing someone. Not anything serious. Just a casual thing while he’s in town.”

Royal nodded and looked out over lake. We were sitting on the bank with our fishing poles beside us. Fish weren’t biting much that day.

“Is it Declan?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I puffed out a breath and grabbed my beer, taking a swig. “He’s not out, so we have to sneak around. Only meeting at his hotel at night.”

“Kye,” Royal said, using a disapproving tone.

I knew what he was going to say before he even said it.

“Look, I know what you’re thinking,” I cut in before he could chastise me. “But believe me, R, it’s not like that. We’ve made it clear that it’s just sex. There are no expectations other than a good time.”

“How long has it been going on?”

“Almost two weeks,” I answered, trying my best to ignore the anchor that’d dropped into my stomach. “He’s only in town for a few more days.”

“And you’ll be okay when it ends? When he cuts off all contact with you and goes back to his luxurious life of whoring around?”

I took another drink of beer.

“Thought so.” He shook his head.

“Iwillbe okay with it,” I snapped. Yeah, I was being way too defensive. “Declan is a damn good lay, and yeah, I’ll miss it. But my heart isn’t in this, Royal. It’s not like when I got involved with closeted guys in the past, expecting things from them, only to have them let me down. It’s just sex with me and Declan.”

“If you say so.”

“I do.”

“Fine.”

Brysen plopped down between us, shivering as he held a towel around himself. “I wouldn’t go in the water if I were you.” His teeth chattered. “It’s sorta cold.”

Royal and I exchanged a grin.

“What are y’all talkin’ about?” Brysen asked before grabbing a cookie and shoving it into his mouth.

“I was just telling R about how Declan and I are hooking up,” I responded, casting a glance to Royal, who didn’t look convinced about it being a good idea.

“Don’t you just wanna slap him?” Brysen asked Royal. “Shit. I’d give my left pinky finger to bang that man.”

“Why your left pinky?” I questioned.