Page 55 of Royal

Me:Pics or you’re lying.

I got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, starting the water for a shower.

Grayson:Nah, I’m gonna keep him all to myself.

Me:Damn. What am I going to jack off to while I’m in the shower now?

Grayson:You’re about to take a shower? Tease.

Before I could type back a response, he texted again.

Grayson:Pics or you’re lying ;)

I laughed out loud.

Me:Go work, Detective Riley. The good people of Addersfield need your protection.

I took my time in the shower, letting the hot water fall over my tense muscles. If you had told me yesterday that I’d spend the night with Grayson andnothave sex, but still have a damn good night and wake up in an amazing mood, I would’ve called you a liar. But there I was, smiling as I thought of the silly goofball.

It was a nice change from him being angry all the time. He had a tendency to be too serious.

Once I got out of the shower and changed into some basketball shorts and a plain t-shirt, I went outside to check my mail. It was Sunday, but I hadn’t checked it the day before because of the heavy rain.

“Good morning, Mr. Henderson!” Janice shouted, waving from her front porch.

I waved back. “Morning.”

She waddled down her driveway. I sighed and waited, bracing myself for the daily gossip.

“Did you see Mark Thompson this morning? His girlfriend found out about the other girlfriend, and she hit him in the face with alamp.Can you believe it?”

“Hmm.” I flipped through my mail. Bill, junk mail, bill. “That sucks.”

“And who was that attractive young man I saw leaving your house earlier?” she asked, smiling at me and moving her glasses farther up her nose. “Now,he’sa looker. Tall, dark, and handsome. If I was thirty years younger, I’d try to steal him from you.” She cackled and patted my arm. “Just teasing you, dear.”

“Have a nice day, Janice,” I said, slowly backing away.

She missed nothing. All she did, day in and day out, was sit at home and watch the neighborhood. Ever since her husband passed away the year before, she occupied herself with sticking her nose in everyone’s business.

For the longest time, Janice had thought Kyler and Brysen were my boy toys. When Brysen found out, he’d laughed so hard he’d cried. Now when he came over, if he saw her outside, he’d smile and wave, all while shaking his little ass like the attention whore he was.

Back in the house, I texted Kyler and Brysen good morningand started a pot of coffee. Kyler responded almost instantly.

Kyler:Morning! Have a great day being lazy.

Brysen didn’t text back, but he rarely did. He was either shacked up with some guy he’d gone home with after his shift, or he was passed out at his house. I hoped it was the latter. He was too trusting of strangers sometimes, and with a damn serial killer in town—maybe—I worried about him.

But the worries couldn’t touch me right then.

Grayson was on my mind, and I hummed as I stood in the kitchen, looking out the window over the sink. For the first time in a really long time, I was happy.