“He did what?!” she shrieks, outraged, before taking a deep breath. “I swear to God, they might have been right. Their world is not anything I’ve ever experienced before. They kept me out of most of it, so I don’t really know that much. All I know is that if something nefarious is happening in their side of The Cove, they probably know about it. Though, they didn’t know about my car getting jacked. When they found out, they were pissed…” She trails off, blushing again.
“So are you back with them? Or just Ellis? Or?”
“Honestly? I have no fucking idea.” She shrugs and I laugh softly again. “How did we end up dating—or not dating in your case—but still smack in the middle of the two biggest rivals in this not so big town?”
“That, my friend, is my luck. My curse. Whatever you want to call it.” I sigh, trying to get comfortable. “All I’ve ever wanted is zero drama, yet that shit chases me like I’m its favorite main course.”
“You don't have that much drama,” she says, wincing a little, and I bark out a laugh.
“No, no, not that much. Just my dad turning my world upside down, putting me in the public eye, then making it so I have to come back here after he kills himself… only to find out that the people I thought were once my closest friends basically hate my guts. Let’s not forget my only family in the world also hates my guts. And well, I mean, you’ve been around since I got back. You know the rest. Being stuck in the middle of their… what? Turf war? That doesn’t feel like that much of a stretch at this point.”
She stares at me, eyes wide, and starts laughing so hard she cries. “Man, and I thought I was the drama queen.” She wipes at her eyes, trying to take a deep breath but just ends up laughing harder. I get caught up in it and end up laughing until I cry too.
What the fuck even is my life?
“But for reals, if the guys are willing to aim fucking guns at each other, we might have issues,” I say, chewing on my lip.
“Boys are idiots. Way too much testosterone,” she says with a shrug. “They can hate each other all they like, it’s not going to fuck with us.”
I nod, because well, I’ve never had a bestie before. I’d lay down my life for her at this point.
She grins at me, looking freaking devious as fuck. “Maybe they’ll learn to love us enough that they can love each other.”
I burst out laughing. “The chance of those four falling in love with me is pretty slim. Let’s just hope for a truce?”
“Girl, you are straight up blind sometimes, but you didn’t see their faces at that party either. They love you, whether any of you admit it or not.” She spares me a sad smile for a moment before changing the subject. “Fuck boys… not literally, either. Crazy assholes. How does pizza and a movie sound?”
My stomach gurgles at her words and she giggles. I realize I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. That might explain the spaciness I’ve felt today. “That sounds like heaven.”
She grins and fist pumps. “Perfect, you order the food, I’ll pick the movie.”
I grin back at her, glad that, even while everything else in my world feels up in the air, my bestie is my rock and my safe space. I might not have wanted any friends when I came back here, but I’m not sure I’d have survived here this long without her. I’m just thankful I won’t have to find out.
The buzzer for the gate sounds and I grab my phone to check the security feed, my stomach twisting when I see what’s waiting for me at the gate.
Yellow tulips. Dozens of them sprawled across my entire driveway.
That’s when I remember the note from the night before, and fear flushes through me.
You’re out of time, Miss Royal.
We’re coming for you.
Ready or not.
Out of time for what?