Page 23 of The Royal in Room 3

When I hung up a few minutes later, I clung to those words of his like a lifeline. If Soren didn’t show up, it would be his loss. I was a good man who didn’t let my past define me.

But I hoped like hell that he didn’t either.

8

SOREN

I was late for my dinner with Jude, and a part of me was worried he would change his mind about me as I hurried down the stairs. Once again, I was decked out in the finery Halo House had provided, but the way I looked was the last thing on my mind. I’d been so excited to visit Jude, and then, on a whim, I’d used the computer in the library to look up information about Belvaria, only to find no mention of me at all. I should have been relieved that news of me having been to jail hadn’t made the media there, but I ended up feeling depressed that the royal family and the country I’d been prepared to dedicate my life to serving had forgotten all about me.

All day I’d been a mess, until Aaron had shown up to check on me. He might not know exactly why I’d been sad, but he’d reminded me that my life was here in California now, in Headland Bay. It was useless for me to dwell on the past and all the things that had gone wrong. I needed to focus on the present and on the man who could guide me to be the best commoner I could be.

“Soren,” Phoenix called, breezing into the hall and clasping his hands. “Aaron told me you changed your mind about your date. Does this mean you’ve forgiven me for not telling you about Jude’s past? It wasn’t my story to tell, you know.”

“It’s okay. I was overreacting because of something else, but I’ve had a proper talk about it with Aaron. You don’t think I’m too late, do you?” I chewed on my bottom lip and shifted my weight from one foot to the other. If I messed this up, I would never forgive myself.

“I doubt it,” he said. “Besides, a good Daddy is patient with his boy, and Jude is the best, so I’m sure he will wait.”

“But I’m almost an hour late.”

His smile widened. “You really want this date, don’t you?”

“Yes. Since my life has turned into a whole mess, I’ve not wanted anything as badly as I do this. He said he can help me turn my life around, Phoenix. I need him to show me how to become a commoner.”

“A commoner?” Phoenix frowned.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I say that wrong?” I chuckled uneasily. “In my country, it perhaps means something else. I meant to fit in.”

“I see. Well, don’t worry. Jude called me earlier. He’s waiting another hour for you.”

But that hour was almost up too. “Where’s Aaron?” I asked, rushing by Phoenix. “He promised to take me.”

“Before you go, Soren—” Phoenix caught my arm, a rare move for him to touch me, but as soon as I stopped moving, he released me. “There’s something you should know about Jude.”

I groaned. “Oh God, don’t tell me he’s been to prison twice.”

“Of course not. Jude’s an honest, responsible person, and he’s also a close friend of mine.”

“Oh?” I had no idea what he was getting at, and he wasn’t making it easy by talking in circles. He was also wasting the limited time I had left to make it to Jude’s place.

“You should know there’s a lot more than he told you about how he ended up in prison. It’s not for me to tell the story, but not everything is as it seems.”

“Are you saying he was innocent?”

Phoenix smiled and took a step away from me. “If you need a ride home, call me, though I doubt you’ll need it. Jude will bring you home when you’re finished.”

“Aren’t you going to answer my question?” I pressed.

“Have a good evening, Soren. You have the opportunity to flourish under the care of one of the best Daddies you’ll ever find. Don’t squander it.”

Great. Now he was hellbent on being just as mysterious as Jude had been about this prison thing, but from his reaction, I guessed that I was correct and Jude hadn’t been guilty of the crime he’d told me about. Why had he taken the fall for someone, and why hadn’t he told me the full truth?

Aaron was waiting for me in his car when I hurried out of the house. He got out quickly and opened the passenger door for me.

“Where’s Phoenix?” he asked, staring back at the house. “He’s not seeing you off?”

I shook my head as I slid into the car. In the little time I’d spent around him and Phoenix, it was plain that Aaron was into the other man.

“We already spoke inside.”