Page 144 of Vexatious Queen

“You’re right. Feeling guilty only takes away from the sacrifices Ella made to protect everyone. Wow…I’m sorry, that was…I never meant to do that to her memory.”

“I know,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something, and there never seems to be a good time.”

“Okay.”

Myles mumbled something in his sleep and pressed closer behind me. He was such a spooner. I looked over my shoulder, but when he didn’t wake, I turned back to Blake.

“What’s going on?”

“I think I want to be a teacher. Dean Henry and I have had a few conversations, and he has been really supportive. There’s a college called Northside, forty minutes outside of Portland, that would be perfect.”

“I love that,” I said, smiling. “You’ll make an excellent teacher.”

Blake’s eyes lit up.

“That brings me to my next point.” He kissed my fingers. “I want you to go there as well. It has an incredible art program, and the business school is highly rated. You could major in business and minor in art.”

“Me? I don’t even know what I want to do anymore. I mean, I’m going to end up in charge of this massive organization that blankets so much.”

“I know that, and I think that’s why this would be great for you. Think about it, even a three-year program would give you time to figure things out, learn your father’s business, and take classes that will help you along the way. Myles can go, too. There are a ton of degree paths.”

I bit my lip. “What about the others? Nash, Liam, and Theo?”

“Ah, see I’ve been thinking about them too. There is a D1 college a couple of hours toward Cali, called Kingshaven. Nash and Liam can walk on to the swim team with their times and connections. And it will be a little closer to Theo if he does switch to Stanford. We can buy or rent a house between the two schools and commute. That way, we are all together. It still keeps us close to your dad, my dad, and Collier Enterprises. I hope you think it’s a good idea, because getting Nash to agree will be like pulling teeth.”

“So, Theo told you about Harvard?”

Blake made a face.

“Well…sort of. I overheard him talking to Liam, but yeah, I know. He’ll tell me when he’s ready. Theo has always been like that. I’m not offended that you or Liam know. So, what I need from you, if you’re game is…”

He gave me a devilish smile, and I rolled my eyes.

“You need me to talk to Nash.”

“Yes. You’re the only one he will listen to. Well, you or your father. Nash seems pretty scared of your dad.”

I snorted and smiled.

“True. But why do you want him to go to Kingshaven, and not Northside?”

Blake sighed. “Because…I think…I think he needs some normalcy. I’ve had a lot of time to reflect recently, and Nash has always looked out for us. Even when I wanted to punch him in the face, he has never taken a moment just to be a kid. It was like he turned six and became an adult. Tutoring Camden and the other freshmen has really helped me see what Nash took on. I don’t want our relationship, all of us, to turn toxic because he wakes up angry and bitter one day.”

“It’s funny you should say that because I had a similar thought when I spoke to him about the World’s team. He never even told anyone he was invited. He just stuffed the letter in a drawer, and when I questioned it, he told me that he couldn’t go, too many responsibilities.”

“See…that’s what I mean. He needs a chance just to be Nash the alphahole swimmer. Look into the school, it’s a great fit for him. I dropped a hint to Liam, so I’m hoping he’ll think about it and be on board.”

“Look at you being all insightful and devious,” I said.

“I’ve always been devious.”

With a smirk, he leaned in and kissed my lips.

“Okay, enough talkin’, I’ll go wherever Ren goes. Now go to sleep,” Myles grumbled.

“Eavesdropper,” I gently scolded.

“Pfft, I think we’re past me overhearin’ school talk. But for the record, I like the idea.” He kissed my neck. “Now sleep, or I’m gonna get thinkin’ about yer ass pressed up against me, which will get me hard and then I’ll just have ta fuck ya again,” he said.