Broken kingdom

“It wasn’t your fault,” he rasps. “None of this was your fault.” Anger crosses his features. “Christ. I can’t believe she almost k—”

“She was sick,” I utter, quickly coming to her defense before he can spew the words. “Liam and I…we had to protect her.”

Because she was our mom and we loved her so much. 

He looks like he wants to argue, but he holds me tighter, strumming his fingers up and down my spine as I continue to cry my heart out. 

“Promise me you’ll stop doing drugs,” I choke out between sobs.

Because if I lose him too…

I won’t survive it. 

His throat bobs on a swallow. “I’ll never make you a promise I can’t keep. You know that.” 

His admission only makes me cry harder. “Then make me a promise you can.” 

“I’ll try,” he whispers against my ear. “I’ll try for you.” 

I hold out my pinky finger. “Promise?”

Giving me a small nod, he hooks his pinky through mine.

And then he hauls me against him, wrapping his arms around me so tight it steals all the air from my lungs. 

I bury my damp face against his chest. “Oakley?”

“Yeah?”

“You make me feel things, too.” 

Things my mother warned me not to feel.

My stomach clenches as I watch him lick a drop of ketchup off his thumb before he goes back to eating his burger. 

Today I successfully managed the art of parallel parking. To celebrate my small victory, we grabbed some loaded bacon cheeseburgers for di

Well, Oakley did. 

I’m currently pushing my veggie burger around my plate wondering why everything he does turns me on so damn much. 

As if sensing my internal struggle, his lips curve in a slow smirk. “You look like you want some.” 

“I don’t eat meat,” I tease, playing coy. 

That only makes his smirk deepen as he waggles his eyebrows. “I guess you only suck it then, huh?” 

I should roll my eyes at his crude remark, but I find myself laughing. 

I love that we share the same perverted sense of humor. 

Trying to keep a straight face, he holds his burger out to me. “Well, if you change your mind, offer still stands.” He winks. “You can have my meat anytime you want.” 

I’m about to tell him I want it right here on this table, but the appetizing scent of his burger fills my nostrils. I can’t deny that it smells delicious. Way more delicious than the poor excuse between two buns I’m attempting to eat does. 

My stomach grumbles, betraying me. “I can’t.” 

His brows furrow. “Why?” 

Guilt prickles through me and my shoulders slump. “Liam.” 

Clearly perplexed, he shakes his head. “Wh—”

“I swore off eating meat with him so he didn’t have to do it alone.” My stomach grumbles again. Louder this time. “But your burger smells really good and I’m go

His expression turns serious. “I’m not trying to be a dick, but don’t you think it’s time for you to start living life on your terms?” 

If only it were that simple. “But—”

“But nothing, baby girl.” He holds my gaze. “Liam’s dead…and as much as that sucks, not eating meat won’t bring him back.” A groove in his forehead deepens. “Take a bite, Bianca. You might like it, or you might hate it, but either way, it will be your fucking choice.” 

Oakley has a point, I realize as I proceed to take a small bite.

Liam didn’t force me to become a vegetarian, but I’m not the same person I was back then. 

It’s time to start making my own decisions. 

A delectable taste fills my mouth. “It’s good.” 

Smiling, Oakley pushes his plate toward me. “Finish it.” 

I shake my head. “Later.” I chew my bottom lip wryly. “There’s something else I really want right now.” 

His lids lower. “That so?” 

I’m about to answer, but his palm starts traveling up my thigh. 

My heartbeat grows erratic as his hand slides up my shorts. 

“Do you want to go to your bedroom?” 

His throat works as his fingers make their way inside my panties. “No.” He teases my clit with the pad of his thumb. “I want to make you come for me right here in this chair.” 

Oh, God. I’m so turned on I can’t even see straight. 

Mouth parting, I watch the tendons in his arm flex as he pumps those long fingers inside me. 

My head lolls back as shivers race up my spine. “Jesus—”

A knock on the door cuts me off.

Undeterred, Oakley continues to work me. “Whoever it is will go away.” 

“Open up, Oak. It’s us,” Dylan calls out. 

“We brought you birthday treats,” Sawyer adds. 

“Shit,” Oakley mutters as he removes his hand. “I forgot that was tonight.” 

I mentally curse Dylan and Sawyer for ruining my impending orgasm as I fix my shorts. “Forgot what was tonight?” 

“Girls’ n—” Oakley starts to say, but another loud knock cuts him off. “Relax, I’m coming.” 

Too bad I’m not. 

The moment he opens the door, Dylan and Sawyer bounce inside, carrying a shit-ton of stuff in their hands. 

“I know you said you didn’t want to go to the bar,” Dylan begins. “But we still wanted to celebrate with you.” 

Smiling from ear to ear, Sawyer adds, “So instead of having a girls’ night out…we’re having a girls’ night in.” Her smile widens when she sees me. “Hey, Bianca. I didn’t know you were here, but it’s perfect timing.” 

I raise a brow. “Perfect timing for what?”

Sawyer and Dylan quickly proceed to empty their bags. 

From the looks of things, it’s safe to say they raided every beauty product aisle at the local dollar store. 

I have to stifle a laugh when I catch the horrified look on Oakley’s face. 

Visibly distressed, he holds up what appears to be a face mask. “What the fuck is this shit?” 

“It helps clear your pores,” Sawyer answers cheerfully. “We also brought stuff to do your nails.” 

He backs away like a wild animal caught in a trap. “Nuh-uh. Not fucking happening.” He slaps his chest. “In case you two are blind, I’m a dude. Get this girly shit out of my house.” 

“Relax,” Dylan says with a roll of her eyes. “One spa night with us won’t revoke your man card.” She grins. “Plus, we also made a big jug of margaritas, so you’ll be nice and relaxed soon.” 

My chest coils. 

It’s been almost a week since Oakley promised me he’d try and he’s been doing really well. 

Sure, he still works for Loki and at No Name, but I haven’t seen him so much as pick up a beer lately. 

The first few days of his newfound sobriety he was downright miserable and stayed in bed, but he was strong enough to get through it. 

However, I’m worried he’s going to give in to temptation soon—especially now that he and his closest friends are twenty-one so having a few drinks while hanging out is pretty much second nature now. 

I can tell he’s fighting an internal war with himself as he mulls this over. 

Come on, Oakley. Stay strong. 

Blowing out a breath, he squeezes the back of his neck. “Fine. Nix the margaritas and I’m in.” 

And just like that, the tension in my chest dissipates and swells with pride.

Dylan shrugs. “Okay. We can make daiquiris instead if you—”

“Jesus Christ, Dylan,” I snap, trying my hardest not to throttle her. “Quit forcing him to drink.”

Dylan’s eyes widen in surprise. “I’m not. I just…” Visibly uncomfortable now, she shuffles her feet. “I didn’t mean—”