Ruthless King

He sat up, tears glistening in his eyes.

“Did you hurt yourself?” she asked.

“No. I’m all right. Well, my butt kind of hurts. Do you think it will bruise?” Hope filled his face. “That would be awesome if it did.”

“Um, maybe?” she said.

“I can’t do it, Jilly.” His lower lip fell out in a sulk.

“Do what? Ride the hoverboard?”

“Yeah. I know I’m not supposed to ride it inside, but it doesn’t work as well outside.”

“Hmm. Could I have a go?” she asked. It looked like a lot of fun.

“I don’t know, Jilly. It’s sore on your butt when you fall off and, you know, you’re a girl.”

“I’m a girl, so I can’t do it?” she asked, feeling amused.

“Well, no, I know girls can do anything. It’s just, you might cry. And I’m not good with tears.”

“I promise that if I fall off, I won’t cry.”

“Are you sure? Because Uncle Reggie probably won’t be happy if you cry. I heard he’s kind of obsessed with you.”

Her heart soared with those words, but she squashed the feeling quickly.

Ace was a child. He didn’t even know what he was saying.

But it was still a nice thought.

“I’m not sure I’d say obsessed,” she said.

“That’s what Jardin said. He said he’s never seen Uncle Reggie like this with anyone and he’s real glad he met you. But also that Uncle Reggie should pull his head out of his ass and put a ring on your finger before you change your mind.”

She stared down at him in shock. “I have a feeling you weren’t supposed to be listening to that conversation.”

Ace just gave her a cheeky grin.

“Oh, Lord, you’re going to be trouble in a few years, aren’t you?”

“Thea says I’m trouble now. And that if I’m any more trouble, she’s shipping me off to a boarding school. But I know she wouldn’t really do that. She’d miss me too much.”

Oh, to be that confident and secure in who you were.

She wasn’t sure she’d ever had that growing up. Mama loved her. At least she’d had that. But it was hard to feel securewhen your father could make decisions on a whim that would completely uproot your life.

If her father had told her that he was contemplating boarding school if she kept getting into trouble, she would never have gotten into trouble again.

She’d certainly never have ridden a hoverboard inside his house.

“Can I try?”

“Well, all right. Carrick said we always have to keep our promises.” He looked very skeptical that she would manage to keep hers.

“Carrick is right. And I will keep mine.”

“You don’t have a helmet, though. Safety first. And I don’t think mine will fit you. Cause you’ve got a big head.”