Page 18 (1/2)

ONE

Keir

“Your mom’s a MILF, bro” My childhood best friend, Gunnar, tipped his cider to his lips, eyes tracing my mom as she walked to us

Her eyes were onwhat she ht be pissed at me for now

“Have some respect for the Queen, you tool” Our other friend, Kirk, knocked him in the shoulder

My mom paused in front of our small table “A word please, son”

I held her gaze, tippingI finished the stein and slammed it on the table and stood Pain shot up my spinal cord and landed in a death punch to my cerebral cortex Another day in the life

“What?”

“Keir, could you at least pretend to show some royal decorum while we’re in public?”

“I’m twenty-seven You knoar hero? Should I bow in your holy presence?”

She arched an eyebrow She was poised, even when she was angry withme with the title of Duke after I cas worse The headlines had had a field day with the new Duke of Debauchery title they’d christened ht was captured live on social media

“I’ve hired a caretaker for the cottage They’re starting in theFor the love of God, please be nice”

“A caretaker? What? Why?”

She turned, peach pantsuit fading in the distance as she exited the clubhouse

“Dude Such a MILF” Gunnar laughed at my shoulder

“Fuck off” I slammed another double shot of whiskey Alreadyin the liquor-soaked haze

Thirty otten I’d even talked to her at all

I played a game of darts with the boys, and then I stury, another day in the life of a prince