THE MAN I LOVED WHO HID HIS CROWN

pte

. I glanced through the small upper glass on the

opened the door. As soon as he saw me, he smiled

e and black shirt with whit

ell-arranged patterns, not chaotic at all. He had u

snapping me

ing to hug me or just keep

could even think about it, I fo

his guy has put on me-but it's de

nning, my fas

I let go of Chike but he held onto my shoulder as

en forced a smile as he greeted him. Archie, always compo

aid tea

us-at least give me anoth

chest playf

hief-trying to s

hisp

gnet, baby. You'r

hed an

keep d

ple

se ba

never get tired of hugging him. I leaned in for ano

uspicious eyes-oh no, I knew that look. He was going to hit hi

m a

s this

epl

is C

raight to Chike. Instead of figh

saving my sister.

resp

hat's what fri

e my handbag and clothes I'd left

ouch anything if that's

lieve him-this is

add

tly attacked by some unknown g

exchanged gla

d to Chike

exactly did yo

learly making something

superhero. As soon as Tiana cam

aid se

h you-because I'll bea

Suddenly, a hospital security

ur car badly-i

at Chike who gave me that

k on his car. Turns out, it was a small white car parked behind his. It hadn't hit his Ra

ven though they'd never met in person, she was one of Tiana's friends, and he'd seen her in her TikTok

scre

slam my door

s her crush. Liam, Tiana's older brother-the one she always chatted with eve

r again, but stopp

't hit

ar, parked it properly

me, regretting everything. After gatheri

a was facing an

appened? Why wa

expl

ore it arrived, Zaddy pulled up and offered me a ride. I got i

the story while Chike

m a

en know you were

e re

: either one of your friends told

y sh

e betrayed our friend?

chim

I feel like

m a

ll enjoy hitt

ied calm

down the dr

a as

us he didn't to

ia a

guy came in and sav

at Chike

dy

s slide. Apologize for

gave Chike a side-eye, and he s

go home-I'

y of

coming w

ia s

ll driv

prot

who always

jump

m takin

ing until Liam

sister. She's coming with

y sc

t me show you a rea

rep

tter than mi

a br

2023 Rav4

a sn

my car-and it's no

laughed-it had turn

ed to Chik

's you

e looke

answ

natural t

ing he

y sc

don't even

dded mo

ating someone

embarrassed

at makes us less than your definition of friends, fine. You c

et, realizing the

bed, held Chike's han

am tried to pick up his bag but bumped into Paula. They

lay queen drama int

he let go and wal

keys and drove off wit

t be mad-it do

na

me, I feel it. I won't

e re

really don't have a car.

na

friend-and no one i

e sm

friends

na

ut I want us to be. W

aughed

think ab

im playfully a

then, I

na

t that doctor back there-

e as

ean Ar

ed-Archie never t

do you kno

e-then qui

ave simila

ait, how did yo

l. And in this city, he owns many clinics. I once did an bricklaying job at

her eyes, "A

ly wealthy and a top specialist i

raordinary. I mean, he's so humble. But hon

me? You think I look like a billionai

t his shoulder and

r, and the other girls had already left-except Paula, who wa

ldly, and she gentl

d, "Let

kay, then come wi

o point in staying angry. He eventually

aying she wouldn't apologize to Chike. But in the end, she did, knowing ful

kept throwing flirty comments at each other before they lef

You stayed up all night. There's a guest room Liam usually uses-you c

alked over to her. He took her hand and aske

ed. "What d

"I mean... sleep

ou seducer! And to think I let yo

, "That means

aybe I'm just

d her close. Tiana looked into his eyes and said, "

hen he leaned in, "Forget it,

ed, "Please

hed and

as good or bad. But the way he touched me, smiled at me-it felt like ten yea

ith his fingers and whisper

onto the couch, laughing like a maniac. I glared at him. I was wearing a long dress with my headscarf and falling ove

re totally ready, ma cherie. Let's b

e into bed and covered myself. I felt so embarrassed-but thank God I didn't

here. I checked the time-10 AM-and jumped into the shower, got dressed in my favorite oversized yellow T-shi

I was awake. He greete

y without looking

to the kitchen. I turned to peek and saw him wearing Liam's jersey.

le and called

, "I'm no

hed, "Are

yourself. I don't even

But how can you eat if you're not hun

to tempt me with

it over, because I can't e

at the table and kept reading my book

as eating happily, throwing me a teasing smile. I couldn't take

thought I wouldn't finish it,

you going t

re tiny. Thank God you're not hun

said, "Let me

laugh but failed

to the living room. He chased after me-we ran around th

"There are seven pieces. I'

ng four, you take three. Yo

ur. If I gain weight

we both eat three, an

r portions, leaving on

"C'mon, shar

taste it first. I'

he reached for it, I'd pull it back. Finally, I pretend

it! S

d, "That

ghing until silence fell. He looked deep into my eyes-I almost k

cked with his. "I love the way you look at

s... it doesn't even matter, because

ld finish, h

ut not because I didn't want him. It was because deep down, I wanted

issed him back, slowly at first, but then we melted into each other. His lips were warm, his breath hot a

ff guard. I didn't even know he was

avoring every moment. His fingers trailed across my chest-so soft, so controlled.

e-just present. And yet, the way h

reath hitched. He slowly lifted the shirt up, pausing to stare at me, his eyes full of heat. I was o

, trembling. "Why'd you

hick. "Are you sure, baby?

But something deep inside pulled me

ispered

gently, and he responded with a touch I couldn't even explain. My mind

rd my own voice

. You know what you want. You respect yourself.

fr

d away

and concerned. "B

said quietly. "

s. "There's no need to ap

w gentle he was. He helped me put

est. He said nothing. He just lay behind me and wrapped his arm around my wa

y. What you did? That was powerful. You

icked him playf

s voice tur

ever love m

tunned.

love

k, "Would y

love you... You're out of my league. I'm jus

, shakin

, "maybe I like

an never

g next