The King of Sloth bonus scene is a heartwarming, post-ending scene featuring Xavier Castillo and Sloane Kensington. It showcases the couple enjoying a sweet, domestic life together, featuring a new member joining the Castillo household and confirming their enduring, affectionate relationship.
BONUS SCENE
XAVIER
“Far be it from me to question your decisions, but is there a reason we’ve circled the block four
times in the past…” I checked my watch. “Twenty minutes with no discernible destination in
sight?”
“No particular reason.” Sloane turned the corner, her expression suspiciously neutral. “It’s so
beautiful out, I figured we could go for a nice walk.”
I narrowed my eyes.
Sloane had been acting weird since we left brunch with our friends earlier. It was Saturday
afternoon, which we usually reserved for wandering the city and browsing the piles of old DVDs
and VHS tapes at the dusty video shop in St. Mark’s Place. That was where we’d discovered a
veritable treasure trove of foreign rom-coms.
However, she’d insisted on coming straight home today, which already raised warning flags.
Then, when we were only minutes away, she’d changed tunes and said we should take a walk (or
four) around the block.
Something smelled fishy, and it wasn’t the smoked salmon from brunch. “You hate walks,” I said.
“Incorrect. I love walks.”
I resisted pointing out that mowing down tourists in Midtown while berating some poor,
incompetent soul over the phone for their mistakes didn’t quite count as a “walk.” I’ve learned to
pick my battles over the years.
“You hateslowwalks,” I amended.
“This isn’t slow.” She stepped to the side to allow a mother pushing a stroller to pass.
“Luna, if we moved any slower, we might as well call the mayor and declare ourselves the city’s
newest statues.”
Sloane’s neutral expression cracked, and a small smile flickered over her face. “You are so
dramatic. It’s endearing.”
An answering smile tugged on my mouth before I flattened it. She wasn’t going to distract me
with her compliments this time, nor was she going to distract me with the laughing sparkle in her
eyes or the scent of her perfume or the way her hair shone beneath the sun. Even after years of
dating, she never failed to take my breath away.
That being said, I still wanted to know why the fuck she wouldn’t let us go home.
Answers first, admiration later.
“You’re up to something,” I said. “Spill it, or we’re not watchingThe Baker’s Royal
Christmasthis weekend.”
That put a halt to her step. “You’d deprive me of a holiday rom-com inDecember?” She gasped,
sounding genuinely offended. “When Christmas is only two weeks away?”
I could never deprive her of anything and we both knew it, but I had to pretend for dignity’s sake.
“I’m not depriving you. I’m giving you options,” I drawled. “What’s it gonna be, Luna? Another
walk around the block or a nice, cozy night in with popcorn, hot chocolate, and ninety minutes of
watching another baker and prince fall in love?”
Sloane’s glare could’ve melted the entire Arctic Circle. “This is why I never do nice things for
people,” she grumbled. “They turn around and—”
The chime of an incoming call interrupted what I was sure would’ve been a scathing rant about
my audacity to threaten our annual holiday traditions.
I suppressed another grin as she answered her phone. I would never tire of riling her up, but I’d
also picked up on hernice thingsslip-up, which was why I didn’t bother hiding my interest as she
walked away and lowered her voice.
I tried to edge closer and eavesdrop, but I could only pick up faint snippets.
“It’s done? Perfect…because they’re idiots…no…Monday off. Thanks, Jillian.” After another
minute or two, she hung up and turned toward me, her earlier glare melting into an innocent
smile. “You know what? I’m tired and could use a nap. Let’s go home.”
My eyes narrowed again.
Sloane didn’t nap. She thought naps were reserved for cats and the laziest portion of society, but
again, I held my tongue until we arrived at our house five minutes later.
The entire time, my mind whirred trying to figure out whatnice things
she could’ve been referring to and what they had to do with Jillian.
Sloane had finally given her assistant an emergency key to our house a few months ago. It made
things easier for work since she worked from her office only half the time these days; the rest was
spent with her clients or working from home.
But what could she possibly need Jillian’s help with on the weekend that wasn’t work related?
Maybe itwaswork related and had nothing to do with Sloane’s odd behavior, but I doubted it
since she immediately abandoned our “nice walk” after the call.
Sloane Kensington, what are you up to?
Jillian was already gone by the time we got home, so I couldn’t pick up any clues from her.
Luckily, I didn’t need to.
Sloane and I had accumulated various tchotchkes and souvenirs from our travels over the years.
They were taking over the house, but when we entered the living room, my eye immediately
latched onto the medium-sized box sitting on the floor. It hadn’t been there when we’d left for
brunch that morning, and just like that, the pieces clicked into place.
“Sothat’swhy you were being so sneaky. You were waiting for Jillian to drop that off.” I clucked
my tongue.“Sneaky.”
Sloane didn’t bother denying it. “You should join the FBI with your deduction skills,” she said
dryly.
“Don’t deflect. That’s my Christmas gift, isn’t it?” I joked. “Luna, you shouldn’t have.”
End of Document
288
