Page 114 of Scandalous Park Avenue Prince

The fog lifted as I looked around the empty—for now—classroom, and I cursed.

“You know what? You really do make me brain dead.”

Preston tugged at his pullover, smoothing it back into place, and then picked up the bag he’d dropped when I reached for him. As he shouldered it, he schooled his expression.

Gone was the fury, as well as the lust that had temporarily taken over.

In its place was the mask of resignation, like he was slipping back into a role he was all too familiar with.

“You should go before anyone knows you’re here.”

“Preston.” I sighed. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you?—”

“No, you don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who’s sorry. Everything’s happened so fast and been so amazing, and when I heard about Rodney I just felt...stupid.”

“You’ve got nothing to feel stupid about. It was my mistake. I should’ve called you last night, but I wanted to tell you in person.”

“It doesn’t matter. What can we do?” He gave me a sad smile. “I’m going with Serena. Even if you were going without a date, it’s not like we could be together, right?”

I nodded reluctantly. “Right.”

“Just…don’t fall in love with him or anything.” He tried for a teasing tone, but I could hear the truth in his words.

I moved to cup his face, just to touch him one more time, but the door behind him jerked open suddenly, and I dropped my arm.

“Carrington.” Professor Tyrone Kingston looked at me in surprise, clearly not expecting to see me standing on the stairs of the lecture hall. It wasn’t until his gaze traveled to Preston that a furrow formed between his brows.

“Just finalizing everything for the Winter Ball volunteers,” I said smoothly. “I swear, the work never ends.”

“You couldn’t pay me enough to do that job.” King looked between the two of us again, his eyes seeing a little too much, as always, before coming back to land on me. “You’re a saint.”

Ha.All three of us knew what a lie that was. But I wasn’t about to stick around and make this any harder on Preston. As it was, he looked like he was going to pass out.

I gave a curt nod to King, then waved at Preston. “Right, so I’ll see you Saturday?”

Preston nodded like some kind of robot, his Adam’s apple bobbing like it was in a barrel of water. “Yes, Mr. Carrington. Of course.”

Jesus, the way those words affected me should’ve been a crime. I stepped around him and then past King, whose lips twitched as if he were biting back a smile.

“Have a good day, Archer.”

THIRTY-TWO

preston

THANK GOD FOR Serena. She always knew how to keep my mind off whatever I was worried or upset about by distracting me with a good time. And after the run-in with Archer yesterday, I needed it.

Normally, I wouldn’t dare be anywhere near her and her friends while they were getting ready. They were a wild bunch, running around half-naked, singing and dancing, gossiping while doing their hair and makeup. It wasn’t a scene any guy should witness, yet there I’d been, invited to be a part of the madness of their hours-long Winter Ball preparations.

I’d shaken my head nonstop at the chaos, but it did what Serena hoped—got me temporarily out of my funk. By the time the limo pulled up to her apartment, I was two drinks in and feeling lighter than I had the last couple days.

As much as I hoped that feeling would stay once we arrived at the Elysium, that I could just relax and enjoy the night without constantly looking over at Archer and his date, the second we were through the press line and made our way inside, the tension crept back in.

“Nope, we’re not stressing tonight,” Serena said, grabbing both my hands in hers. The orchestra was playing upbeatChristmas songs, and she began to shimmy, her silver dress reflecting the icicle lights hanging from the ceiling with every turn of her hips. “Dance with me.”

“Right here? We’re not on the dance floor.”

“We’ll make our own. Maybe we’ll inspire some others while we wait.”

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