Page 28 of King

I look back at Allie. “More.”

She holds the bottle higher, filling the cup. When she hands it to me the cup is half full of pure deliciousness. Allie takes the time to grab herself a soda of her own and Nate comes between us with a tall glass of champagne in a crystal glass. He tilts it our way. “To the new semester. And new friends.”

As the liquid burns my throat, Allie pulls me into the sparkling hallway, Nate following. We lean against the white wall and they start to point out people in the crowd.

The party is full of the more popular kids of ERA, ones the Supreme Squad deem fit to invite. She points out the granddaughter of a famous French designer and the heir to an international pizza chain. This party is dripping with money and I'm starting to think good looks are a prerequisite to live in this town.

Lea and Georgina barge through the front doors, a group of girls rushing to their side. They're both in expensive-looking dresses. Lea’s is beige, lace and frilly, a matching headband on her head. Georgina’s in a black silky number, gold scarf swaying off her neck. They’ve got their hands around a bottle with a foil top, giggling like chickens.

“What about those two?” I pull my cup in front of my face, taking another sip. The alcohol is already starting to warm me up. I’m starting to feel more relaxed but I still rather avoid Lea’s wrath.

“Ah yes.” Allie lifts her chin. “ERA’s royalty. Lea’s dad made his millions off real estate before he came to Eden. He served as the city’s Finance Director and now, he’s running for mayor.”

I imagine what Eden would be like if Lea was the mayor’s daughter and I shudder.

“As for Georgina,” Nate continues. “Her father invented the Cuddly.”

“The blanket with sleeves?”

Allie laughs, nodding, “Exactly. That’s nothing though. Isaac’s dad is Lionel Johnson.”

I almost choke on my drink. “What?” That explains his striking good looks and rockstar swagger.

Nate takes a sip from his glass. “I still think his dad is way hotter than he’ll ever be.”

One of the girls I recognize from Lea’s crew approaches us, and my jaw clenches. This is the redhead with the freckles and a button nose. She's the least threatening of the group but I still don’t trust her. Beside her is a guy I recognize from school, hanging around Damien. He’s built like a goon, stocky and tall with a head of blonde hair.

“I wondered if you’d show up.” The redhead smiles when she gets in front of us. “Lea’s not going to be happy.”

The boy next to her laughs, “Man when is she ever?”

“And this is Beth Sanders and Luca Ferraro.” Allie’s not alarmed or thrown off so I take it they're not as threatening as I think. Beth does a twirl, showing off leather leggings, heels and a matching black tank. “Beth is the daughter of famed architect, Brandon Sinclair, he’s also the town’s Planning Director. As for Luca, his father is the heir to the Ferraro Rocher empire.”

“And yes, I’m as sweet as the brand.” He winks in a sweater that says “Gucci”, his belt the same.

“No. He’s not,” Nate gives Luca a cut of the eye before he sips from his glass. Leaning into me he mutters, “He’s a brute, like the rest of our highly entitled hockey team.”

“Sweet in the streets, a brute in the sheets!” He gives me a sly smile, tongue moving across his lip. Beth nudges him and I smile, grateful they’re not being as sour as their friends. He tilts his chin towards me. “Does Damien know you’re here?”

“Shit, does Lea know you’re here?” Beth follows, hand on her hips.

“Why? Is she going to send you to the gallows for talking to me?” I snicker into my cup. The whiskey’s so smooth I haven’t noticed I’ve already gone through half of it.

“Pft, Lea and I have been friends since cello lessons in the third grade. I’ve known her since we were five so she doesn’t get a say in who I talk to.” Beth shrugs. “I have way too much dirt on her.”

“Is she still that upset about what happened at the cafe?” I ask.

“Lea's very territorial and those girls are like sheep. They’ll do anything to stay on the good side of the two most powerful kids in Eden." Beth laughs. "So if Damien says you're on his blacklist, they have no problem making your life extra hard."

Luca licks his lips, his eyes on my legs. “I’d love to make you myterritory.” He waggles his eyebrows and I can’t help but laugh when he gets another scoff from Nate.

A cute guy leans on the wall across the room, his eyes on our group. He’s in a colourful blazer and slacks. Gelled pompadour almost as shiny as his lips. I see him look down at his drink then back at us. Nate clears his throat and when I turn to him, he’s downing the rest of his champagne. “And that’s my cue. I'll catch you guys in a bit. Or not.” Nate puts his hands in the pocket of his slacks, sauntering towards the cutie on the wall.

“Which reminds me,” Beth turns her attention to Allie. “Lea wants to have a chat with you.”

I raise an eyebrow to Allie, wondering why Lea has summoned her of all people, but Allie doesn’t seem bothered.

Luca smiles with a flip of his locks. “Need me to keep the newbie company?”

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