Page 40 of Salacious Park Avenue Prince

Ugh. School.I forgot it wasn’t the weekend. “Fuck off. I’m taking a sick day.” The gravel in my voice at least made itsoundlike I was sick, not that I needed an excuse.

“I don’t think so,” Caleb said firmly. “You’re the one who chose to drink down an entire bar, so you can deal with the consequences of feeling like ass.”

“Gee, thanks, Dad.” I burrowed down into the couch so he’d get a clue I didn’t plan on going anywhere, but suddenly the blanket was ripped off me.

I jerked upright, which sent a wave of pain through my head, and squinted up at Caleb. “What the hell?”

“You’ve got ten minutes.” He glanced at the time on his phone. “Make that nine.”

“I told you I’m not going?—”

“I’m here to make sure I’m a good influence on you, remember?” I wanted to knock his smirk off with my fist. Once my arm woke up, anyway.

“Whatever. It’s not like I’m gonna tattle to Dick?—”

“But I would.”

I stared up at the no-bullshit look on Caleb’s face and narrowed my eyes. “Did you cover me up last night?”

The question seemed to catch him off guard by the way he blinked several times before clamping his jaw tight. “No.”

I could see right through that lie, but the question was…why would he bother doing anything remotely decent for me?

“Yes, you did.”

Caleb glanced at his phone. “Eight minutes.”

Grunting, I popped the top off the pills and swallowed a few with the water I was surprised wasn’t something worse. Like vodka. Or vinegar.

Shuddering at the thought, I got to my feet slowly, and when the earth didn’t move, I figured it was safe to take a step. Then two.

“I don’t know why you’re trying to deny it,” I said. “I obviously didn’t put the blanket over myself.”

“Riiight. Because you were in such a clear mental state that you remember all the details.”

He had a point there, as much as I hated to admit it. I couldn’t picture Caleb giving a shit about whether or not I’d freeze, so…maybe Iwasimagining things.

Annoyed I’d even brought it up, I dropped the subject and headed into my room for the world’s quickest shower. That at least made me feel more alive, but Caleb yelling out, “Three minutes,” when I’d barely toweled off meant there wouldn’t be time to make sure I looked mind-blowing today. A pair of dark designer jeans and a hat to cover this mess of hair would have to suffice, but damn if I wouldn’t make grunging it out look good anyway.

I stormed out of my room, about to ask Caleb if he was happy, but all I saw was our front door swinging shut. That asshole had left without me.

Hiking my bag up my shoulder, I booked it outside to the elevators, and as Caleb looked over at me, the door slammed shut.

“Motherfucker.”

“Headache?”

“Nope.”

“You’re a shit liar.”

“Who says I’m lying?”

Caleb’s look was full of derision. “You’re trying to tell me your head doesn’t hurt right now?”

“I didn’t say that.” Because my entirebodyached right now. Not just my head.

But before Caleb could argue his point further, the elevator door swished open and he stepped inside, taking a spot on the far left side of the car. That was fine by me. If he could stay out of my way for the rest of the day, week—hell,year—my life would be just peachy.

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