Page 41 of Salacious Park Avenue Prince

But Caleb, being Caleb, couldn’t ever doanything Iwanted.

“So,” he said from his corner of our current cell. “Where’d you end up running away to last night?”

I looked up from where I’d been aimlessly scrolling through my socials and tried to channel my Dairiest scowl. “I didn’trunaway.”

“No? I was positive it was your sorry ass I saw bolting for the exit through the smoke you left in your wake.”

I cocked my head to the side. He was so damn cocky up there on his pedestal, wasn’t he?

“You were lookin’ at my ass?”

Caleb opened his mouth as if to deny it, but then shrugged and did his best to keep his cool. “Was pretty hard not to, since you face-planted on our couch last night and didn’t move until I woke you up this morning.”

Interesting sidestep there. But even in my hungover state, I could see throughthatlie. I pushed off the wall and noticed the way his shoulders became rigid and he took a great interest in the doors of the elevator.

“You weren’t talking about this morning. You said when I bolted for the exit. That was last night.” Then, just to piss him off, I reached up and ran my finger along the band of his headphones where it was looped around his neck. “Were you checking me out, brother?”

Caleb turned his head until our noses were practically touching. “Stepbrother, and you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

I wanted to deny it. Wanted to spit the lie out just to give him a taste of what it felt like to be rejected so quickly, so harshly. But I couldn’t get the words out.

Instead, I did what I did best. I threw that shit right back at him.

“I’ve never been the one to deny it. That would beyou. Something I see you’re sticking with even after looking at me longingly last night through the flames.”

“Longingly?” Caleb snorted and looked away. “I guess you could say that. I was longing for the day I could drag you through them.”

“Sure you were. But just so you know”—I leaned in and put my lips right by his ear—“I wasn’t the only one who noticed.”

The elevator dinged, saving Caleb from having to answer, but a flush crept up his neck regardless. He could try all he liked to deny the truth, but we both knew what it was. That was why things always got messy between us.

Caleb marched out of the elevator and through the foyer. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was the one doing the running now. But I had a feeling it had more to do with wanting to be on time for class, since the last time he showed up to Livingston’s late, we were punished in the worst wayever.

“You don’t have to run, you know,” I said, even as I jogged to catch up with him. “Scotty is paid well to break speed limits and deliver us on Astor’s doorstep on time.”

Caleb screwed up his nose. “I’m not taking the Sprinter.”

“You’re so fucking stubborn.”

“And you’re delusional if you think I’m going to be trapped in a confined space with the seven of you.”

“Technically, it’s six now, since Preston pissed off and left me with you?—”

“Even worse. He’s the only one I liked.”

“Liar. And would you slow the hell down?”

“No. Like you said, I’m going to need to find a taxi that’ll speed to get me there on time.”

As the valet pulled open the door for us, Caleb stepped out into the soaring porte cochère where the van waited for us with Scotty standing by the passenger door.

I reached for Caleb’s arm, drawing him to a halt. “You’re seriously going to get a taxi?”

“I’ve been getting one since I moved in.”

“Yeah, but that was before East threw you a welcome-back party.”

“Oh?” Caleb faked a look of concern. “Howrudeof me. Did I forget to tell you all fifty million times? I’m. Not.Back.”

---