Page 50 of Salacious Park Avenue Prince

“Is it? You’re the one who threw him a fuckin’ party.”

“Oh, that’s right.” East’s nonchalant tone hid the undercurrent of mischief I knew was simmering. “What do you plan to do about it?”

I watched as Caleb took a glass of clear liquid from the server passing out drinks, surprised it wasn’t his usual brew. JT sat beside him, sandwiched between Caleb and West, whipping his head back and forth to talk to each of them, because it was obvious his boyfriend and best friend weren’t on the best of terms.

The last thing I’d expected was a Caleb appearance tonight, and it rattled me to the point I could only stare. He’d even foregone his usual jeans for a pair of camel-colored pants and a fitted long-sleeve white shirt that hugged the lean muscles in his back and shoulders.

And those arms…

East snapped his fingers in front of my face, and I tore my eyes away from Caleb.“Jesus, what?”

“Another second and you’d have drool falling down your chin.” East wrinkled his nose. “I asked what you’re planning to do about your little problem.”

“I…” Fighting the urge to look back at Caleb, I turned my back on him to focus on East. “I don’t know anymore. What do you think?”

“I think you should ask Van.”

Considering Donovan was the one we all went to with our shit, the one who gave actual advice instead of whatever popped into his head, it was probably the smart thing to do. But I wasn’t looking for logical—I was looking for fucked up.

“I don’t want to talk to Van about feelings, for Christ’s sake, that’s why I’m asking you.”

“That’s hurtful. I have feelings. I just don’t remember where I left them.”

“Good, leave them somewhere else and help me. What would you do if you couldn’t escape someone? If he was just…everywhere and you couldn’t breathe?”

Without hesitating, East said, “I’d drown them.”

“What?”

“You can’t breathe, so they can’t breathe?—”

“You’re a real eye-for-an-eye guy, you know that?”

“I had to be growing up with my father.” He shrugged. “But if you really want to take back your space, show him who’s boss.”

“And just how am I going to do that? It’s not like he listens to me.”

“Who said anything about listening?”

I narrowed my eyes, confused.

“In case you didn’t notice, Caleb can’t keep his eyes off you.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Yeah.Okay. It’s true. It’s always been true. Even when we were in high school. But back then he could hide behind being friends with you. Now it’s just this strange hate-eye-fuck thing he does that really is kind of hot, but at the same time screams of self-repression, and I’m not sure you have the patience for that.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I wanted ideas that were fucked up. Not ones I’d need to go to a therapist to decipher.”

East rolled his eyes. “I’m getting there, grasshopper. Breathe.”

“That’s the problem, remember? I can’t.”

“So reclaim your space.”

“Huh?”

“Take back your space. He’s everywhere, right?”

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