Page 71 of Broken Princess

“A booty call? Should I just show up naked under a raincoat?”

“Yes. See you at seven.” He winks as he slips off the stool and returns to his side of the room.

When I get back from class, there’s a new note in front of my door, tied to the last two editions of The Daily Scroll.

I was drowning in a sea of emptiness and greed until I saw you. Now it wrecks me to know your effervescent light dimmed because of the idiotic act of the many. My world is desolate and no hope or lightness of being blooms without the radiant glow of your smile.

I clutch the note to my chest. Logan’s an ass, but he can be so damn sweet when he wants to be. I’ve always said he has a bit of a poet in him and these notes prove it. I was kicking myself for mouthing off at his dad the way I did at his birthday brunch, but the Star Gazette printed some pretty hateful things about my mother when step-dick was arrested. They all but said she knew what Penn was up to and deserved to go to jail, too. I wrote the editor and threatened to sue them, if they didn’t print a retraction. They eventually amended the article, as the evidence came out, but only because the U.S. Attorney was giving press conferences and officially went on record to say my mother was innocent.

Penn’s trial starts in a few weeks, and so far none of the news outlets have mentioned it. I’m hoping the story gets buried as a footnote on one of the last pages if they decide to write anything at all. Which is why I shouldn’t have antagonized the man that owns the paper. Or fucked his son in front of his ex, in the fancy little poker room at their country club.

“Heading out?” Kassidy asks, looking up from the television screen.

“Study date with some friends.”

“So it’s not another party?”

“Nope, not tonight.”

“Who are these friends, and why don’t you invite them here? It’s cold, and it’s late. I’m not sure you should be the one traveling across campus alone.”

“I’ll be fine.” I assure her, walking towards the door.

“Okay, have fun, and make sure he wraps it up.”

My steps falter as I turn to look at her. “Who?”

We enter a staring contest, the kind Summer and I used to engage in to see who would get the last piece of cake. I love cake, so I medal in this sport. Kassidy blinks first.

“Girl, I know you’re sneaking around with Logan, which is really why you need to be careful. Bella’s gonna shit bricks when she finds out you’ve roped him back in.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. At least I don’t have to hidethisfrom her anymore. “How did you know?”

“Claire, has a big mouth, and she mentioned it to someone, who mentioned it to me.” She squints her eyes at me, turning her head right and left, then gives me a wide smile. “Did you really do it in the kitchen with the waitstaff walking by?”

“It was the poker room, and as far as I know, she’s the only person that saw us.”

“Wait, you know she was watching you?”

“Yup.” I say, accentuating the p.

“Damn. Mom would be proud of you.”

“We’re not telling your mom, and I wasn’t expecting anyone to follow us.”

“Oh yeah, Claire definitely followed Logan. Probably thought she’d get him alone and do the exact same thing.” She says, bent over, clutching her stomach. The words come out on a wheezed breath through her laugh.

“I’m glad you think this is so funny.”

She finally gets her laughter under control. “Girl, Claire is an opportunist, okay? She and Logan hooked up over the years, and last summer it looked like things were getting serious. She was telling everyone they were practically engaged, since daddy McKay thought their families would make a good union. But as soon as Logan was done with her she moved on to his cousin.”

“Talk about six degrees of separation.”

Waving her hand at me, she says, “If you’re sure, you’re sure, then I’m done being the responsible roommate.” We both laugh at the irony of our temporary role reversal. “Be safe, have fun, and I totally support you letting your freak flag fly.”

It was ten minutes to eleven when I finally showed up. True booty call hours, and we’ve been locked in a battle of wills for the last five minutes, since Logan insisted on acting like an ass because I took my time getting here.

“For the last time, get it through your head Logan, I have a life and I don’t come when ordered.”

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