Lou’s lips twisted. “For the Prince of Darkness, right?”

She didn’t answer.

The other girl’s gaze turned pitying. “Are we really going to waste time playing this game?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” But she found herself reaching for her phone as she spoke, found herself typing just one word.

Hi.

She put the phone back on the table after sending the message toPriscilla.She just needed...to talk to him. She didn’t need the prince to come. She could still handle this on her own, but...she just needed to hear from him.

That was all, she told herself.

One message from him, and she would be reminded that she wasn’t alone, and it would be okay again.

Lou suddenly leaned forward, hissing, “You’re pathetic.”

Her eyes started to sting, a part of her believing the words, but she fought to keep her face expressionless. “I’m sorry,” she answered tonelessly, “that you think that.”

“You’re better off feeling sorry for yourself,” Lou snapped, “to still cling to a man who doesn’t—-”

A shadow fell over them, and Lou shut up as Grant appeared in front of them. His normally combed hair was unkempt, and his handsome face was tense and unsmiling.

“That was fast,” Lou trilled.

But Grant didn’t even look her way. His eyes were focused completely on Fawn. “Hey, luv.” His voice was wary, uncertain.

For one moment, she was so, so tempted to just cry and ask him,Why?

Why?

Why, Grant, why?

But the moment passed, and she managed to summon a smile from the last reserves of her strength. “Hi.”

“I miss you.” He bent down to kiss her, and her body became rigid.

How can you kiss me when you had sex with another girl?

Unable to bear the thought of sharing his lips with another girl, she moved at the last second, mumbling, “I think someone texted me.” As she reached for her phone again, Grant’s lips ended up making it only as far as her cheek.

Grant sucked in his breath.

Her fingers moved over the screen of her phone wildly, randomly opening and closing apps, giving herself an excuse not to look up.

In the corner of her eye, she saw Lou grab Grant’s wrist as he straightened and practically pulled him closer to sit beside her.

“Sorry, hon, can’t you see the other seat’s taken? You’ve got no choice but to sit here.”

Fawn continued to stare at her phone.

Why won’t you answer, prince?

You promised.

You promised.

“What are you doing with Fawn, Lou?” she heard Grant ask in an unusually hard voice.