Page 57 of The Royal Flame
Once she gives us our menus, she walks off, leaving us all alone.
My ex-mother immediately smiles at River. “I recognize you. You were with Maddison when she broke in to my place.”
River folds his arms on top of the table. “She didn’t break in. She went into her home to get her stuff.”
My ex- mother’s sugary sweet smile turns malicious. “Look at you, a little baby Royal trying to act tough.”
“I’m not trying to do anything. I’m acting entitled because I am.” He leans forward. “I think we both know who has control her and if I wanted to, I could ruin your life,” he snaps his fingers. “Just like that.”
I’m shocked as hell. When I first started at the Royal Academy, I’d heard rumors about River’s intensity, but I’ve never seen if directed toward me.
My ex-mother’s smile falters. She’s thrown off, which rarely happens. “If you want answers from me, you need to treat me with some respect.”
“I’ll treat you with as much respect as you’ve treated Maddison with.” He collects his menu and slants back. “Now figure out what you want to order. I don’t want to have to make the waitress endure you poor manners, like the hostess did.”
I smash my lips together, conceal a laugh. But it’s complicated not to bust up laughing at the sight of my mother’s appalled expression. She practically flounders as she snatches up her menu from off the table.
River glances at me, his eyes sparkling as he hands me my menu.
I want to kiss.
I want to climb onto his lap and run my fingers through his hair.
I want to do a lot of dirty things to him.
I take the menu from him and find the least expensive item on the menu—a garden salad. Yuck, but it’ll have to do for now.
When the waitress arrive, my mother has a bitchy attitude as she orders the biggest steak menu, an appetizer, and a drink.
The waitress acts a professional as she can as can as she types in my mother’s order then turns to me.
“And what can I get you?” she asks with a forced smile.
“I’ll just have a garden salad and a water,” I tell her, ignoring River’s gaze boring into me.
My mother snickers. “You’re a cheap whore, aren’t you?” she mumbles under her breath.
I visualize myself floating in the middle of a lake where no on else exists in order to keep myself calm enough not to punch her.
When the waitress glances at River, her smile turns genuine. “And how about you., River?”
“I’ll have the filet mignon and also a burger.” He hands her a menu.
I narrow my eyes at him. “I sure hope those two meals were for you.”
The waitress hurries off, muttering, “I’ll go put in your orders.”
“If you would’ve order what you wanted, I wouldn’t have had to get you something,” he says, fiddling with a ring on his finger. “This place has one of the best burgers in town. I promise you’ll like it.”
“You know that isn’t what this is about,” I grit through my teeth.
“Yeah, it’s about you being stubborn,” he says, angling his body so his knee touches mine. “You need to eat, Maddison, especially with how hard you’re training.”
“Jesus,” my mother sneers, reminding me that she’s here. “This is like a real relationship. How the hell did you manage that, Maddy?”
I glare at her. “That’s none of your business.”
Her smile, though, is making me uneasy. She likes knowing how much River likes me, and she’ll probably try to use that to her advantage. I’m tired of this shit, of her, of her damn cons.
