Page 105 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

J.C.’s in a defensive stance, legs spread wide, eyes alert.

When his gaze lands on Caleb, his lip curls back. “You stupid, shit-filled liar. What in the actual fuck are you doing here? Drunk, number one, but alsoat all?”

Caleb blinks at him and then turns to me. The stunned, disbelieving betrayal written on his face sends ice shooting through my veins.

Now, without any doubt, I know that Caleb trusted me. Truly and entirely.

And I betrayed him.

“I’m sorry,” I say softly, blinking back the tears burning against my eyes. “I didn’t know what else to do. You wouldn’t listen to me and—”

“Youbitch.”

He spits the insult at me with more venom than I’ve ever heard from him before.

I thought he hated me before, but now I realize what genuine hate from Caleb looks like.

“Haley wanted to help your stupid ass,” J.C. says. “Don’t be mad at her.”

Caleb spins towards his friend, eyes narrowed and unfocused. “You shouldn’t be here. Leave.”

“Not unless you’re coming with me.”

Caleb lifts his chin. “Then we’ll both be leaving after the fight.”

He tries to hold a determined stance, but when he puts his hands on his hips, he tips forward and has to adjust his feet to keep from falling over.

J.C. sighs loudly. “You’re so drunk I could carry you out of here if need be. Please don’t make me do that.”

The door opens again and Felix is standing there, face red and flushed. “There are two too many Golden Boys in the kitchen right now. You all need to leave.”

Caleb starts to move towards the door, swaying with every step, but I jump in front of him. “Do this another week if you have to, Caleb. Bumper isn’t even here.”

“I’ll have someone call him.” Then, he narrows his eyes at me. “Move.”

“She’s right,” J.C. says. “Just go home and sleep it off. You’ll realize tomorrow how stupid you were. Knowing you, you still won’t thank us, but you’ll be secretly grateful. If you go out there like this, you’ll just be embarrassed.”

“Fucking hell,” Felix groans behind us. “I need to get the roster up so people can make bets. Are you calling Bumper out or not?”

“Yes—”

“No—”

“Hell no—”

Caleb takes another step, and I push on his chest.

Suddenly, there is a pressure on my chest. I fly off my feet instantly and slam into the long counter in the middle of the kitchen. The entire table tips over, the crash echoing off the tile floors as stacks of money spill onto the floor and dollar bills float down like confetti.

Pain radiates through my back and it takes me a few seconds to realize what happened.

Caleb pushed me.

It happened so fast—much faster than I would have thought possible considering he’s drunk.

The shock of the violence, the unexpectedness of it, is almost enough to make me freeze up.

It’s almost enough to trigger the reaction I used to have with John.

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