Page 133 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

J.C. and Noah have concluded that Haley and I are in the honeymoon period of our relationship, but it has been a month since all the shit went down with Bumper, and I still can’t keep my hands off her. It is becoming a problem.

“When is your dad expecting us?”

I sigh. “Well, that is one way to kill the mood.”

“If that doesn’t work, I’d be happy to talk about my grandma. We promised your mom we’d visit her at the nursing home soon. I wonder how her neighbor’s toe fungus is doing?”

“Diabolical,” I hiss, trying not to laugh. “I told my dad we’d get there around three. So we have two hours before we need to leave.”

“Okay, but don’t forget we have to swing by my house first. I told your dad I’d bring him the next book in that series he likes, and I forgot to grab it this morning.”

Haley and my dad have only met three times, but they are getting along swimmingly.

Meanwhile, my own relationship with my dad is still a work-in-progress. Yes, we both apologized and agreed to work on it, but that doesn’t mean it has been easy. There’s still a lot of tension and, because we both have nasty tempers, arguments crop up now and again.

The difference now is that we don’t cut each other out.

Even when I’m mad, I take his calls. And even when we end a visit yelling at each other, he shows up to my games.

It helps that Mom and I have moved into a smaller house. She finally gave up on maintaining her prior lifestyle and has accepted that we are a single-income household.

Without a mansion-sized mortgage hanging over our heads, there is a lot more money for the necessities. I don’t have to fight, and she doesn’t have to bartend.

Overall, things are looking up in the Wilson household.

“We’ll have time to swing back by your house if our waitress ever comes to take our orders. Is it just me, or is the service here slow? Maybe they should get a fire pole around here to speed things up.”

Haley narrows her bright blue eyes at me, looking more sultry than scary, and I can’t help myself. I stand up and lean across the table to give her a quick kiss.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “Brunch is my favorite activity. I love feeling like a guest at a little girl’s tea party.”

Haley shakes her head and laughs. “Caleb, you are—”

“Disgusting,” someone else chimes in.

We both stop and turn to the table to our right to see who spoke.

Just a few minutes ago, an elderly couple in matching red shirts had been sitting there sharing a giant croissant, but now the seats have been taken by Penelope LaFevre and her band of merry witches.

Penny pretends she is whispering to her friends, but she is talking loudly. She knows we can hear her.

“So disgusting. Apparently, being poor is contagious,” she hisses to her cackling friends. “Caleb caught it from her, so don’t get too close, girls.”

“Ignore her,” Haley says, laying her hand over mine.

“Does she still bother you?” I ask. “I thought that was over.”

Haley gives me a sad smile, and it makes me feel naïve. “Drama is never over with girls. She’ll hate me forever.”

“Girls are weird. If a guy is messing with me, I punch him in the face. That usually shuts down whatever shit he wanted to say.”

“I can’t just punch her in the face if she hasn’t attacked me,” Haley says.

“Uh, shehasattacked you.” I tip my head towards her. “What do you call that?”

Haley opens her mouth to say something, but Penny speaks up before she can.

“Excuse me. Do you have something to say to me?” She is wearing a sneer like it’s designer, her relatively pretty face puckered into nastiness. “Is there some reason you and your freakshow girlfriend are pointing at me?”

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