Page 138 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

“What now?” Penny asks.

“I suppose it’s your turn to ask me.”

“Truth or dare.”

I consider it for a second. “Truth.”

Penny looks disappointed for a second before she chews on her lip nervously and glances up at me. “Are you going to come with me to Boston?”

I knew what she’d ask me if given the chance, and I already have my answer planned.

“No, I’m not going to go with you to Boston.”

Her face falls, and I wrap my arms around her.

“Don’t be sad, Penn.”

“I knew there was a chance you might not, but… I never let myself think about what that would mean.”

“And what does it mean?”

She pushes away from me and crosses her arms, her eyes going misty. “Well, do you want to be in a long-distance relationship?”

“God, no,” I wince and stick out my tongue. “That would be miserable, wouldn’t it?”

Her chin wobbles, and it nearly breaks me.

“You deserve someone who can be there for you, Penn. You deserve someone who has their own dreams, not some little puppy dog who follows you around wherever you go.”

“You aren’t a little puppy dog,” she snaps. “You do have dreams.”

“I know, which is why I’m not going with you to Boston.”

Finally, Penny breaks.

A tear streams down her cheek, but she isn’t sad.

She’s angry.

She slaps my chest. “How can you be so cruel, Noah? Don’t you care about me at all? Don’t you want to be with me?”

“I’m not being cruel. I’m being practical.”

She slaps me again. “I should be thrilled to be getting out of this godforsaken town, but all I can think about is how you won’t be there with you. You know, part of me thinks I’d be happier staying here with my nightmare of a mother if it meant I could be with you.”

I smile and have to bite back a laugh.

That’s the last straw for Penny.

She pummels my chest with both hands, giving Tank and his biker bros a run for their money, and forces me up against the concrete wall.

“Why are you acting like this?”

I grab her fists and pin them to her sides. “Because I’m not going with you to Boston. I’m driving up a week later by myself.”

She frowns for a second, confused before the information has a chance to sink in.

When it does, her eyes go wide. “You’re coming with me?”

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