Page 93 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

“It was just a tough day.”

He sits on the stool next to me. The one Caleb usually takes. “Did something happen at the party?”

I flinch. “No. It’s fine. Please. I’ve got this.”

He exhales. “It hurts to see you like this, Margo. I just… if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thanks, Robert.”

He packs up his bag, and we head toward his car.

Unsurprisingly, Caleb is waiting for us.

The whole school emptied out fast. Besides cars belonging to students staying late for sports, the parking lot is deserted. He rises from where he was leaning against his car, parked next to Robert’s, and shoots us a smile.

“Mind if I steal her?” he asks Robert.

My foster dad shrugs. “I think she could use some cheering up. Even though she’s technically grounded.”

I wince.

Robert chuckles. “Just be back before Len gets home, okay?”

“You got it, Mr. Jenkins,” Caleb says. He opens the passenger door for me, lifting my backpack off my shoulder.

We sit in his car and wait until Robert drives away.

“Today was hell,” I say.

“You’re a fighter.”

That might be the first time he’s ever paid me a compliment.

“I’m sure it wasn’t anything you couldn’t handle.”

“I don’t want to handle it,” I snap. “I just want—”

He twists toward me, his eyebrows rising.

“I don’t know,” I finish lamely. My mind is a jumble. “I have to do this again tomorrow?”

“Maybe something more interesting will crop up.” He winks at me, then finally puts the car in drive.

We head in an unfamiliar direction. When he turns into a driveway and parks, I have no choice but to follow him up the front walkway.

“Whose house is this?”

“Eli’s,” he says. “He’s busy. But since you have an hour, I figured I could make your day a little better.”

The house feels oddly familiar. Like I came here in a dream.

We go into his living room, and Caleb throws himself onto the couch. He pats the space next to him. “Sit.”

“You just let yourself into his house?”

He nods. “Yeah. His parents are pretty cool. They travel a lot, though.”

“Gotta love absentee parents,” I answer.

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