Page 69 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

Me: I’ll go with you if I can see my old home.

There’s a long pause. My heart is pounding, so loud it’s the only thing I can hear. I’m surprised at my body’s violent reaction. My stomach twists, cramping, and I jump up. I think I’m going to be sick. I run to the bathroom and lean over the toilet, closing my eyes. I puke, and my whole body lurches. I gag, spitting, and wipe my mouth.

Full of shame, I brush my teeth and creep back to my room. I take a deep breath before I check my phone. He replied just a minute ago.

Caleb: Deal.

Caleb: Get ready. I’ll be there in ten minutes.

I wince, then run down the stairs. I slide into the kitchen, where Lenora is making dinner. “Um, is it okay if I go to the football game?”

She glances up at me. “Are you going in your uniform?”

I glance down at my skirt and white shirt. Oops. “No, I didn’t have time to change yet…”

“Are you going with Riley?”

I’ve been in a bad mood for almost a week and a half, and Caleb has been nowhere to be found. I’d probably leap to the same conclusion.

The doorbell rings, and I curse under my breath.

“I got it,” Robert calls. A minute later, he says, “Ah, Caleb. Good to see you.”

Lenora raises her eyebrows at me.

I shrug, helpless. Caleb comes into the kitchen behind Robert.

“Found your friend,” Robert says to me. “Were you expecting him?”

“No,” I say, at the same time that Caleb answers, “Yes.”

I glare at him. “He asked if I would go to the game, and I was just asking Lenora…”

“Sorry, Mrs. Jenkins.” Caleb steps closer to me. Like the last time we tried to go to a game together, he wears the gold-and-black colors of our school, a black shell jacket over his Emery-Rose shirt. To me, he says, “It’s a bit chilly, you might want to change…”

I blush. “Right. If I can go—”

“Of course,” Lenora blurts out. “We don’t want to restrict your social experience, especially now as you’re making more—”

“Thanks!” I lean away from Caleb, shooting Lenora a look that I hope translates to, Please don’t embarrass me.

She smiles sheepishly.

It’s such a startling mom-daughter thing to do, it almost strikes me mute.

I race back to my room and change into black jeans. I find a gold shirt with the Emery-Rose logo on it and a black jacket. Belatedly, I realize that Caleb and I are going to match.

You’re dressed to support the football team, I remind myself. Of course we’re going to match. Us and five hundred other people.

I touch up my makeup and yank on my boots. When I get downstairs, I find Caleb and Robert discussing the lacrosse team, from the sound of it. They both look over at me.

“Ready?” Caleb asks.

I nod, biting my lip. This feels like a trap, but anticipation swirls through me. I’m going to get to see my home again, more than just a glance.

He puts his hand on the small of my back, propelling me out of the house toward his car. “You’re up to something,” he murmurs.

I lift one shoulder. “Not sure what you mean?”

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