Page 87 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

I smile. “Thank you, Angela. Seriously.”

“No promises,” she repeats. “But I’ll do my best.”

We stand, and she wraps me in a hug. We’re usually a limited-contact type of relationship, and the moment surprises me. I hug her back, inhaling her warm vanilla scent.

She’s been the only stable person in my life for seven years.

“Take care,” she says. “And no more drinking. This is your only warning. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I hold back the urge to salute her.

I lock the door after she leaves. I lean against it, letting my head fall forward. I’m an idiot. Letting Caleb get me drunk—okay, well, that’s not really fair. Getting drunk and letting him take me home—that’s the mistake.

One that will not happen again.

I’m sitting on the couch when Lenora and Robert get home. They’re armed with groceries, and once the bags are put on the kitchen island, they come in and sit with me.

“You saw Angela?” Lenora asks.

I nod, biting my lip. Uncertainty wars inside me. Do I just blurt out an apology? Ease into it?

“Did you have any concerns? With us?” Robert’s eyebrows crinkle.

“No,” I say. “I just—I’m so sorry.” Blurting out an apology, it is. “I’ve never drank. I’ve never been drunk—”

“Margo.” Lenora frowns and reaches toward me.

“I feel bad. I don’t want to put you in that position.”

“It’s okay,” Lenora says.

Robert shoots her a look. “Well, not okay like, you can do it again. But… you’re owning up to a mistake, and we appreciate that.”

I nod quickly.

“But we can’t let it go unpunished,” he adds. “So until further notice: school and home. No exceptions.”

I swallow. It’s fair. Some other foster homes would’ve locked their kid in a room for a week. “I understand. Thank you.”

We all stand, and I retreat to my room. They could’ve slapped me with chores… cut the Wi-Fi… a lot of things. I set my coffee down and glance around, marveling—again—at the luxury of this house.

My phone vibrates.

I reach for it, half hoping it’s Riley or Caleb.

My heart sinks.

Unknown: Made a big enough fool of yourself?

Unknown: [video attachment]

I click on the video and hold my breath. It’s me…

Oh god.

Someone was watching Caleb and me as we left the party last night. There’s a clear view of me falling backward against his car. His hand going into my pants. And…

I drop the phone, covering my mouth with both hands. It lands on the bed facedown, but the video keeps playing. Over the music from the house, and people talking, there’s breathing.

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