Page 91 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

Behind bars? Seven years older?

No.

I stand. “Thank you both. For… everything.”

Robert stands, too. “Do you want to go to the NYU open house?”

I bite my lip. It’d be an excuse to go into the city—then Riley and I wouldn’t have to think of another reason. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m curious.

“I think so.” Even if I can’t get in, or afford it, I can live in the pipe dream for a day.

“Great. It’s settled, then. We’ll all go.”

My mouth drops open. “Us?”

“As a family,” Lenora supplies. “I went to NYU for graduate school. It’d be lovely to go back.”

I grin. “So you’ll know your way around? And the best place to get coffee?”

“Yes. Oh, this will be so much fun!” Lenora claps and jumps up. “I’m going to get dinner started.”

“I have homework to finish,” I say.

“Me, too,” Robert adds, looking down at the stack of papers. “Who knew an art teacher would assign homework? How terrible of me.”

We laugh, and Lenora hooks her arm around mine. She pulls me out of the room, leaving Robert back to his silence.

Once I’m back upstairs, I grab my phone. Since the text from Unknown asking me what I’m going to do with Caleb not interested in me anymore, there’s been radio silence.

I only hope it lasts.

20

Caleb

I climb out of my car and circle to the front hood. I lean against it and wait. It only takes a minute for the other car to arrive. It pulls up next to me, and Mother gets out. She comes toward me, spreading her arms, but I shake my head.

She sighs.

“I’m curious if you saw your life going in this direction from the beginning,” I comment, staring at the diner across the lot. It’s run-down. Only regulars venture in, and I’m sure some stay all day. It’s the kind of diner that’s open twenty-four hours, the neighborhood’s only gleaming beacon in the middle of the night.

Her life has certainly changed.

“It really picks up for brunch on Sundays,” she says. “Surely this isn’t the reason you wanted to meet?”

I shift. “I’m mostly curious about why you let your brother-in-law run the show?”

She glances at me. “Your father wants it that way.”

“What a fucking joke.”

“David and Iris have done more for our family—”

My glare cuts her off. Honestly, I’ve had enough of them. Uncle David holds my entire life over my head. He’s been interfering with lacrosse, which hasn’t even started yet, and he will not shut up about fucking college.

I need space. And unfortunately, space is something Mother can help me with… by delivering a message.

But first, I need answers.

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