Page 123 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

A laugh bursts out of me. “I have no idea. But… let’s check my old house. I have a feeling about it.”

She nods and holds out her hands, pulling me to my feet. We slip out of the house the same way we came in, and I lock the sliding door behind us. I replace the key, then we make the short trip to the guest house.

I kept that key, and I use it now to unlock the door.

“Caleb invited me to the championship game,” I say.

Riley glances at me. “Yeah?”

“Did Eli ask you?”

“No. He’ll probably just show up at my house and demand I go with him.”

I snort. “Sounds familiar. You never mentioned why he hated you.”

“I told you, it was a misunderstanding in our past.” She shrugs and gestures to the door. It’s unlocked, but I haven’t opened it yet. “Let’s do this thing.”

“It’s weird in here,” I warn her. “Like stepping back in time.”

“Okay.”

I shove the door open, ready to be assailed by memories.

But I’m not. It’s empty.

I walk into the living room and spin in a slow circle.

Nothing.

“I’m guessing this isn’t what you expected,” Riley says.

“This place hasn’t been touched in seven years! And now everything is cleared out?”

There are still marks in the carpet where our furniture sat. The ring left behind by the cup that used to sit next to the sink. I open drawers in the kitchen, but they’re empty.

It’s all empty.

I run to my bedroom, shoving the door open.

Every piece of my childhood has been removed except the dresser—maybe it was too heavy? I go to it, yanking open drawers. Caleb did this. He had to. Who else would want to get rid of this stuff?

I find something in the bottom drawer. A note.

Cheers to the good times and the bad. May the hits just keep on coming. – a friend

“I’m going to be sick.” I drop the note and rush to the bathroom, falling to my knees in front of the toilet. I realize with vague detachment that the bathroom has been scrubbed clean, too. I heave, but nothing comes up. After a solid minute of my stomach rolling, I fall back and lean against the wall.

“You okay?”

I glance up. “Did you see the note?”

She holds it up. “A friend. Who is that?”

I shrug. “You’re my only friend. Was it you?”

“Not funny.”

“Humor is a good escape.” I pick myself up. “Did you check the other room?”

---