Page 77 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

“Stay focused on lacrosse and college,” I say.

And forget about Margo. I don’t have to voice that part aloud. It doesn’t matter, anyway: it isn’t happening.

Especially after her visit this afternoon.

If I wasn’t half out of my mind on painkillers, I might’ve done more to make her stay. But we’ve turned over a new leaf. She’s mine—she’ll always be mine—but she has to come to me.

I broke her, and she needs to learn to walk on her own again. And walk to me. She already is. Again: bees in my chest.

“Fuck,” Liam grunts.

“It’s fine.” I pick myself up. “You bring home food?”

“We ordered pizza on the way,” Eli tells me. “How do you—?”

“You’re not about to ask how I feel,” I interrupt. “I’d rather go back to my uncle’s than answer that.”

“Fine.” Eli crosses his arms.

“Fine.” I glare at him.

Still, I admit that the company is a nice change. I take my medication on time and eat as much pizza as I can, topping it off with ice-cold water. They fill me in on everything that happened at school and practice. The party on Saturday was a big fat bummer.

All in all, I didn’t miss much.

Except Margo. She admitted—or close to it—she wished I had come to her over the weekend. And even if she didn’t say it, I could see the hurt in her eyes.

We have a push-and-pull relationship. She shoves me away, I reel her back in. Always.

She’s not getting rid of me, even if everyone wants to keep us apart.

Once my friends leave, and Eli retreats to his room, I slip on shoes and grab my keys. My back stings, but I ignore it. I don’t like how things left off with Margo, and I’m determined to fix them.

I park outside her house and get out of the car. It’s barely seven o’clock, so I stroll up to their front door. Who’s going to be more upset by my presence—Lenora or Robert?

I ring the doorbell, tucking my hands in my pockets.

Lenora opens the door. Her eyes widen, and she goes to close the door in my face. I block it with my foot, trying not to smile. It’s a mother’s instinct—pure protection. Margo probably doesn’t see it, but I do. They care about her. It’s sweet.

“What do you want?” she asks. Her gaze goes to my foot blocking the door.

“To talk,” I say. “To Margo.”

“Hmm.” She stares at me for a moment. “You hurt her. Us. Tried to come between our family.”

“I did.” I roll my shoulders back, letting the pain radiate down my spine. It keeps me from getting distracted. “And I’m sorry.”

Her lips press into a thin line. “Tell me why I should let you in.”

“Who is it?” Robert calls.

She glances back and tells him, “Caleb Asher.”

She opens the door wider, revealing her husband.

“I think it’s best you leave, son,” he says. “After all—”

“Caleb?”

---