Page 57 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

I dial Riley’s number, not trusting a text message.

“Margo?”

“Yeah, hey.” I clear my throat. “Um, could you come to the hospital? If it’s not too much trouble?”

“I’m at Eli’s. I brought your schoolwork, but he said you were going to therapy. Are you okay?”

I wince at her concern. It’s nice—it’s normal—for a friend to worry, but I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone.

“I’ll explain when you get here.”

“Okay,” she says immediately. “I’ll be there in ten.”

I let out a sigh when the phone goes dead.

Lenora has resumed pacing.

“It’s getting dark out,” she comments. “Nice of them to give us a window.”

Winter in New York… The days have been getting shorter. Soon we’re going to be covered in snow and darkness.

I shiver. “I’m glad I’m not learning to drive anytime soon.”

She squints at me. “Huh?”

“Driving in the snow… doesn’t sound like a good time.”

“You don’t—” She smacks her forehead. “We’re idiots!”

“What…”

“Margo, what a complete, total, awful oversight on our part.” She winces. “I’m sorry, I should’ve realized it when your foster sister came by and boasted about her learner’s permit.”

“It’s not a big deal,” I mumble. My fingers find their way to my wrist, and I have to stop myself from scratching at the scab. “I just, you know, plan on learning eventually. Or at least taking the test and hope I pass.”

She scoffs. “No, absolutely not. As soon as this is all sorted, we’ll put you in driver’s ed.”

My eyebrows go up. “Just like that?”

“I’ve seen your reckless tendencies. I don’t even want to know what that’d be like with you behind the wheel,” she says, and it takes me a moment to realize she’s teasing.

Lenora.

Teasing.

Who would’ve thought?

I cough over my laugh. “I wouldn’t be that bad.”

“You sure?”

She giggles, and it breaks the dam. I laugh, too. We both howl with laughter, clutching our stomachs. Tears—happy ones, I think—stream down my face. My abs hurt by the time we finally stop.

“Oh god,” I say, the happiness draining away like someone just pulled the plug on it. “We’re laughing while—”

“Stop right there,” she says, reaching out and taking my hands.

For the first time, probably ever, I hold her hands back.

---