Page 41 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

Skylar frowns. “Coach was pissed. She asked me where you were as soon as I finished. Never mind that I managed to hold off Maria all on my own.”

“You’re faster than her.”

Parker’s gaze bounces between us. “Maybe I should’ve joined the cross-country team. Sounds interesting.”

“There’s drama in every sport,” Skylar says airily. “Ours is no different.”

Parker turns to me. “Back to Eli. He’s the assistant coach?”

I sip my water, then sigh. “Yes. But before that, he was my boyfriend.”

And before that, he was…

I squeeze my eyes shut. “I don’t really want to talk about him.”

“Okay,” they both say.

“I had a crush on Liam when I was growing up,” Skylar blurts out. “He was the older brother, always working on those stupid cars shirtless. He wasn’t mean at first.”

I snort. “He’s a dick.”

“He is now.”

Skylar explains that Liam’s family lives next door, although it’s been a lot quieter since Liam left for college.

“Boston, you said?”

She nods. “Our moms are friends. There was a big party for Liam, celebrating that he got into a good school with a scholarship. Full ride. That doesn’t happen much around here, but then again, he got the scholarship to Emery-Rose, too.”

Parker squints at her. “Do they only give out so many per year?”

“Two if we’re lucky,” Skylar murmurs. “And I’ve never been lucky.”

I glance around the kitchen. It’s true farmhouse style, and it makes me wonder how long ago it was owned by real farmers. How many early mornings this kitchen has seen, how many late nights.

I can wonder the same about my house, too. How many arguments its seen, how many cries.

A lot of tears.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

I pull it out, staring down at the picture of Mom that pops up when she calls. We took it only a year or so ago, celebrating her remission from cancer. Her cheek is pressed to mine, and she smiles widely.

I don’t think she’s smiled that big in a long time.

“Mom?” I shove my chair back and wander into the next room.

“I thought you were coming home, honey?”

“I… yeah, I’ll be home soon. I had to give some friends a ride home.”

“That’s nice.” Her voice is almost too soft to hear.

I hate it.

“Yeah. Did you need something?” I close my eyes, unsure what I want. For her to say yes, to give me an errand or something to help with levity? To say no, all she wanted was me home? Another body moving around that big, empty house.

Either answer is wrong.

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