Page 48 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

I only showed up at school to take tests, my midterms, and finals.

But the summer…

I had successfully avoided Eli for a year, staved off Amelie’s attempts to get me on the cheerleading team, and made a few friends while I was at it.

Even if I wasn’t one of them, the popular girl feeling was contagious.

13

Riley

Two and a Half Years Ago

Dad stands in the foyer with an unreadable expression.

“It’s just a party,” I plead. I spent hours getting my makeup just right, and there’s a tube of dark-red lipstick in my pocket for later, after I’m out of my parents’ sight. “I’ll be responsible when school starts, but isn’t it time I’ve had some fun? It’s a holiday.”

“She has a point.” Mom chuckles from behind me. “Where’s the party?”

I perk up. “Jackie’s lake house. They’re having a bonfire on the sand. Ian is driving Amelie, Skylar, and me. I think they’re doing fireworks.”

Mom leans on the doorframe. She’s been home for a week, and we’ve been cautiously optimistic. By cautious, I mean we’ve all been holding our breath and walking on eggshells. No one wants to mention the R word.

Because what if she isn’t in remission? If the treatment didn’t work?

She’s skin and bones, but her appetite came roaring back a few days ago. Her cough doesn’t rattle. She wears cute little caps that hide her bald head, and we keep running our hands over her scalp like we’re trying to coax the hair out.

Soon, soon, she says, laughing.

The house is warm again.

Again—like it was warm to begin with. We moved in and it was cold. It was empty. But now Mom’s home, and the whole place has come alive. Decorations on the mantel for Dad’s birthday, a line of get well soon cards, a stack of presents from distant family members near the fireplace. We’ve unpacked more, all at once our things exploding all over the house.

We’re here to stay.

Little bubbles of heat pop in my chest, fizzling like pop rocks.

“So…” I push forward on my toes.

“You can go,” Dad allows.

“And I can sleep over Amelie’s house?” I bite my lip.

Mom giggles. “Sure.”

“Thank you!” I rush forward and kiss her cheek, then Dad’s.

A horn honks outside, and I grab my keys on the way out the door. Ian’s SUV comfortably fits all of us—another boy in the passenger seat and Amelie behind Ian. Skylar is in the third row.

I climb in, sending one last wave to my parents.

“I brought you a change of clothes,” Amelie says to me. “I figured you wouldn’t get out of the house in a skirt, so here.” She hands me a scrap of silky black fabric.

It doesn’t feel much bigger than the short-shorts they wear at cheer practice, hugging their asses.

“Um, I’m okay.” My jean shorts aren’t too short, but they work. They’re frayed, and the pockets hang out from the bottom. I painted my nails alternating blue and red. This is my first real party—like, drive with a group of friends, plan to get wasted, not have my brother peering over my shoulder sort of thing.

I don’t actually know if I’m sleeping over at Amelie’s.

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