Page 71 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

Okay, I don’t really mean to admit it, but what the hell? I dropped out of a well-known school to play fucking mind games with my ex. And it’s sort of working. She’s jumpier than usual. And today in class?

I know she went to the roof.

The last time she was driven up to the roof, her mom was at the peak of her cancer treatments…

Shit.

What could be worse than cancer?

“Go to my house,” Liam says. “I haven’t seen Mom or Jake yet.”

I nod sharply, turning onto the main road that’ll take me to Stone Ridge. My mind runs through over worse and worse scenarios for Riley while the guys banter. I smile at the right time, nod along to their jokes. It’s a familiar disguise I wear.

The art of making people think you’re present.

When in reality, we’re miles away.

“Dude.” Liam jabs my arm. “Here.”

I slam on the brakes. I almost missed his driveway—so maybe I’m not in practice.

“Guess it’s been too long,” I try to joke, but they all go quiet. “What?”

“You okay?” Caleb asks.

I groan. “I’m fine. Please. Have I ever not been fine?”

Caleb’s eyebrows rise.

And yeah, okay, there was that one time I might’ve gone a little pill happy. Nothing a night in the hospital couldn’t fix. Is it really my fault that my cousin left a medicine cabinet full of drugs behind when he died?

Easy enough to take a few pills out of each bottle and save them for later. If anyone noticed, they blamed him. He must’ve doubled up a few days, poor thing. Memory shot in the end.

I park next to Liam’s old beater car. He gifted it to his brother before he and Theo left for Boston, and I’m shocked Jake kept it. It’s a rust bucket.

Liam’s mom meets us on the porch, her eyes glistening. She cups Liam’s cheeks, shaking her head. “You’re back! I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it until Christmas…”

His whole head turns pink. “Surprise.”

He kisses her cheek and slips past her. We all take turns greeting her, and she stops me with both of her hands around mine.

“I heard you’re working at Emery-Rose?” she asks.

I nod once.

“Such a lovely thing. Working in education is giving back to the community. Don’t let your parents fool you into thinking it’s a poor man’s job.”

I raise my eyebrow. “At the rate they’re paying me, it is a poor man’s job. But I like it until I know what direction I’m going in.”

She pats my cheek, same as she did to each of the others. “Jake just ordered pizza. I’ll have him add a few pies.”

“It’s okay, Mom,” Liam yells. “We’re going to the cross-country pasta dinner.”

Not too long ago, his mother would make soups for them to eat over a week’s time. At my expression, she shakes her head and leans in close. “Liam got a job. He’s been sending money back to us to help out, and it’s been a blessing.”

I wince. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? We’re not your responsibility.”

---