Page 97 of Wicked Prince

"Batman? Please. His tights are too gay even for me," he quips, snapping his book shut. "I was in the neighborhood when I texted."

I snort, unlocking the door. "Well, I could use saving all the same. I have no idea what to wear to one of these."

"Slutty and expensive is usually a safe bet," he says, following me into the room and immediately making a beeline for the closet. "Oh, look, you added some color since the last time."

I roll my eyes. "Dad insisted I get some new things so I won't embarrass him with my poor taste in public."

"Considering his taste in wives, I'm not really sure he has room to talk."

I can't help but snicker. "You might not believe it, but Natalie was actually somewhat civil to me last night at dinner."

"You're right, I don't believe it," he says, tossing a couple of items from the closet onto my bed. "What happened?"

"Well, Stefan announced he's planning on transferring to Bainbridge," I explain. Anthony raises his eyebrows, so I continue, "Dad and Natalie assume it's because I seduced him, naturally."

"Naturally," he scoffs. "But I see the way he looks at you. They might not be far off on that one."

I just sigh, picking up one of the dresses he picked out. "Whatever the case, Natalie is being all fake nice now that she thinks I'm of some practical benefit to them."

"Can't say I'm surprised," he says with a heavy sigh of his own. "So, was it awkward with Lorenzo and Kayleigh both there?"

"You have no idea," I mumble.

"Was he at least on good behavior in front of a crowd?"

"At dinner, yeah," I say, chewing inside of my lip, because I know I have to fess up to what happened afterward.

Anthony immediately gets a glint in his eye, and I know he suspects something. He's way too sharp. "And after…?"

"Yeah… um. About that."

His eyes widen. "About what?" When I don't answer immediately, he puts his hands over his mouth and says, "Oh my God, you didn't."

I grimace. "Depends on what you're asking."

"Did you sleep with him?" he clarifies.

I gulp. "Oh. Yeah. I… did that."

His eyes grow as wide as saucers, and he's giving me a scandalized look I completely deserve. "Are you kidding me right now?"

"I wish."

"I have to say, I didn't see that coming," he muses.

"That makes two of us."

Anthony blows a puff of air through his nose. "Well, he is persuasive, I'll give him that."

"Persuasive as the devil," I mutter. The truth is, I need to convince myself of that because the alternative is that I have no damn self-control.

"What happened after?" he asks.

"After?" I tilt my head. "I fell asleep, and when I woke up, he was gone." I shrug. "I told him it wasn't going to happen again, and I intend to make sure I follow through on that this time."

Anthony doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't fight me on it. "So… was it good, at least?"

My face grows warm. "Yeah. That's one word for it."

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