Page 20 of Tantalizing Kings

Grabbing some clear gloss, I put on a layer before tossing it back down beside the hair tie. Looking back up, I frown, noticing I’m missing one of my earrings. I have no idea when I lost it. Damn it, I really liked that pair.

Putting on a new pair of earrings, I grab my bag and head out to the living room. “Morning, sweetie. Excited for today?” Mom asks me with a bright smile, and I pause.

“Why...”Does she know about the Host Club?No, that would be crazy, how would she? God, what would she think if she knew I was hiring people to fuck me?Okay, that sounds really bad.

“Because it’s your first Ancient Greek Mythology and Religion class! I know you’ve been excited about that one.”

I let out a sigh of relief and give her a genuine smile. “Yeah. I’m pretty excited.”

“Good.” She nods, handing me a homemade muffin and an iced coffee. “Here, go meet up with your friends before school. Don’t think I haven’t heard your phone buzzing like crazy this morning.”

“Thanks.” I take it from her with a laugh and kiss her on the cheek. “You’re the best.”

“Pretty sure that would be you, my perfect girl.” She winks, making me laugh again. “Also, it’s a fend-for-yourself kind of night. I’m going out with Mark.” A small blush takes over her cheeks.

“Oooohhhh, where is he taking you?”

“No idea,” she huffs out. “And I have no idea how to dress. He said it was a surprise.”

“I still need to meet this man, Mother,” I playfully scold her. “He’s been keeping you out all night the past few weeks. It must be serious.”

“You will meet him soon. It’s hard trying to find time to plan something that matches up with everyone’s schedules. I’d like to find a time for all of us to sit down and get to know each other over dinner.”

Mom mentioned something about Mark having a son. It started with an S; I think. Sonny or something, maybe? She said I would be going to school with him this year and that he was a few years older than me. I have no idea who he is and not knowing Mark’s last name, I wouldn’t know where to start to find him on social media if I wanted to. Not that I’m too worried. If something more serious happens with Mom and Mark, as long as this guy isn’t an asshole, I’ll learn to live.

“That would be nice,” I agree, taking a drink of my coffee.

“Go, get!” She laughs as she shoos me away. “Have a good day.”

“You too. Love you!”

“Love you too.”

With my goodies in hand, I head out the door and up the little hill. I smile when I see my friends waiting by our tree. Emma shouts, waving her hand like a fool, and they all start to whoop and shout like a bunch of weirdos.

“You all are too much.” I laugh as I reach them.

Emma tosses her arm around my shoulders. “Yes, but you love it. And would totally miss it if we stopped.”

She’s right. These three are my best friends. Have been since kindergarten. Not once has money ever played a part in our friendship. We love each other for who we are. We are all into the same things for the most part and never run out of things to talk about.

I had missed this. This is the way things used to be. The more time that goes by since Raymond and I broke up, the more I realize how much I gave up to make him happy, how much I changed to please him. Not all of my changes are due to him, but I just wanted to avoid a fight.

Although, not going to parties didn’t entirely have to do with him, but the people he associated with outside of my friends.

“Okay, so the first party of the new school year is coming up this weekend. I know parties aren’t really your thing—”

“I’m going,” I cut her off and all of them look at me, a little surprised.

“Really?” Emma asks with so much hope it kind of hurts my heart to see how much my absence has affected my best friends.

“Why not?” I shrug. “But I’m not getting drunk. Me and alcohol don’t mix well.” The night of the break-up, I was stupid. I was so worked up, set on drowning my sorrows and forgetting about the unsettling thing I just witnessed that I didn’t think about the dangers of getting blackout drunk. I should have, seeing as what happened to me the last time I got that drunk.

“Oh, why not?” Emma whines as we start to walk toward the college building. “You’re so much fun when you’re drunk.”

“Can’t be too safe. We’re going to college parties. I wouldn’t put it past one of these guys to drug a girl’s drink.”

All of them go silent, casting looks at each other. “Well, shit. I didn’t think of that. We need some guys to watch over us and be our watch guards, so we can let loose and have fun,” Alice says.

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