Broken Prince: A Novel (The Royals Book 2) (8 page)

“I’m done, too.” I throw my spoon down next to my uneaten breakfast.

“Forget it. I’m going.” Reed gets to his feet. “You need to eat and it’s obvious you won’t while I’m here.”

I keep ignoring him.

“I’m not your enemy,” he says, unhappiness coloring his voice. “I didn’t tell you about my past because it was messed up and I didn’t know how you’d react. I was wrong, okay? But I’m gonna make it right.”

He leans down, his mouth inches away from my ear. His scent surrounds me, so I force myself not to breathe. Force myself not to let my gaze linger on his sculpted arm, which flexes as he braces one hand against the table.

“I’m not giving up,” he murmurs, his warm breath tickling the side of my neck.

I finally offer a response. Low and mocking. “You should. I’d screw Daniel before I’d get back together with you.”

His breath whistles between his teeth as he sucks in a breath. “We both know that’s not true. But I get it. I hurt you and now you want to pay me back.”

I look him in the eye. “No. I don’t want payback. It’s not worth the mental energy, and I don’t plan on spending much time thinking about you. I don’t care about you or your girls. I just want to be left alone.”

His jaw hardens. “I’m willing to do almost anything for you. I’d go back in time to change things if I could.” He gazes down at me with determination. “But I’m not leaving you alone.”

E
aston is sprawled
on my bed when I walk in. He’s got a can of pop—not beer, thank goodness—cupped between his legs and my remote in his fist.

“How’d you get in here?” I demand.

“You didn’t close your door all the way.” He pats the empty space on the mattress. “Hop up. I’ll watch
ESPN
while you call Val.”

“I already called before I came down for breakfast.” I shove a few things into my backpack and sling it over my shoulder. “You guys have a thrift store around here?”

Easton rolls off the bed and joins me in front of the closet. “No clue, but if you’re tired of your clothes, you can donate them during Formal week. They have a charity drive.”

Formal week? I start to ask, and then decide that I don’t really want to know. I’m not attending any stupid Astor Park shit in the future.

“Of course they do,” I mutter. “Callum says I have money. I guess I can access it.”

“What do you want it for?”

“To buy clothes.”

“You have them.” He gestures toward the closet.

“And I’m going to torch these and buy new ones, okay?” Anger and impatience make me ruder than I mean to be. “I don’t see why it’s a big deal that I want to shop. Girls are supposed to like to shop.”

Easton studies me with shiny eyes that are far more intuitive than I give him credit for. “You’re not a regular girl, Ella. So yeah, it’s weird, but I’m putting it together. Brooke bought these clothes. You hate Brooke. These clothes gotta go.”

I cross my arms. “Did Reed tell you or have you known all along?”

“He just told me,” Easton admits.

“Good news. Your balls have been saved.” I push him out of the way and grab a pair of sneakers.

I’m going to build a new life, starting today. It won’t include guys who sleep with their dad’s girlfriends and romance their stepsister on the side. I will also cut any bitch who tries something with me.

Good thing bitch number one, Jordan, is at school today, or I might shove her into her pool with some rocks tied around her neck.

“You have a mean look on your face. It’s crazy hot. Promise me you’ll let me orgasm before you kill me?” Easton jokes.

“You’re going to get slapped very hard by someone someday.”

“I know you mean that as a threat, but honestly I can’t wait. Sounds like a good time.”

Whatever girl takes on Easton is going to have to hold a whip in one hand and a pistol in the other. I think he’s uncontrollable, though.

I pick up the key fob of my gorgeous custom-painted convertible. I’d been really sad to leave that baby behind.

“You think Val will have some food for me?” Easton asks. “I’m getting hungry again.”

“Go downstairs then, because you’re not coming with me.”

“Then it’s gonna be Reed.”

I stop at my bedroom door. “What’re you talking about?”

“Dad’s worried you’re going to skate again, so one of us is on you at all times. Good news is, you get to piss by yourself, but there’s an alarm on your window.”

I throw my keys on the dresser and stalk into the bathroom.

“See the red sensors here?” Easton leans forward and points out two tiny pinpoints of light in the casing of the window. “Dad’ll get a text message if you open it. So who’s going with you to Val’s? Me or Reed?”

“This is insane.” I shake my head. “Fine, let’s go.”

Easton obediently follows me down the stairs and out into the carport. I’m not in the mood to talk, but he has other ideas as I drive through the huge gates.

“I’m the one who should be pissed off. You ran off without a word. I was worried. You could’ve been killed or something.”

I’ve already had this conversation with Reed, thank you. “Seems like I’m not the only one you’re mad at. What’s with you and the twins glaring at Reed during breakfast?”

“He’s being a dick.”

“You’re just now discovering this?”

Easton stares at his sneakers when he answers. “It didn’t matter before.”

There’s no point in responding. Besides, the Carringtons live less than ten minutes away and I’m already pulling into their driveway. I spot Val at the back door and she doesn’t look happy.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when we reach her.

She nods toward Easton. “What’s he doing here?”

“Sorry, one Royal has to be with Ella at all times,” he says. “Dad’s orders.”

Val looks at me incredulously. “For real?”

“No idea, but I promise you if I could’ve left Easton at home, I totally would have.”

“Hey, you’re hurting my feelings,” he protests.

And because that might be true, I plead with Val. “He’s not going to say anything.”

She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. Just get in here.”

“Got anything to eat?” Easton asks as we pass through the kitchen.

“Help yourself.” She waves a hand toward the counter that’s topped by a cornucopia of fruit and a cake underneath a glass case. “You can stay here. Ella and I need alone time.”

“Aw no. I want to come with you.” Easton leans past me. “Ella told me you guys were testing the absorbency of maxi pads. I’m interested in that myself.”

Val gives me a confused look.

“Easton, please. Give us just ten minutes by ourselves,” I beg.

“Fine, but I’m eating this entire cake.”

“Knock yourself out, champ,” Val says as she drags me out onto the sun porch that runs the length of her house.

The Carrington place is a true southern mansion with big porches, fluted columns, and a lawn that looks like it’s cut by hand. I imagine years ago the ladies of the house sat on rocking chairs in big dresses and with lace gloved hands holding painted fans, saying things like “My land.” I may have watched
Gone With the Wind
one too many times.

Val collapses on one of the floral couches. “I think Tam might be cheating on me.”

“No!” I suck in a shocked breath and plop down beside her. Tam and Val have been dating for over a year. He’s attending college only a few hours away, and from what Val has allowed to slip out, she and Tam have a lively sex life that involves things like showing off and phone sex. I haven’t even had in-person sex yet, let alone kinky sex. If any relationship could survive the long distance thing, it would be theirs, right? “Why do you think that?”

“He was supposed to visit me last month. Remember?”

I do. She’d been so excited, but then he bailed at the last minute. “You said he couldn’t come because he was slammed with homework.” At her miserable expression, I guess, “That was just an excuse?”

She releases a quavery sigh. “He called last night and said we needed to talk.”

“Oh no.”

“So we talked on the phone and he told me that college was fun and that it made him realize how much of a child he was in high school. He hasn’t cheated on me, he swears, but he thinks that the distance and the temptations are too much for him and that to be
honorable
,” she spits out the word, “he needed to make sure I was cool with him seeing other people.”

“Hold up.” I raise my hand. “He didn’t call to break up with you, but instead he wants your permission to cheat?”

“Right?” Val gives me an angry look. “That’s super shitty.”

“And you told him to…”
I hope you told him to stick his permission down his own throat where he chokes on it,
I want to say, but I don’t want to look judgmental either. That’s the last thing she needs now. Later, yes, I’ll remind her how awesome she is and that she doesn’t need a douche like Tam sucking up her energy, but for now I’m going for supportive. “Well, I hope you told him how you felt,” I finish.

“I told him he could screw all the girls he wanted but he wasn’t ever getting another go at me.” She sweeps her hair back in a careless gesture, but her hand is trembling and her eyes are glassy with tears.

“His loss, you know that, right?”

“I keep telling myself that, but I don’t feel any better. Part of me wants to steal Jordan’s car and drive up to State. I’m not sure what I’ll do when I get there. Either kick him in the balls or kiss him.” She shudders and then peers at me out from under her eyelashes. “I kicked Reed in the balls for you, by the way.”

“You did?” A wild laugh escapes as I envision tiny Val kicking giant Reed between his legs. “What brought that on?”

“His mere existence. His smug face. His refusal to tell me where you were.” Val throws herself at me and hugs me again. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“Ahem.”

I look up to see Easton standing there, smirking at us.

“I thought you guys wanted to talk. If there’s going to be girl-on-girl action, I’m available.”

“You tell that to every female from age two to eighty-two,” Val grumbles.

“Well, yeah.” He gives a faux offended look. “I don’t want anyone to feel left out.”

He pushes away from the door and waltzes in, settling on the other side of Val. “Dude trouble?”

Val drops her head into her hands. “Yeah. My boyfriend decided we need an
open
relationship.”

“So he wants to eat out and still come home for dinner?”

“Yup.”

“And you’re not down with that.”

“Um, duh. I prefer guys who are faithful. You Royals might not understand that.”

“Ouch, Val. What did I ever do to you?” He rubs his chest in mock pain.

“You have a penis. Therefore you’re automatically on the wrong side.”

He waggles his eyebrows. “But I do great things with my penis. Ask any of the girls at Astor.”

“Like Abby Kincaid?” Val challenges.

I jerk my head toward Easton in shock. “You hooked up with your brother’s ex?”

He slumps into the cushions, his cheeks reddening. “So what if I did? I thought you hated Reed.”

Wow. It’s one thing for the Royal brothers to fight at home, but this kind of public dissension is new and…uncomfortable. And as mad as I am at Reed, I don’t like seeing this rift between the brothers. It makes me awkwardly sympathetic toward Reed, which, dammit, he does not deserve.

I try to change the subject. “Besides assessments, what’s going on at school?”

“Tomorrow’s Halloween, but Beringer doesn’t let anyone wear costumes to school.” Val shrugs. “But there’s a party at the Montgomery house after the game on Friday. Everyone gets kitted out.”

I make a face. “Pass.”

I’m not a big fan of Halloween. My mom worked nights at the clubs, so growing up I never got to go trick-or-treating like a normal kid. And I hate dressing up. I did enough of that when
I
was working the clubs.

“What else?” I ask.

Val points an accusing finger at Easton. “Well, the Royals can’t stand each other anymore and Reed can’t be bothered to keep the crazies in line. And anyone else with a conscience is too lazy or afraid to say something, so Astor Park has gone to shit. Every day, it escalates. I’m actually afraid someone’s going to get physically hurt.”

So this morning wasn’t an anomaly. I frown at Easton. “What’s going on?”

“You go to school to learn, right?” he says carelessly. “Well, one of those things kids need to learn is how to take care of themselves. The world is full of bullies. They don’t go away when you leave high school. Might as well learn those lessons now.”

“Easton. That’s terrible.”

“What do you care?” he accuses. “You left everyone behind. So what if the rich little boys and girls at Astor are feeling the sting of not having a Royal in charge? Aren’t you happy that the place is turning out exactly like you thought it would?”

Truthfully, I didn’t spare Astor Park Prep a thought when I left, but now that I know people are getting hurt, the whole thing doesn’t sit well with me. “No, that doesn’t make me happy. Why would you say that?”

He turns to look at the perfect lawn while Val shifts uncomfortably between us.

“Just let it go, Ella,” he says finally. “You can’t change anything. The most you can do is keep your head down and survive.”

T
he bakery is
quiet when I arrive at two. I wanted to come sooner, but Lucy would’ve been busy. I’d like for her to yell at me, get it out of her system, and then tell me to grab an apron and get behind the counter.

Easton wanted to come in, complaining he hadn’t eaten in the last two hours. After a bit of pleading, he agreed to wait in the car.

“Is Lucy here?” I ask the barista at the register. The tall, gangly boy is new, and I have a sinking feeling he’s my replacement.

“Lucy,” he calls over his shoulder. “Some girl’s here to see you.”

Lucy sticks her head out of the back door. “Who is it?”

He jerks a thumb in my direction.

Her pretty face darkens when she spots me. “Oh, it’s you, Ella. Give me a minute. Why don’t you have a seat over there?”

Yup, getting fired.

The cashier gives me a sympathetic look before turning to the next customer. I grab a seat at a spare table and wait for Lucy.

She doesn’t take long. After a minute or so, she bustles out of the backroom with two mugs of coffee. One she sets in front of me, the other she sips from before setting it down.

“Two weeks ago, Reed Royal showed up here looking for you. The next day your guardian, Callum, called to let me know that you were very sick and would be out for an undetermined time. Fast forward and you’re here, looking healthy, albeit thinner than when you left.” She leans forward. “Do you need help, Ella?”

“No. I’m sorry, Lucy. I should’ve called, but I wasn’t able to come to work.” The lie doesn’t sit easy on my tongue. Lucy’s a super nice lady and I love working here. I tell her so. “I love it here and I know you took a chance when you hired me.”

She presses her lips together before taking another drink from her mug. She taps the sides of the cup before speaking. “I really needed someone, and when you weren’t around and I couldn’t get ahold of you, I had to move on. You understand, don’t you?”

I nod because I do understand. I don’t like it, but I get it. “I’m sorry,” I repeat.

“I’m sorry, too.” Her hand dips into the pocket of her flour-dusted apron. “Here, call me if you need anything.”

Anything but a job, I think. “Thanks,” I say, pocketing the card.

“Don’t be a stranger, Ella,” she says kindly as she gets to her feet. “If I have another opening, maybe we can try again.”

“Thanks.” My vocabulary is reduced to two words:
thanks
and
sorry
.

Lucy takes another gulp of her coffee and leaves for her kitchen while I’m left to contemplate how poorly I handled my departure. I’m not used to being the unreliable one, and even though there’s a sick feeling in my stomach for having let her down, there’s also a small part of me that’s happy she cared. That anyone cared.