Page 11 of Prince of the Palisades

A beat. Grace’s smile doesn’t falter, but her eyes gleam.

“Chill, Gracie,” Nathan says, and Grace’s head immediately snaps in his direction, like she hates that nickname. “You can go all investigative journalist on my boy Jadon at this boujee-ass party we’re throwing him Friday night.”

“Sorry.” I blink. “At the…what?”

“A small gathering,” Grace insists, lips curling almost conspiratorially. “A Welcome to America kickback. At Nate’s house.”

“Folks are up in Palo Alto for a conference,” Nathan elaborates. “It’s gonna be fire.”

I stare at him like he’s speaking an alien language.

“You don’t have to come,” Morgan starts.

“He wants to!” Grace cheers. “Ooh, let’s do a TikTok. Intro you to all the fans.”

Words try to scratch up my throat, but I’m too late. Everything happens so swiftly. Grace passes Nathan her phone. He gets into position while she tosses an arm around my rigid shoulders. All I can do is unclench my ass cheeks enough to smile at the lens, praying no one notices how horrified my eyes are.

A shadow falls over us, disrupting the shot. My gaze flicks to the source.

From behind one of those fancy Canon cameras, a boy smiles. It’s hard to tell from my position, but he looks almost my height. Medium fawn skin with near-black eyes. His hair is short, tiny waves at the top. It’s also dyed a vibrant pink.

In a smooth voice, he says, “Sorry, you’re blocking myshot.” He motions his lens toward the fountain. “I need it for my—”

“That’s nice,” Grace interrupts in a tone that’s equally sugary and terse. “Everyone knows this isourspot.”

Pink Boy doesn’t flinch. “Actually,” he says, “it’sWillow Wood’sproperty. Specifically, Sébastien Tremblay, the actor. He’s an alumnus. Donated the fountain ten years ago after winning a Tony.” His grin is crooked. Endearing. Not that I really notice. “And if we’re getting into more details, this land belonged to—”

“We get it.” Grace sighs. “We’re still not moving.”

“Cool.” Pink Boy adjusts his camera angle. “I’ll shoot around you.”

I bite my lip, feeling every muscle in my face aching to smile.

Who is this guy?

Grace’s expression resets. Softer, politer. “Sorry, um,” she prompts.

“Reiss,” Pink Boy volunteers.

“Reiss,” Grace says flatly. “We’re almost done. Recording a quick TikTok with our newest student…” She waves her hand in front of me like he should already know who I am.

Reiss studies me, curiously.

My cheeks blister. It’s way too hot out here.

“If you could just wait over there.” Grace signals to a nearby recycling bin. “Thanks for your patience.”

I wait for Reiss’s reaction. He doesn’t stomp away. Cry on the spot at Grace’s dismissal. Instead, he points that crookedsmile right at me. He bows dramatically like some aristocrat in a regency film, before disappearing.

For a moment, my brain is on a loop ofwhat the fuck just happened?that Grace clearly doesn’t notice.

She says, “So, you’ll be there Friday night. At Nate’s. For the party.”

After the bell rings, it hits me—Grace wasn’t making a request.

3

GLAM & GOODWILL

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