Page 125 of Prince of the Palisades

Almost every article is about me and Reiss.

“I called Ma last night,” he says as I scroll. “Reporters have been camping outside the café. Your loyal fans too. Everyone’s dying to get a photo.”

Eyes crinkled, he adds, “It’s helping business. Just like when my dad proposed.”

“Wow,” I exhale.

“Dom’s so excited,” Reiss says fondly. “All his classmates love that his bro’s dating a prince. No one’s teasing him. Calling him a coward.”

I grip his hand tighter.

“And this is okay? Your family being in the spotlight?”

He sighs, shrugging. “The one time the headlines are about me, and I have to share them with a prince.”

I lean across the armrest, my nose brushing his. “Then I guess now isn’t the time to mention Ihatethese photos of me? I mean, seriously. They didn’t even get my dimples.”

He groans against my lips, kissing me as the jet lifts us closer to the stars.

“And if you want to know who killed Mr. Boddy,” I say with a teasing grin. I step over Karan’s splayed body, staring into the dark. “It was me. Special Agent Green. In the hall. With my revolver.”

Noel, the police chief, steps into the spotlight. “Great work, Green. Okay, officers, round ’em up!”

The orchestra plays as the curtains close. From the audience, I hear screams and laughter and chanting. Everyonegathers center stage. My heart is still thudding behind my chest when the curtain peels back. The house lights come up, and I finally see it.

I finally see…them.

A sold-out auditorium giving us a standing ovation. Their clapping cracks like thunder in an endless storm. I’m holding hands with Nadia and Mia as the cast bows over and over. Someone shoves Dustin forward until he’s under the spotlight, hyperventilating at all the attention, but grinning so widely it looks permanent.

Backstage, Mr. June dances around in a sparkly pair of heels. Dr. Garza Villa shakes an elegant paper fan, proud tears wetting their cheeks.

It wasn’t perfect. Vivian nearly fell offstage after tripping on a prop. Calvin missed his cue after intermission because of the line to the restroom. I forgot a line—or four. But we did it.

Opening night for Willow Wood’s fall production wasn’t an utter failure.

In the front row, my eyes land on Annika, hands cupped around her mouth, shouting. Luc whistles. Samuel got special permission from Headmaster Parker to record everything for Mom. And then there’s Ajani, arms crossed, expression stony except for the tiny flinch at the corners of her mouth. Like she’s fighting hard not to smile.

They’re all here. My little Palisades family.

The cast steps aside. We let Karan take over center stage. He bows deeply, beaming brighter than any spotlight focused on him.

The noise level intensifies. I think the loudest cheers mightbe from his parents, who are also in the front row, waving bundles of flowers in the air. Or maybe it’s Lo, who is pink-faced, but shamelessly screaming from backstage.

No, the loudest voice is mine.

I yell until my throat is raw and achy. Until he knows this is his moment. That no one deserves it more than him.

Hollywood, eat your fucking heart out.

I skip the cast party.

Before I leave, Nadia and Mia whine about how important it is. But, for once, I’m not ditching extra social time with my classmates because I don’t want to be around them. Because I don’tlikethem. I’m not maintaining a safe distance because it’s easier than letting people in. This time, there’s somewhere I need to be.

Someone I need to see.

“How’d it go?”

We ask the question at the same time.

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