Page 133 of Prince of the Palisades

His eyebrows wiggle, part amused, part serious. I can’t blame him. Between the play and Oceanfront Film Fest and my parents’ surprise visit, we haven’t had any alone time. Not since Centauri Palace. It’s crossed my mind too.

Just notnow.

“It’ll calm you down,” he swears, suddenly an expert. I laugh when his head dips, soft lips tracing the skin under my jaw.

“What if…you know. The press walks in?”

“They won’t.” He grabs my waist. Angles my hips until I can feel him fully. “It’s a big night. You’re stressed about the speech. Just let me—”

“Hi, boys!”

Reiss flies back. I’m frozen as the curtain peels back. A fraction of light seeps in, highlighting the floral-embroidered gown Morgan’s wearing.

She lifts a playful eyebrow. “Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all,” I sigh, thumping my head against the wall. “Wait. Where have you been?”

We still haven’t run into each other post-protest. To be fair, I’ve missed mornings in the courtyard to be with Reiss. But I haven’t seen her in Willow Wood’s halls either.

“Busy,” she says nonchalantly. Morgan and her secrets.

I cross my arms, unwilling to let her deflect.

With an annoyed huff, she adds, “After, you know,being on the news, I had a big blowout with my stepdad. He wasn’t happy about the protest.” She looks down at her teal nails. “He yelled. I yelled. My mom threatened to take us on Judge Judy.”

She’s quiet for a beat. Her hard exterior softens in the shadows.

“My stepdad cried,” she whispers. “He said it’s fine if I want to fight for the right thing, but I’m a Black girl. In the city. Surrounded by cops. He didn’t want anything to happen to me.”

Reiss lets out a low breath. I do too. I remember Papa’s words:

Your title means nothing to the wrong person there. Your life means nothing to them. Do you understand that?

I do now. It’s not who you are. It’swhat you arethat threatens them.

“Anyway.” Morgan quickly wipes her eyes like the tears were never there. “We got off on the wrong foot. Me and him. So, we’re spending more time together. Starting over, I guess.”

I smile. I know what that’s like too.

Her eyes drift over to Reiss. “I see you’re doing the same thing,” she says coyly.

I stare at him too. “I am.”

“Good for you.” In her hand, her phone chimes. “Ugh. Sorry. It’s Grace. God, I regret agreeing to be her plus-one. She wants to know if you’re okay?”

I blink owlishly. “Sorry, what now?”

Morgan lets out a real laugh. All high-pitched, nose wrinkling. “I heard about the dinner. She’s…not everyone’s flavor of intensity.”

“She’s not all bad.”

Morgan tilts her head, stunned. “Plot twist.”

I shrug, then laugh quietly.

After a short text and locking her phone, she says, “I’m glad you two get each other. She gives great birthday gifts. And she introduced me to my girlfriend, so—”

We share a look. Morgan’s lowering her walls. I can do the same.

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