Page 15 of Prince of the Palisades

Kaden stares at me for a second. Then, he says, “It’s official. I like you, dude.”

Soon, I’m immersed in the group’s activities. I grudgingly participate in drinking games with glasses of water. Pose for selfies with whoever Grace introduces me to. Wave at someone’s mom over Snapchat. Answer dozens of questions like:How many countries have you visited? Can you solve climate change? HAVE YOU MET BEYONCÉ?

“Holy fuck,” Morgan says out of nowhere, raising her phone. “You guys know that SEC quarterback? The one who turned his back during the national anthem?”

Nathan leans his elbows on the island. “Kenzie Malcolm? Wasn’t he wearing anI Love a Country Who Doesn’t Love Me Backshirt?”

Morgan snaps her fingers. “Yes!”

“What about him?” Kaden asks, annoyed.

“He’s being benched for at least five games,” Morgan says. “There’s talk of NFL teams blackballing him for the draft.”

Nathan’s face twists up. “Over ashirt?”

“Good.” Kaden opens another beer, squeezing between Grace and Morgan. “What an idiot move.”

“His best friend was wrongfully murdered by cops,” Morgan says, exasperated. She hops off the island, shaking her head. “He was making a statement.”

Kaden rolls his eyes. “There are other ways of doing thatwithoutruining your fucking future. Vote. Make a TikTok. Sign a petition or whatever.”

“Dude, don’t be an ass,” Nathan says, laughing.

“I’m serious,” Kaden groans. “What did he accomplish?”

Morgan shoves her phone screen in his face. “Got people’s attention. Everyone’s talking about it. There’s even a hashtag.”

“Ahashtag?” Kaden gasps dramatically, his hand reaching up to clutch invisible pearls. “OMG, that’ll save so many lives.”

“You’re a dick.”

“And you’re unrealistic.” He chugs his beer, sliding an arm around Grace’s shoulders. She shrugs it off, but doesn’t add anything to the discussion.

Kaden turns his eyes to me. “What d’you think, Prince?”

I stiffen. Nathan’s brows are lifted curiously. Grace tilts herhead, while Morgan crosses her arms. People whose names I still can’t remember are staring.

A crackling heat flickers behind my ribs.

All my life, I’ve watched Papa answer questions like this. Réverie isn’t like other countries. We live by different rules.Surviveby staying as far from others’ conflicts as possible. I know what I’m supposed to say.

But the fire in my chest sparks hotter when I think about the points Morgan made. What Kaden said. It’s just like the day I overheard the prime minister. That night with Kofi.

I can’t, I remind myself.

Carefully, I say, “Is it fair to have an opinion on something that doesn’t affect me?”

It’s too quiet for a beat. Nathan’s face scrunches up like he’s either contemplating my words or swallowed a bad piece of fruit. Something flashes across Morgan’s eyes, then disappears when Kaden shouts, “Exactly! This guy gets it!”

Grace raises her cup. Others join, nodding. Faces blur together until I lose Morgan to the crowd.

After the music switches to a K-pop song everyone knows, I say, “Need some fresh air,” not that anyone notices.

The night breeze is refreshing. My nerves are still buzzing, but my chest’s cooling. I bypass the pool, waving to anyone who calls my name. I don’t stop, though. I’m not in the mood to mingle anymore.

I need time alone to regroup.

As Morgan promised, at a far corner of the lawn, plushy furniture sits empty. In the center, a fire pit spits orangey light. I flop onto a deep blue sofa. Over the glass partition is aglittery view of Los Angeles. I wiggle my phone free from my back pocket to snap a photo.

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