Page 48 of Prince of the Palisades

Instead, Karan whistles in the foyer. “Eff my parents’ bank account. Dope crib, Jadon!”

“Welcome to my house,” I announce, my voice way too loud. “Er, notmy house. I don’t own it. My family does have several vacation homes across the world. And the palace is much bigger—”

I cut off my rambling, skin prickling with embarrassment.

Karan laughs. “Jadon, meet Lo Jiménez.”

Lo steps forward, wearing ripped black jeans and a shirt that reads,They/Them > Your Pronouns. Their hair is dark green, almost black, cut in an asymmetrical bob. Sparkling gunmetal nail polish contrasts nicely with their pale beige skin.

“The best slice of our epic trio,” Karan adds.

Lo smirks like they know something about me even I don’t yet. “Nice to meet you.”

They step aside, and I finally have a clear view of Reiss.

Pure-white low-top Nikes that match his shorts. A navy crewneck sweatshirt, the sleeves tugged over his knuckles.Bedhead pink hair. So perfectly effortless, I can’t take it.

He flashes that crooked grin. “What’s up, HRA?”

I smile back.

“HRA?” Karan stage-whispers to Lo. “What’s that?”

“His Royal—” Reiss starts.

Karan snaps his fingers. “His Royal Aristocrat!”

Lo shakes their head, hair swishing across round cheeks. “His Royal Attractiveness.”

Reiss’s face goes absurdly pink. “What? No. It’s His Royal Arro—”

“I like His Royal Attractiveness,” I insert, smirking. “Don’t you?”

His skin turns a shade darker. He holds up two white bags with the distinct red-and-yellow In-N-Out logo on them. “We brought food,” he deadpans, avoiding my question.

“Oh.” I glance over my shoulder. “I ordered…things.”

They follow my gaze to the kitchen. On the island is a massive spread of food I had delivered from all the best-reviewed restaurants nearby. Plus, sodas and cans of the bubbly water brand I’ve seen everyone at school drinking.

“I wanted to bake a peach galette too,” I say, frowning, “but Trader Joe’s only carried jarred slices. Nothing fresh.”

Reiss cocks his head. “So, you’re kind of an actor, a great swimmer, and you bake? What aren’t you perfect at?”

I arch an eyebrow. “Nothing.”

He chews on his lower lip, inhaling. I don’t look away.

Not until Karan says, “Sorry, Animal Style fries, but you’ve got nothing on Pearl Dragon’s crispy veggie spring rolls!”

He steps around us into the kitchen. Lo silently follows.I linger with Reiss. His face is unreadable. But his eyes skim over me.

“Should we,” he tries after another deep breath, “start the movie?”

I offer him one last teasing grin. “This way.”

Inside the state-of-the-art cinema, Lo and Karanconvenientlyclaim the reclining chairs on the ends of the row. Which leaves the plush love seat in the middle for Reiss and me.

“Which movie did you pick?” I ask as Karan dims the lights.

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