Page 80 of Prince of the Palisades

“Don’t worry, Frank Ocean,” Léon says. “I’m not staying. Neither is Jadon.”

“Be quiet,” I snap.

Léon raises his hands innocently. “We’re friends. He knows that, right? It’s not like he saw the photos.”

My stomach twists.

The fun hasn’t even started yet. That’s what he said the othernight. Before we walked into Grace’s party. Léon planned to kiss me the whole time. He just needed the right audience.

Rage crackles in my chest. It’s like standing outside the Rouge Room again. Hearing Prime Minister Barnard.

“Word to the wise,” Léon says to Reiss. “Don’t get too attached. Dating a royal sucks. You’ll never be first in their life.”

“Tais-toi!” I growl. “I can’t believe you—”

I never finish. My gaze jumps back to Reiss. His wide, glassy eyes. The irregular rise and fall of his chest. I know what’s coming before his name leaves my lips.

He shakes his head, walking away.

“Wait! Please!”

I catch up to Reiss in the quad. After ordering Léon to leave. After trying to find words to apologize to Karan and coming up with nothing. I didn’t have time. This…this is more important.

Reiss stutters to a halt when my fingers curl around his wrist.

“He’s nothing,” I say, breathless. “It was all for the press, and I made a big mistake. But I did it for you. Your family. To keep the attention off us. We agreed, remember?”

“Really?” He laughs humorlessly. “We agreed it was cool for you tokisshim?”

“No, no.” I grimace. “He kissed me—”

“Fuck, when are you gonna stop playing the blame game? Take accountability for something?”

“I—” Heat burns my face.

“You what? Weren’t gonna tell me?” He yanks his uniform tie loose. “No need to.Everyone’stalking about it. At lunch. My bio lab partner. The whole school!”

The quad is empty. All the after-school clubs are gone for the day. It’s a chilly evening, but that’s not why I’m shaking.

I manage, “You said you’re not jealous.”

“I’m not,” he says flatly.

“I’m sorry, Reiss,” I whisper. “I’m just—I’m doing what I have to.”

His expression is frighteningly lifeless when he says, “Do you even care if people like you? Is any of this for you? Or is it for someone else?”

I swallow, unable to answer him the way I want. Because I don’t know anymore.

“You said we should lay low, right?” He tugs his blazer closed. “Cool. Don’t call. Don’t text. Don’t come see me. At all. Is that low enough?”

He leaves me with no room to argue. Shaking his head, Reiss stomps out of the quad.

“Wow, he’s spicy. The little puppy has some bite.”

I jerk around, ignoring the irritating tears gathering behind my eyelashes, the ache settling in my gut. I glare at Léon.

“What the fuck are you still doing here?”

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