Cruel prince

Only unlike Jace, who’s silently leaning against his car and observing everyone, Cole’s shamelessly flirting with Britney’s posse. 

None of them seem to mind, though. Quite the contrary—they’re all soaking it up. 

My chest pangs when it hits me. There’s a Covington brother missing. 

I don’t know the details, but Cole’s twin, Liam passed away around the same time I left town.

I tried to reach out to Jace after I saw someone post RIP Liam on social media, but he never responded to my messages or calls. 

My dad promised we would take a trip back to Royal Manor so I could see how he was holding up—but as usual, his new job and new wife took precedence over my needs. 

As much as it kills me, I can’t blame Jace for shutting me out. 

Jace always looked out for Liam and they were close. Losing him must have been absolutely devastating. As his best friend, I should have been there for him.

But I wasn’t.

And it doesn’t matter why or whose fault it was. All that matters is I was nowhere to be found during the hardest time of his life. The time he needed me the most.

Squaring my shoulders, I start walking toward his car.

I’ve always been the type of person to own my shit. So even though Jace might not accept my apology, it doesn’t take away from the fact I still owe him one. 

Not a single person looks my way as I approach their little circle, which is fine by me. 

I’m not here for them. 

“Hey.” 

As though I were invisible, Jace pulls his phone out of his pocket and proceeds to type something. 

Adjusting the strap of my bag, I clear my throat and try again. “Listen, I know you’re busy, but I was hoping we could talk in private for a minute.” 

Nothing. It’s like I don’t even exist. 

A

For fuck’s sake, we’re turning eighteen soon, not eight. 

“Jace.” The bite in my tone has everyone looking at me. 

Everyone except him. 

“I’m sorry, hon. Are you lost?” Britney snaps. “It’s obvious no one here wants to talk to you.” 

I open my mouth to respond, but something passes in her gaze. “You look familiar.”

It’s not surprising that a selfish bitch like her doesn’t remember the girl she used to pick on. 

Before I can inform Britney who I am, her mouth widens in surprise. 

“Dylan Taylor.” She looks at her posse with a mischievous gleam in her eye before turning to Jace. “You two were like best friends forever ago, right?”

My heart stops when his eyes finally co

“No.”  

It would hurt less if he plunged an actual knife right through my heart. 

“That’s a lie and you know it,” I whisper as he pushes past me. 

I understand he’s angry, but there has to be some small part of him that still cares. Some chip underneath the block of ice I can get through to. 

Slowly, he turns. “You’re right.”  

The ominous feeling in my gut intensifies as he steps forward, closing the distance between us. 

“Welcome back, buddy.”

The smile he shoots me is so cruel I nearly wince.

“Damn,” Cole declares as his brother walks away for the second time. “Being on Jace’s shit list is—” He laughs to himself as he slings an arm around some girl’s shoulder. “On second thought—why ruin all the fun?” 

I glare at him. Cole’s always been a cocky punk, but evidently, he’s upgraded to a full-grown asshole. 

“Wow—”

“Ew,” Britney screeches, looking at her phone screen in disgust. “Desperate much?” 

I have no idea what she’s talking about. And I don’t have the chance to ask because she tosses her head back, giggling with her cronies as they amble toward the building. My asshole step-cousin doesn’t even spare me so much as a parting glance before he chases after them. 

For a moment, I consider calling my aunt to pick me up. 

No. I won’t give them the satisfaction of getting under my skin so easily. 

Whatever it is, it will blow over soon. High school gossip has the shelf life of fruit. There’s always a new rumor that upstages the one before. 

My steps are steady as I walk inside. 

Besides, how bad could it be?