Wicked princess

Chapter 33

I snap my compact closed and stick it in my purse as my Uber comes to a stop in front of Cluck You. 

“Thanks,” I tell the driver as I step out of the car, my red heels clacking across the pavement. 

Stone should be getting out of work any minute now—but since I’m still ba

The sound of someone whistling snags my attention. 

I’m about to tell the asshole off, but when I turn around, I see Cole sitting in the driver’s seat of Sawyer’s van. Presumably waiting for her to get off work, too. 

“You look fancy,” he calls out. 

Given I’m wearing one of old Bianca’s expensive silk minidresses and it took me nearly two hours to get ready tonight I would hope so. 

I walk over to the van. “It’s my and Stone’s three-month a

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited about actually going out somewhere for once. 

I’m also excited to tell him I was accepted into the psychology program at Duke’s Heart. My former self and I might differ, but psychology seems to be something we both love. 

Whatever smart-ass retort Cole wanted to make falls by the wayside, and I’m appreciative. 

Stone and my brothers aren’t exactly friends and I doubt they’ll ever be close, but at least he’s allowed inside the house now and they’ve stopped threatening to kill him whenever they cross paths. 

“Well, we might as well wait for them together.” Cole gestures to the passenger seat. “Come on in.” 

A smell that can only be described as heavenly hits my nostrils as I climb into the passenger seat. “God, that smells so good.” 

“Dude, I know,” Cole agrees with a pout. “It seriously fucking sucks that I’m forbidden to have any.” His pout deepens. “Mr. Gonzales won’t even let Sawyer give me a doggie bag.”

I know the feeling. Stone isn’t allowed to bring home any leftovers either which sucks because I’m dying to know if it tastes even half as good as it smells. 

“Tell me about it.” I give him a pointed look. “And I mean that in the literal sense because I can’t remember ever eating here.” 

Humming, he rests his head against the seat. “Oh, man. Best fried chicken I’ve ever had. Moist and crispy…perfect crunch when you bite into it.” 

My stomach grumbles. Damn. 

“Fucking amazeballs.” Giving his head a small shake, he laughs. “Jace, Oakley, and I used to come here after we’d smoke—”

“Oakley?” I question because I don’t recall hearing the name before. “Is that a friend of yours?” 

The smile wipes clean off his face. “Yeah.” A mixture of sadness and sorrow flicker in his green eyes. “Yeah…he was.” 

I’m about to ask what happened, but Cole shoots his gaze out the windshield and beams. “There’s my girl.” 

A bubbly, albeit visibly exhausted Sawyer walks over to Cole’s side of the van and gives him a kiss. “Your very tired girl.” She yawns. “Working back-to-back doubles kicked my butt.” She looks at me. “Stone will be out any minute. One of the dishwashers broke and he’s fixing it.” 

I inwardly shiver as I imagine him crouched over, sleeves pushed up his forearms, with a tool in his hand. 

There’s something so hot about a man who knows how to repair stuff. 

“How was your day?” Sawyer asks my brother. 

Cole starts to tell her, but Sawyer yawns again.

Eyes wide with remorse, she slams a hand over her mouth. “Lord, that was rude of me. I’m sorry.” 

Cole doesn’t look offended at all. “How about we get you home and into bed?” I don’t miss the way his eyes gleam when he says the last word. 

Gross. 

Sawyer nods emphatically. “Yes, please.” 

After trading places with Sawyer and exchanging goodbyes with them, I spot Stone walking out of Cluck You. 

Ru

Body going slack, he squeezes me tight and breathes me in…as if he needed this hug more than his next heartbeat. 

“Everything okay?” 

I’m not sure what to make of his expression when we break apart, but he’s definitely not happy. 

“No.” Frowning, he looks down at his shoes. “I didn’t get into the pre-med program.” He snorts. “They fucking waitlisted me.” 

Oh, shit. 

The crestfallen look on his face punches straight through my heart. 

However, hope isn’t lost just yet. 

“I know it sucks getting waitlisted, but there’s still a chance—”

“No, there isn’t,” he snaps. “You think Duke’s Heart is going to take some dirt-poor motherfucker like me over a bunch of rich assholes whose parents have co

He tried because he wants better for himself.

He tried because he’s determined and hard-working. 

He tried because he’s not the type to give up, despite whatever obstacles are in his way. 

It’s just one of the many reasons I love him. 

Framing his face with my hands, I utter, “You’re amazing and smart—”

“Stop.” He removes my hands. “I don’t need or want your pity.” 

It’s not pity…it’s love. 

But he’s so upset right now, feeling like the universe is against him, he can’t tell them apart. 

“Stone?”

“What?” he grinds out. 

“What can I do?” 

Because there has to be something. 

Dark brows snap together and his shoulders hunch. “Nothing.” Turning to his car, he gets inside. “I just want to be left alone.” 

I ignore the disappointment in my chest as the engine roars to life.

“Get in. I’ll drop you off at home.” 

Part of me wants to argue because I don’t want to leave him alone tonight, but I think there might be a way I can help him after all. 

I know Stone loathes rich kids whose parents have co

And she’s going to use it to his advantage. 

“Is Dad home?” I ask Jace as I pass him on the staircase.

“Yeah, actually. He’s in his office.” I continue up the stairs, but he stops me. “I saw your acceptance letter from Duke’s Heart on the kitchen table.” His face lights up. “I’m proud—”

“Can we catch up later, Jace? I really need to talk to Dad.” 

As happy as I am to be attending college with my brothers and their girls, I can’t celebrate quite yet. 

Not until I know Stone will be there too. 

He blinks. “Yeah…sure. Is everything okay?” 

“No, but it will be.” 

Brushing past him, I sprint up the stairs and into my father’s office. 

“Hey, Dad. Do you have a minute?” 

He presses a button on his phone. “For you? I have a million.” Speaking back into the receiver, he says, “Nadia, darling. I’ll have to call you back in a bit. Bianca needs to talk to me.” He smiles. “I love you.” 

Hearing him tell another woman who isn’t my mother that he loves her should probably make me angry, but it’s hard when I see how happy Nadia makes him. 

My chest knots.

He deserves someone who loves him unconditionally.  

After hanging up with Nadia, he looks at me. “What’s up, sweetheart?” 

Heart beating fast, I walk over to the empty chair across from his desk and take a seat. I haven’t worked out what to say exactly, but my father is the best person to help me because he owns the largest pharmaceutical company in the country…which means he has a lot of co