Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(43)

“You want to make him eat that black heart of his tonight,” she supplies with a wicked grin.

My grin matches hers. “So fucking bad.”

She checks her watch. “It’s just after nine, we still have plenty of time to get you all glammed up.”

“Are you sure? I’m not…” I swallow, trying to think of the right words to say without coming off wrong. “I’m not one of those vain girls who dress a certain way to get attention, and I don’t want you to think I am.”

Sawyer adjusts her glasses. “Dylan, you have a body I would legit kill to have. If you don’t put on something that gives Jace an instant boner and makes Britney want to claw your eyes out for looking ten times hotter than her, I’m never speaking to you again.”

Well, shit. “Okay, then. I guess we’re doing this.” I walk over to my bare-bones closet and grimace. “Only problem is, I don’t own anything that would give Britney a run for her money.”

I sold some of my more expensive clothes on eBay during my dad’s first week of jail. It wasn’t an issue for me since most were hand-me-downs disguised as gifts from the stepmonster, but they certainly would have come in handy tonight.

My friend stands next to me and whistles. “You’re right. The leggings you loaned me are about the dressiest thing you have.” There’s a mischievous gleam in her eye when she looks at me. “But your aunt might have something. She looks like she knows a thing or two about fashion.”

“She does. In high school, she was basically a Britney without the capital B.”

“Talk about irony. On the bright side, you two could practically pass for twin—”

A knock on the door cuts her off.

“Come in,” we both yell at the same time.

A moment later my aunt Crystal waltzes in holding up a necklace. “Hey, girls. Can one of you help me out? Wayne and I are catching a late-night movie in a bit, so I figured I’d get ready while he’s finishing up some phone calls in his office.”

“Sure.” I move behind her so I can fasten her necklace.

She looks at Sawyer. “Oh, wow, look at you. You’re like a completely different girl from when you walked in. I love your hair.”

Sawyer beams. “Thanks.” She looks at me. “Are you going to ask her, or should I?”

She can be awfully pushy when she wants something.

My aunt looks nervous. “Ask me what?”

“I was wondering if I could borrow an outfit for tonight.”

She looks surprised. “Of course. I mean, I’m not sure I have anything that fits your style but—”

“That’s exactly what we’re looking for,” Sawyer chimes in. “Dylan needs something sexy enough to make Britney keel over from jealousy and Jace from horniness.”

Subtle, Sawyer. Real subtle.

My aunt’s eyes widen. “I see.” She waves a hand, ushering us out of my room. “Between the three of us, I’m sure we’ll find something.”





Chapter 21





Dylan





Two hours later, I’m sitting in Sawyer’s car wearing more makeup and less clothes than I ever have in public before.

Tipping my head, I check to make sure my boobs haven’t popped out of the lacey black halter-top I borrowed from my aunt.

Since Crystal and Sawyer couldn’t come to an agreement regarding leather pants versus a miniskirt, I opted for a pair of my tight-fitting jeans.

“I have an extra sweater in my back seat, do you want it?”

“No thanks. I’m good.”

I’m not fidgeting because I’m cold, it’s my nerves. Britney’s more pissed than ever since I tried to get her in trouble, so there’s no telling how she’ll react or what she’ll do when she sees me.

I pull out my phone and text Oakley for the tenth time tonight.

As usual, it goes unanswered.

Sawyer sighs. “It’s after eleven. I have to be home by one-thirty. We should probably head in without him.”

I grab my purse off the floor. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” She squints as she peers through her windshield. “I think that’s him. He’s parked a few cars down from us. Talking to some guy.”

I follow her line of sight, and sure enough, Oakley’s in his car having what looks like a very tense conversation with someone I can’t recall ever seeing before.

I open my door. “Let’s go.”

Sawyer follows behind as I scurry down the street to where he’s parked.

He’s so sidetracked he doesn’t see us approach.

I knock on his window. “Hey. Remember me?”

He rolls his window down and curses. “My bad. I forgot. I’ll meet you in a few.”

The guy next to him diverts his attention from Oakley to me. The threatening look in his eyes as he looks me up and down makes me inwardly shiver.

“Who’s this?”

I don’t know what to make of Oakley’s expression. “No one. Just a friend.”

Yeah, Oakley’s definitely not acting like his strange, easy-going self.

I’m not sure what the deal is with the two of them, but I don’t like it one bit.