Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(5)

It’s a shame he can’t muster half that energy to deal with his own kids, but he stopped caring a long time ago.

Hell, he practically invites me and my siblings to walk all over him.

“You’re not wearing that,” I tell my sister as the patio door opens and my friend Oakley walks out onto the veranda.

Or rather, he tries to. The fucker trips over his own feet halfway to the table because his bloodshot pupils are glued to Bianca.

I narrow my eyes at her. “You look like you shop at skank express.”

She takes a bite of her apple. “Probably because I borrowed this outfit from one of your little skanky girlfriends.”

Oakley and Cole laugh, but I shoot them a look of warning before turning my attention back to her.

“Go change.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but I slam my fist down on the table. I’m not in the mood for her or anyone else’s shit today. “So help me God, get your ass upstairs and change or—”

“Fine, whatever,” she huffs. “I can’t wait until you go to college next year, you big bully.”

Cole waggles his eyebrows as she stomps away. “Don’t get too excited, I’ll still be here to torment you.”

She chucks the half-eaten apple at his head before she walks off.

His eyes spark with indignation as he rubs his scalp. “Bitch.”

“Hey,” my father snaps. “Don’t call your little sister a bitch.”

Would you look at that? Jason not only contributed to a conversation, he almost sounded like a parent.

As usual, it’s always after I handle the situation.

Oakley plops down in the empty chair next to me. “What’s up?”

Before he can blink, I swing my fist into his arm.

“Jesus. What the hell, man?” he grunts, clutching his shoulder. “That’s my jerking arm.”

“Well, if you ever look at my baby sister like that again, I’ll break it and shove it up your ass. You feel me?”

He winces. “I didn’t realize it was her. She looks so—”

“Dude,” Cole interjects. “Quit while you’re ahead.” He gestures between us. “Last I checked, you have two arms and there are two of us. The odds aren’t in your favor.”

Oak holds up his hands. “You both need to chill. I’m not looking to cause any beef or mack on baby Covington. Trust me, I have enough on my plate already.”

Cole and I exchange another glance. Oak’s cool and all, but he’s been known to make a few mountains out of molehills that resulted in him doing stupid shit.

Like calling 911 in the middle of a party because someone stole his weed.

I lean back in my seat, pondering whether or not it’s worth the potential irritation to find out what’s bugging him.

I’m assuming it has something to do with the big party Christian threw last night. I was gonna go, but Britney Caldwell had other plans.

Plans that involved sucking my dick on the drive there and then begging me to pull over so I could put it in her ass.

Since I could use the entertainment, I decide to humor my friend. “Did something happen last night?”

“Nah. Not really.” He gnaws on his cuticle but pauses, looking deep in thought. “Well, I almost dicked down my cousin before I went to a party.”

My father chokes on his coffee.

Cole sits up straight. “What do you mean you almost dicked down your cousin?”

My dad pushes his chair back and stands. “Excuse me, kids. I have an important phone call to make.”

With a shake of his head, he goes inside the house. His absence doesn’t matter all that much anyway. Everyone’s used to it.

Blowing out a breath, Oakley drags a hand over his scalp. “Man, I didn’t know it was her. I was smoking and jerking it all day. I knocked out for a bit and thought Hayley came over to take care of business.”

Hayley is Oak’s on-again, off-again girl. Although it’s usually more off than on with them. Yet no matter how often they break up, she always crawls back.

She claims she hates the drama that comes with dating my friend, but I’m pretty sure she’s addicted to it.

Hell, everyone at RHA is. They practically thrive off it.

Cole takes a sip of his drink. “All right, so you were high and passed out. Still doesn’t explain how you almost slept with her, though.” He grins. “Unless you’re saying she actually went along with it.”

Oak opens his arms wide. “That’s exactly what happened.” He reaches for the bowl of grapes and pops one in his mouth. “She was all for it…until I pulled down my pants.”

My lips twitch. “Poor girl probably forgot her magnifying glass.”

“Oh, fuck off, Covington. You’re not the only one who’s hung like a horse.” He slaps his chest. “Trust me. Your boy’s packing.”

I don’t know what’s more disturbing. The fact that he knows how big my dick is, or that he feels the need to defend his own with such vigor.

He chews on a grape stem. “The little blue-haired bitch is screwing up my life already. I don’t know how I’ll survive her annoying ass living in my house and going to RHA for an entire year.”

Cole’s expression matches mine. This is the first time Oak’s ever mentioned a blue-haired cousin coming to live with him, or that she’ll be attending our school.