Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(64)

“Hell yeah,” he concurs. “And get rid of laws while we’re at it.”

I open my mouth to respond, but Hayley meanders over to us.

“We need to talk.”

Oakley looks at me. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

I tug him back when he starts walking away. “I’m pretty sure she means you.” I gesture to the kitchen. “I’m gonna see if I can track down a bottle of water.”

“Traitor,” Oakley hisses under his breath before I leave him with what I’m guessing is his soon to be ex-girlfriend.

In all honesty, I’m doing him a favor. The sooner they put an end to it, the better. Why keep holding on to someone you need to let go of?

I’m making my way to the kitchen when my phone vibrates.

Irritation crawls up my spine when I see Tommy’s name light up the screen. It’s the second time he’s called me since I told him I had to cancel.

And if I don’t answer, he’ll just keep calling.

“Hey.” Cradling the phone between my ear and shoulder, I open the fridge. “What’s up?”

“Just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Yup,” I tell him as I rummage through various brands of beer on the shelf. “Nothing’s changed since the last time we spoke.”

A whole forty minutes ago.

“You said you had to be with family tonight, so I was wor—where are you? It sounds like a party.”

“I told you, my cousin needed me to come with him so he could do this thing—”

“A party thing,” he says tersely.

Lord. Does anybody drink water in this house?

“Yup. A party thing,” I repeat, closing the fridge door.

“Interesting.”

I walk over to the sink. Tap water it is. “What is?”

“I think it’s a little messed up that I invite you to parties with my friends, but you never invite me to parties with yours.”

He has a point. “You’re right.”

I locate a glass in the cabinet and fill it with tap water. I chug half a cup before I come clean. “I didn’t invite you because I figured the space might do us some good. Plus, it’s Jace’s birthday party tonight—”

“Jace’s birthday party,” he bites out. “Yup. It all makes sense now.”

I finish what’s in my glass and refill it, trying to decide how to answer.

On one hand, I can understand his concern. According to Tommy, he lost me to Jace once, and he doesn’t want it to happen again.

But on the other? I’ve made it perfectly clear there are no strings in our relationship for the time being. Jace or no Jace, I should be free to do what I want.

Like go to a party with my cousin without being made to feel like I did something wrong.

“Look, I haven’t even seen Jace tonight if that’s what you’re worried about.” Bringing the cup to my lips, I take another sip of water. Evidently, confrontation makes me thirsty. “But I’m not your girlfriend, Tommy. We’re taking things slow and getting to know each other again, remember?”

“Dylan, I’m not five. I know what the deal is. I also know if the shoe was on the other foot and I canceled our date to go to a birthday party for some chick you didn’t get along with, you’d have every right to be upset.”

Well, when he puts it like that.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “You have a point.”

“I’m glad you finally realize it.” He clears his throat. “What do you say I swing by and pick—”

“I think we should cool it for a bit.”

I hate doing this to him, but I need to clear my head.

I’m not the kind of girl to lead someone on, and right now I’m not sure about my feelings for Tommy.

They exist, so I know I’m into him…but not nearly as much as he’s into me.

“Dylan, come on. I thought we were having fun?”

“We are. But I think you should do your thing and I’ll do mine. I’m not ready to be locked down and right now it feels like I am.”

There. I did it.

“You said you had feelings for me too,” he grits out.

“I do. I just need time to sort them out.”

“So what—a few days, a few weeks?”

“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “But I’ll let you know when I do.”

“Right.”

With that, he hangs up.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Turning my head, I find Cole watching me with a bemused expression.

“I plead the fifth. I already know anything I say can and will be used against me by you and your brother.”

That gets a laugh out of him. “Fair enough.”

Walking over to the fridge, he takes out two beers. He offers one to me, but I decline.

“I’m Oakley’s designated driver.”

Nodding, he leans against the counter. “Where’s Sawyer?”

“She didn’t want to come because of the strippers.”

Smirking, he pops the tab of his beer open. “God, I get a kick out of that girl.”

By the twinkle in his eye, I’d say it’s a little more than a kick.