Majesty (American Royals, #2)(53)

A curious silence fell between them. Sam thought back to this morning’s confrontation with her mom. Suddenly, amid all the insults and sharp words, one sentence stood out. Then maybe I should get Daphne to teach me how to be a princess!

“Would you help me?” She spoke without thinking, the way she always did.

“Help you?” Daphne gave a puzzled frown.

“Teach me how to handle the press, to be more likeable. You know you’re better at it than I am.”

Daphne seemed surprised by the request—and, really, so was Sam. But where else could she go for help? It wasn’t as if she could search How to be a good princess on the internet.

Daphne gave a slow nod. “Sure, I’ll help.”

They both looked up as another figure burst through the back door of the Patriot: Jeff, wearing his favorite state championship rowing shirt and khaki shorts, his hair still mussed from sleep. When he saw Daphne and Sam sitting together, his expression shifted from puzzled disbelief to a sudden, boisterous delight.

“Hey, guys.” He came to stand behind them, throwing his arms around their shoulders to hug them close. “Sorry I’m late to the party.”

Daphne said something polite, but Sam just gave her brother a playful shove. “I believe the party was last night. Technically this is the afterparty.”

“Or the after-afterparty. Sounds like you and Marshall had an afterparty of your own,” Jeff teased. Sam stiffened, and he glanced over. “Sorry. Too soon?”

“No, it’s okay. Your ability to make me laugh at my own mistakes is one of your greatest gifts.” Sam drained the rest of her coffee in a single sip, then reached up to ruffle Jeff’s hair, just to remind him which twin was boss. “I’m going to head out.”

He and Daphne both made a show of protesting, but Sam knew better than to crash their date.

Just as Sam reached the door, Caleb following dutifully in her steps, Daphne called out, “See you later, Samantha!”

Sam wondered what she’d gotten herself into, asking for Daphne Deighton’s help.





“It’s been way too long since we did this,” Daphne declared, reaching across the Marikos’ counter for another sugar cookie.

For years this had been the two friends’ most sacred tradition: Saturday-afternoon shopping, followed by dinner at Himari’s house. Sometimes Daphne would sleep over, and they would stay up far too late, talking about everything and nothing at once, the way only best friends can do.

Himari smiled. “Thanks for coming with me. I had a year of shopping to make up for.”

“You made a valiant effort,” Daphne teased, glancing at all the shopping bags jumbled behind Himari’s chair. Daphne herself had only bought a single sweater that was on sale. She did most of her shopping online, where she could stack up coupons or buy couture items secondhand.

“Speaking of which, I have something for you.” Himari leaned back in her chair to grab one of the shopping bags, then handed it over.

Daphne pulled off the tissue paper to reveal a supple leather handbag, the same emerald green as her eyes. Its gold chain was so soft that it slipped through her fingers like water.

“Himari—this is far too nice—”

“I saw you eyeing it at Halo,” Himari said brightly. “Consider it a thank-you for being such a good friend this year. It means a lot to me, that you came to see me at the hospital so often,” she added, more softly.

Somehow Daphne smiled through the wave of her guilt. “Thanks.”

“It’s nothing.” Himari sighed. “I just can’t believe you’re graduating in a few weeks. I don’t know how I’m going to survive all of next year without you.”

“Please. You’ll rule the school with an iron fist.”

“Of course I will,” Himari said impatiently. “But who’s going to help me make sure the freshmen all know their place? Who will help me steal the best spots in the senior parking lot? Who’ll sneak out of Madame Meynard’s French class with me to get sesame bagels when we’re supposed to be practicing our dialogue?”

There was a touch of sadness in Daphne’s smile, because she had spent a year doing all those things alone, too. “I won’t be far; King’s College is only fifteen minutes away,” she pointed out.

“You and Jeff are going to have so much fun,” Himari moaned. “I can’t wait to come visit you guys.”

Daphne smiled. “All the time, please.”

She and Jefferson had been texting ever since last weekend, when he’d arrived at the Patriot to find her deep in conversation with his sister. Daphne knew at once that she’d scored a huge point in her favor. Samantha’s disapproval of her had always been a source of unspoken tension.

Himari pushed her chair back from the counter. “Want to watch something? I have so much TV-bingeing to catch up on.”

Daphne’s phone buzzed in her purse; she saw that it was her mother and pushed Ignore. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Rebecca’s endless supply of plots and schemes.

“Yeah, I’ll stay.” She made to turn upstairs, but Himari had already crossed the room toward the back door.

“Can we go outside, actually? My brothers have taken over the playroom.”

There was nothing Daphne could say without arousing suspicion. She followed Himari despite her sudden uneasiness.