Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals, #1)(10)

“You’re on a first-name basis with the librarian?” I ask.

She hustles me toward the library. “Amy is the best. She sometimes steals extra desserts and shares. Or if there’s ever cake in the teacher’s lounge…”

I stand by the door, fidgeting. She unlocks it and gestures for me to enter.

“Oh, I should mention,” Riley says, lifting a shoulder, “Amy is my cousin.”

“That’s how you got a key.”

“Yeah. Yo, Amy! You saw my friend Margo, right? Margo, Amy. Amy, Margo. If I’m ever not here, it’s cool that she still chills here for lunch, right?”

Her cousin stands from her desk and comes over, shaking my hand. “Nice to meet you. Yes, Riley, of course she can. Just knock, okay, Margo?”

“Yeah,” I murmur. “Thanks.”

We take our lunch to our chairs, spreading out our options. We’ve gotten used to trading items, because Riley’s mom likes her to be healthy, and Robert hasn’t figured out my favorites yet.

Lenora and I went grocery shopping on Sunday, which was an adventure in and of itself. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a fancy grocery store until that moment. Organic was the name of the game, even if I couldn’t figure out why. Lenora didn’t give the best explanation, either. She let me pick whatever I would want to have in the house: breakfast and snacks to school, lunch and dinner options.

It was just another piece that made me feel better about settling in.

“Salt and vinegar chips?” I ask.

“Yum.”

“Gross.” I laugh.

“Trade you for… the carrots?”

“Deal.”

We eat in silence, her crunching through the bag of chips and me snapping the baby carrots. After we eat, there should be enough time for me to pick out a new book.

“Eli, uh, was flirting with me,” she blurts out. “I don’t know why.”

“Flirting like…”

“He kissed my neck. It felt good, but I was scared, and he’s still mean—”

“He’s…”

“A golden boy,” she finishes. “High school royalty. I know. But like, I didn’t think I would want him to kiss me, and when he stopped, I was—” She turns tomato-red.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “He didn’t say anything?”

“He told me to run back to you,” she whispers. “And to not forget him.”

“Huh.” I shake my head. “I don’t understand them. Any of them.”

She sighs. “Only three more months of them being low-level insufferable. Once lacrosse season starts in the spring? We’ll be reminded of how much they actually rule the school. It’s okay in the fall, because people kind of forget. And then suddenly they’re playing and winning and sweaty and…”

I wave my hand in front of her dreamy gaze. She focuses back on me with a start.

“Lost you there for a second.” I laugh.

“You just wait,” she murmurs. “You’ll feel it, too.”

“Feel… what?

“The carnal energy. No girl goes unscathed.”

I laugh it off, but my stomach twists. “It’s that bad?”

“Every girl loses their mind. Football is big in the south. But here, lacrosse rules. Well, actually, Liam and Theo play football, too.”

I hum.

“We could go to a football game,” she offers. “It’s a good introduction to the craziness, and I think their games start this Friday.”

“You want to go to a game?”

She bounces on her seat. “It should be fun. Besides, Caleb won’t be there.”

“You mean he won’t be playing.”

“Well…” She blushes. “Yeah. He’ll probably be holding court with Eli. But hey, I’m sure we can get into the party after.”

I stare at her. “Riley Appleton, who are you? Football games and parties?”

Her blush deepens. “I’ve never had a friend to take… and I’ve always wanted to go. But then there’s the whole courage thing, so… please say you’ll go with me? Please, Margo? You can sleep over my house—”

I shake my head. “I can’t sleep over. Foster rule.”

She heaves a sigh, her face falling.

“But maybe…” I throw her a bone, even if anxiety is slowly winding around my lungs. “Maybe Lenora and Robert will let you stay with me?”

She claps. “Yay! You talk to them, and I’ll… I’ll find out who’s house the party is at. I’d bet it’s at Theo’s. Word is, he has a giant swimming pool with a slide, and sometimes they jump in from the second-floor balcony. Cool, right?”

“What could possibly go wrong?” I mutter.

We gather our wrappers and toss them in the trash, making our way to the front of the library. Amy has her head ducked down into a book, and she raises her hand as we pass.

“Why does she lock the door during lunch?” I ask in a low voice.

Riley giggles. “I wouldn’t want to be interrupted during my only break of the day. Would you?”

“Probably not…” My voice trails off, and I look down the hallway.