Empire High Elite (Empire High #2) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,64

I really hoped she wouldn’t stay silent.

I closed the door behind me. Matt had stopped me from trying to have sex with him when I’d accidentally eaten tons of pot sugarcakes. He promised to be all my firsts. But I was so grateful that he hadn’t taken that one too. I was done with him. Done with the Untouchables. Done with all the boys at Empire High.

Chapter 20

Monday

“Princess, how was school today?” Mr. Pruitt asked Isabella.

Of course he calls her princess.

“Superb, Daddy. Is it okay if I go out on the town after dinner? I need to pick up my homecoming dress.”

I ignored the rest of their conversation when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I wasn’t sure why, but I’d been carrying around the stupid thing all afternoon. Hoping Matt would call. Hoping he wouldn’t. Hoping Felix would call. Hoping he wouldn’t either. I wasn’t sure anymore. But as soon as I felt the vibration, I couldn’t lie to myself. I wanted it to be from Matt. Even if I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive him. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hid it under the tablecloth so that no one would see.

It was from him. I held my breath as I read the words. “Meet me outside after you’re done with dinner.” I read them again as if a second glance would make them make any more sense. No apology. No explanation for what he’d done with James’ girlfriend. Nothing. Meet me outside after you’re done with dinner my ass.

“Daddy, she’s definitely on her phone,” Isabella said. “I heard it buzz.”

I looked up. I’d been doing a great job of avoiding Isabella and Mrs. Pruitt’s evil glares all night. But now I was locked in Isabella’s.

“We don’t allow phones at the table,” Mr. Pruitt said. “I’m guessing you haven’t finished going through the rules?”

“I’m almost done.” I wasn’t. And I was leaning toward just signing them like Kennedy had suggested. I quickly slid the phone back into my pocket.

“Did you hear what I asked you?” he said.

I shook my head. I hadn’t realized that their conversation had turned to me.

“Would you like to go with Isabella to pick up her homecoming dress? Maybe you can try on a few yourself?”

“Oh. No. That’s okay.” Even if I hadn’t already decided to wear my mom’s dress, I wouldn’t have taken him up on the offer. I’d stopped tattling on Isabella at dinner because there was no point to it. She’d always win. But I wasn’t going to go out of my way to do things with her. I wasn’t insane.

“Do you already have one or something?” Isabella asked.

“Mhm.”

“Oh. Is it one of the ones in your closet upstairs?” she asked.

“Yes.” It came out as more of a question. This felt like some kind of trap, but I didn’t know how.

“What color is it? What style?”

This was definitely some kind of trick. Because everything with her was a trick. “Why do you want to know?”

She laughed. “Because I don’t want to accidentally get something similar, Sissy. How embarrassing would that be? So describe it to me.”

“It’s green.” The lie came easily to my lips. I knew this was one of her games, even though I couldn’t figure out what exactly her motive was. It was easier to just go along with it. I tried to picture one of the new dresses hanging in my closet. “A deep emerald green. It’s tight all the way through except for the bottom that flairs out.”

“Sounds pretty,” Isabella said.

“It is.” Just not as pretty as my mom’s dress, which I’d actually be wearing. I was happy that I’d lied when Isabella got a smug smile on her face. What are you up to?

“May I be excused, Daddy? The girls are waiting for me outside.”

How did she know that unless she was also hiding her phone under the table?

“Sure thing, princess. Don’t be home too late.”

“I won’t.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and practically skipped off in evil joy.

“I take it the two of you are getting along better now?” Mr. Pruitt asked.

No. You told her everything you promised you wouldn’t. She made another scene at school and dragged all the Untouchables into it. She’s worse than ever. But there was no point in the truth with the Pruitts. “Mhm,” I said. It was alarming how quickly I’d grown used to lying. My stomach twisted in knots with guilt. What would my mom think of