Savage Royals (Boys of Oak Park Prep #1) - Callie Rose Page 0,52

like a white elephant exchange, where you don’t know anything about the person who’ll be getting the gift, so you get them something utterly bland and hopefully non-offensive.

On the Sunday before school started back up, one of the house staff brought my car around and loaded my bags back into it. Philip was locked up in his study again—his good mood on the day of my arrival hadn’t lasted long—but Jacqueline walked down the front steps with me.

I turned to her awkwardly, twirling my key ring around my finger, when she surprised me by pulling me into a hug. My body jerked in surprise, but I tentatively wrapped my arms around her.

“Thank you for coming, Talia,” she murmured, her voice low in my ear. “I know it’s not the most fun spending time with two old folks like us, but… I’m very glad you came.”

The honest emotion in her voice surprised me, and I gripped her tighter before drawing away. “Me too. Thanks for having me.”

She smiled softly. “You’re welcome anytime. Come back some weekend, will you?”

“Sure. I will.”

“Good.”

She squeezed my hand, and I was about to turn away when she tugged on it lightly, pulling my attention back to her. The smile on her face had faded, replaced with a small frown.

“Talia…” She pursed her lips. “I heard a rumor that there was a party at the end of the semester. And that there was a significant amount of drinking there. I also heard that you were present. Is that true? Were you partying? Drinking?”

I slipped free of her grasp, gripping my keys tight and shoving my hands in my back pockets. The memory of what Philip had said about my mom’s descent into drinking and using drugs flickered through my mind.

Your grandmother wouldn’t abide by it.

“Um. Yeah, I was there. And there was drinking, but I don’t really do that. I try to be really careful, with my dad and all…”

I shrugged, glancing away.

Her dark hazel eyes regarded me carefully, the crow’s feet at the corners deepening. Then she nodded. “Good. Good. I’m glad to hear that. Your academic record last year was excellent, although I did get a call about your attendance once. Remember, Talia, everything you do or don’t do reflects on your character—and it reflects on us. Reputations matter, maybe more than anything else, and we’re counting on you to respect ours.”

“Right,” I muttered, shifting uncomfortably under her penetrating gaze.

Jesus. No pressure though, right?

Was this what Mason had been talking about when he’s said they all had it rough too? It did suck, though I couldn’t see how it was as bad as working fourteen-hour shifts to support an abusive, alcoholic father.

I hoped Jacqueline couldn’t tell I was lying about the party, but I’d spoken with confidence because my words were mostly true. I really didn’t drink much at all, and I had vowed a long time ago to never end up like my dad.

Or, I guess… like my mom.

The lines on Jacqueline’s face smoothed as she beamed at me, apparently considering the matter settled. She patted my shoulder. “Good. Have an excellent semester. Remember, watch your attendance.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

I walked quickly to my car and slipped inside, rolling slowly around the large circle drive and waiting until I was through the gates and halfway down the block before gunning the engine hard.

Sweet, sweet freedom.

Chapter 16

It felt surprisingly good to be back on the Oak Park campus. The green lawns, large trees—a mix of palm and oak—bright white buildings, and red roofs against blue skies were beautiful and oddly comforting.

I’d missed this place, somehow, as improbable as that might be.

But that didn’t stop the thrill of anticipation and dread that worked its way up my spine as I pulled my car into a spot in the student parking lot. I’d tried not to think much about the disastrous party over the break, but my grandma’s questions had put it front and center in my mind again.

Tomorrow, I’d have to face the Princes again.

What would they do? How would they react? There was no way they could let what I’d done go unpunished, and they’d had two whole weeks to dream up their revenge.

Sighing, I slipped out of my bubble-gum pink car and dug my bags out of the trunk. As I hauled them across campus, I could feel the tension ramping back up in my body, my senses going on high alert again, scanning for possible threats.

But although I passed several other students in the quad,