Savage Royals (Boys of Oak Park Prep #1) - Callie Rose Page 0,74

the plush cushions. “No. I didn’t know what would happen. But you’re empirically more beautiful than she is, so I knew there was no fucking way she’d win.”

I blinked at the roundabout compliment and took a sip of my drink—something Finn had mixed up for me that tasted like fruit punch. I’d been a little bit high and a little bit drunk for the past three days, which had sort of blurred into one long stream of drinking, eating, playing games, and lounging around the mansion. Adena had been even more of a bitch than usual since the first day, but with the Princes close by my side at all times, she couldn’t do much more than glare at me.

The five of us were in a game room downstairs, having escaped from the afternoon heat outside into the cool, dark basement. It was a big space, with a large sectional sofa on one side and a massive TV on the wall opposite. A few guitars were propped in the corner, and a doorway led to a separate room with video game consoles and old arcade games. No lights were on down here, but small windows high on the walls allowed some sunlight to filter in.

“I coulda told you it would happen.” Finn grinned at me from where he sat on the other side of Elijah. “I’ve seen you practice. You’re fucking amazing.”

I took another sip of my drink to hide my pleased grin. I’d been so pissed at the Princes last semester, and so determined to avoid other students, that I hadn’t gone to a single football game. I really wanted to in the fall though. I wanted to see Finn play. After spending so much time talking to him about football, and comparing notes on the differences and similarities between our two passions, I wanted to see him in action. I was sure he’d be fucking amazing too.

“I’m bored,” Mason said suddenly, his voice such a perfect imitation of Adena’s that I almost snorted punch out my nose. I coughed and laughed at the same time, holding my cup away from me so I wouldn’t spill it.

“You boys wanna have a modeling contest?” I grinned. “I’ll judge.”

He smirked wickedly at me. “I think you might enjoy that a little too much, little dancer.”

Fire licked across my skin, and I shifted in my seat, biting my lip but not answering.

“How about Truth or Dare?” Finn suggested, sitting forward and glancing over at us.

I chuckled, wrinkling my nose. “What is it with you and games?”

“I have a playful spirit.” He shrugged. “Come on, Legs. You in?”

“Yeah, all right.” I settled back on the couch, resting my cup on my stomach. I was wearing a simple white tee over my bikini, the fabric thin and soft. Elijah and Cole were both shirtless, which gave me the perfect opportunity to keep checking out their tattoos. Finn wore a light blue v-neck that made him look even more all-American, and Mason had on a dark tank top.

I hadn’t played truth or dare since I was ten, and I’d never thought it was a particularly fun game. But as we started taking turns choosing, I realized I’d just been too young to fully appreciate the game back then. There were so many truths I wanted to get out of the Princes. I’d been unreasonably curious about them ever since I’d met them, even when they were making my life hell. And even though we’d been hanging out almost nonstop for the entire semester so far, there were still huge blanks in their stories that I was dying to fill in.

We started with mostly “truths”, which was fine by me.

I learned that Elijah had two younger siblings, a brother and a sister, and that Mason and Finn didn’t have any. Cole’s sister was eight, and when I asked him what his favorite thing in the world was, he answered without a moment of hesitation, “Penny.”

I also learned that he hated his father, though I wasn’t sure why—he answered that question with a one-word answer and then retreated back into himself for a while, passing on the next several rounds.

We drank as we played, and by the time Cole shook off his bad mood and rejoined us, I’d admitted to being a virgin, Elijah had admitted that he was too, and the others had teased us mercilessly for it.

When Mason told me that his mother was dead, his green eyes shuttered for a moment, and even though