Page 87 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

“It’s Monday,” Liam reminds him. “And we’re not partying.”

He stomps over and snatches the bottle from Eli’s grip.

“You want to be upset? Do it sober, for fuck’s sake.”

Eli tsks. “I could punch you for that.”

Liam raises the bottle, squinting at how much is left. “Could you really? I’d like to see you try—”

“Nope,” Theo cuts in, stepping between them. “Don’t really want to test your theory, Liam.”

Liam chuckles and comes back toward us. “Since we have nothing better to do than help you, what’s next?”

“Matt’s a dead end,” I say to Liam.

His eyebrows go up, and then his gaze goes down to the pocket of my jeans. Slowly, a grin spreads across his face. “Atta girl.”

“That was your idea?” Caleb growls.

“Nope!” I put my hand on his chest. “My idea.”

“Just Liam’s knife.”

“We’re going in circles,” I groan and rest my head on Caleb’s shoulder. “Matt, Lydia, Tobias, my mother, the mystery girlfriend—”

Eli gasps, almost choking on his own spit.

“You don’t think Matt’s girlfriend is Caleb’s mom, do you? The fancy old cougar—”

“Shut your fucking trap before I shut it for you,” Caleb threatens.

Eli just laughs.

I clap, getting their attention. All of them. We’re falling apart here, and besides the immediate questions, no one is in immediate danger.

Well, I might be, but that’s another matter.

Eli’s parents aren’t coming back until after dinner, which leaves Caleb and I just enough time to go find Riley. Or, more specifically, it leaves just enough time for Caleb to drive me to find Riley. And we could use the alone time.

“Someone put him to bed,” I say. “Caleb, we need to go for a ride.”

Caleb smirks. “Where?”

“Riley’s house.”

He grimaces. “No.”

“Yes.” I cross my arms over my chest. “You can’t just block me from seeing her after—”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight.”

“That’s why I said we.”

It’s a standoff. I’m not sure which one of us will win. He’s glaring at me like I’m a temperamental doll, and I can only hope my expression is just as fierce.

In a quiet voice, he says, “You leave tomorrow. Which means…”

Last night together.