Page 56 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)

He propels me back up. The hand in my hair doesn’t move, though. His thumb twitches on my skin, just behind my ear.

Goosebumps rush down my spine.

His eyes are dark, and the set of his jaw…

“Don’t tell me to go away, Sky. Don’t tell me to leave you alone, because we’re done with that. Got it?”

I release a shaky breath and mutely nod. I don’t think I could answer if I wanted to—my brain is scrambled.

Clapping jars us from the moment.

I glance around and find Jake standing by our table. He’s the clapper, loud and slow.

“What a show,” he calls.

Some onlookers laugh.

I wish the floor would open up and swallow me whole. I come here often—it’s why I brought Jake here. The workers are mostly Ashburn students, and their attention on me is too much.

Slowly, I push my hair behind my ear and stand. “Public indecency isn’t going to endear you to me. I’m going home.” I face Jake. “If you get an attitude adjustment, I’ll see you later.”

I hurry out and down the block before either of them can stop me.

Ugh.

Men.

16

Liam

Jake regards me, and I him.

We didn’t talk much last night after he arrived. He shuffled in, paused at the sheets already set out on the arm of the couch, and nodded to himself. I shut myself in my room and let him do whatever the hell he wanted.

Which wasn’t much, judging from the noises.

He was gone when I came out this morning, and I knew immediately that he went to Sky. That’s the reason he’s here, anyway: to warn her. Or maybe take her home.

Either way, it isn’t what she wants.

There’s a reason she doesn’t remember what happened to her: it was traumatic. It caused a number of issues—and that’s a direct quote from her mother, thank you very much.

In this way, Jake and I are of differing opinions.

He would rather tell her it’s too dangerous and whisk her out of harm’s way.

But me?

She should know the truth. All of it.

The way to get past your trauma is to get through it, and I think I might be the only person in the universe who can help her get through it.

“So,” my little brother says. “What are you going to do?”

I sigh. “Are you going to let me do it?”

“Depends on if it’s fucking stupid or not.” He crosses his arms.