Cruel Prince: A High School Bully Romance (Royal Hearts Academy Book 1)

“Do you need a ride home?” There’s no hiding the slight edge in Oakley’s voice.

“Nope.” I take my blazer out of my locker. October in Royal Manor means the weather is gorgeous during the day and chilly at night.  “But thanks for asking.”

The look he gives me is full of contempt. “I don’t like this, Dylan. I don’t like this one bit.”

Oak’s made his aversion to me seeing Tommy well-known. Whenever I ask him what exactly he has against Tommy personally when he’s never even spoken to him, he goes on a tangent about how Jace is like a brother and if Jace hates Tommy’s guts, then he does too.

It’s so juvenile. Almost as juvenile as the fact that Jace hasn’t spoken to me in a month.

Actually, that’s not quite right. Him not speaking to me is something I can deal with.

The asshole literally doesn’t acknowledge my existence.

“Yo, Oak,” Cole calls out as he and Jace sidle up to my locker. “Let me holler at you real quick.”

Speak of the devil and he’ll appear.

Oakley leans against my locker, closing it. “What’s good, man?”

I poke him in the shoulder. “Do you mind? I still have to get my Chemistry book.”

He starts to move, but then Cole says, “How do you feel about strippers?”

Oakley stays rooted to the spot, grinning like a fool. “I feel awesome about strippers.”

I nudge him again. “Can you mo—”

“Great,” Cole interjects. “I think we should hire some for Jace’s birthday party next week.”

“Hell motherfucking yes,” Oakley exclaims. “That’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”

I throw my hands up. It’s clear Oakley’s attention is elsewhere, but I refuse to leave without my textbook.

“I know.” Cole slaps Jace’s arm. “Now please tell this asshole that, because he said he doesn’t want them.”

Oakley looks insulted. “Dude, why?” Reaching over, he places his palm on Jace’s forehead. “You feeling all right?”

Jace swats his hand away. “I’m fine. I just don’t see why we need to hire strippers for my birthday.”

“Because you’re turning eighteen,” Cole says. “You’re officially legal.” He drapes his arm over Jace’s shoulder. “The least I can do for my big brother is buy him a few dozen exotic dancers.”

“And a big booty hoe jumping out of a cake,” Oakley adds.

“My man.” Cole gives him a pound. “I like the way you think.”

Seriously? “They’re human beings, jackasses. Not hoes.”

Cole gives me the stink eye. “Take that feminist bullshit elsewhere, party pooper. This is between me and my boys.”

“Hate to point out the obvious, but one of your boys doesn’t seem to be into the idea. Seeing as it’s his birthday, you probably shouldn’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to.”

Too far, Dylan. Too far.

“On second thought, strippers sound perfect.” Jace smiles at his brother. “The more the merrier.”

Dickhead.

 “Hey,” Sawyer greets me as she joins our little circle. “I found my old notes for chemistry if you still want them.”

 “Yes.” I glare at Oakley. “At this point, they’re the only thing I’ll have to study with tonight since someone refuses to move.”

“Chill.” Oakley slides out of the way. “I got side-tracked.”

“Yo, Sawyer,” Cole says as I open my locker and shove my chemistry book into my bag. “I was wondering if your church would be willing to contribute to a good cause next week.”

Sawyer raises an eyebrow. “Uh, according to my mom, our funds are pretty tapped out, but I’ll see what I can do.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “What do you need?”

“Donation baskets.” He looks at Jace and Oakley. “I figure we can have them going around the room while the girls are stripping and giving Jace lap dances.”

“Word,” Oak says. “Way classier than throwing cash at them.”

Sawyer blinks. “Let me get this straight. You want my church to loan you our donation baskets for strippers?” She grimaces. “What the hell is the matter with you? Hard pass.”

“Fine, but just so you know, there are other ways to donate.”  Cole shoots her a lewd grin. “Like giving me a private show, for example.”

She wrinkles her nose. “In your dreams, pig.”

He bites his lip. “Nah, sweetness. In my dreams, you’d be doing a whole lot more than stripping.”

Sawyer turns redder than a tomato.

Linking my arm through one of hers, I save her from the enemy. “Come on, let’s leave the dirty boys to their enthralling conversation.”

She hands me a notebook as we head for the exit. “They’re color-coded and everything.”

“Perfect. You’re the best.” I transfer the notebook to my bag. “Tommy and I are grabbing a quick bite to eat and going to the movies, but I’m planning on doing a major cram session after.”

Her steps ease up a bit. “Dinner and a movie, huh? Sounds like things are getting serious between you two.”

I’m not sure how to answer that. For the most part, Tommy’s been pretty understanding about me not wanting to make things official, but lately I’m beginning to feel like the slack he’s been cutting me is wearing thin.

“Not really. We’re still having fun. He knows I’m not ready for a relationship yet. He’s free to see other people and so am I.”

Sawyer looks unconvinced. “Does he know that?” I follow her gaze to the orange Subaru parked by the curb. “He’s been here to pick you up every day this week.”

Why do I feel like my friend’s giving me the third degree? “Didn’t know you were keeping count.” I hike my backpack up my shoulder. “Thanks for the notes. I’ll have them back to you tomorrow.”

I start to walk away, but she reaches for my elbow. “Dylan, wait.” She guides me to an empty corner under the overhang. “I have to tell you something, and I hope you don’t hate me.”

This can’t be good. “Okay.”

“I wanted to tell you sooner, but every time I tried, you told me it wasn’t serious between you two, so I felt like an idiot for bringing it up. Then I figured Tommy would mention it at some point, but he obviously never did and I—”

“Sawyer,” I cut in when she runs out of air. “Take a breath. Whatever it is, I promise I won’t hate you.”

She wrings her hands. “Tommy and I hooked up once—no, twice technically. It happened over six months ago, but I swear it didn’t mean anything.”

“You don’t need to explain yourself.”

“Yes, I do. That’s what a good friend does.” A furrow appears in her forehead. “I don’t want to be sitting at your wedding seven years from now still feeling guilty for never telling you I hooked up with your husband. I can’t live like that.”

Boy, she’s really jumping the gun. “Understood.” I debate asking her the question on the tip of my tongue because it’s really none of my business. “I mean, it’s not like you guys had sex. Right?”

It’s fine if they did, but it might make our girl convos kind of awkward when I start having sex with him. Eventually.

She makes a face. “Heck no. I told you, my V-card is firmly in place until Nick Jonas realizes we’re soulmates.” She draws in a heavy breath. “To be honest, I don’t even know why I did it. I was lonely, he was there…the rest is history.”

Yup. Been there, done that. “I get it. Shit happens.”

“You’re really not freaked out about this?” She eyes me skeptically. “Are you sure this isn’t one of those passive-aggressive episodes where you act like everything’s cool today, but in two weeks you’ll randomly slash my tires? Because if that’s the case, we should just get this shit over with now while Goodyear is still running a sale.”

She’s adorable when she’s incredulous. “Sawyer, my cousin stuck his tongue down my throat last month and we’re totally fine.” I shrug. “I have a pretty high tolerance for this sort of stuff. It’s really nothing to stress over. I appreciate you telling me, but I don’t think any less of you. We’re still friends.”

She looks relieved. “Thank you for not hating me.” Her expression turns serious. “I promise I would never, ever knowingly hook up with him, or anyone else you were into.”

Placing my purse on the ground, I put my blazer on. “You can if you want. He’s not taken.”

“The boy may not be taken, but he’s definitely smitten.” She gives me a hug. “Text me later.”

After she leaves, I make my way over to Tommy’s car.

“Hey.” He smacks a quick kiss on my lips when I get in. “How was your day?”

“Good. Yours?”

“Not bad. Coach has been riding us harder than usual, but I can’t complain.” He takes a large swig from his water bottle. “What were you and your friend talking about? The conversation looked pretty intense.”

“Not really. She just wanted me to know you guys hooked up a while ago.” I fasten my seatbelt. “I told her it was no big deal.”

He starts choking on his water. “That’s weird. I have no recollection of that ever happening at all.” He puffs out his cheeks. “Man, I must have been really drunk.”

Something about his tone rubs me the wrong way. “That’s too bad. Not only is she awesome, she has the best pair of tits I’ve ever seen.”

His mouth opens and closes like a fish. “I have no idea what to say to that.”

“Silence is probably your best bet.”

Shifting his car into drive, he nods. “Right.”

I peer out the window as he steps on the gas.

My stomach knots when I see Jace and Britney walking out together.

Finding out Tommy and my friend hooked up doesn’t cause me a lick of jealousy or uneasiness.

But seeing Jace walking next to her causes me so much strife, my molars are in danger of turning to dust.