Page 50 of Fractured Heart

My eyes widen. Is he hitting on me?

Not that I want him to, when Tate and Charles are standing right there. When I meet their eyes, Charles shrugs his huge shoulders and Tate rolls his eyes.

JJ winks. Again.

He’s probably so used to flirting with girls he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it. Because there’s no way he’d be interested in me. Not when I look like this. Father’s right. No guy would ever want me.

I suddenly feel like a beast—not the handsome Charles, but a truly despicable fairy tale creature. I wish I could just disappear, so I settle on the closest thing. I slip into the bathroom, alone, to get cleaned up.

Chapter 25

Once I look presentable, my princes escort me back to the rehearsal room. They sit me down on the piano bench and gather around me; all of them except Silas.

“What’s she still doing here?” He scowls, drawing attention to his pierced lip.

“I invited her to watch our rehearsal,” Tate explains. Charles nods.

“We all invited Roonie.” JJ sends me a wink before turning back to the Dark Prince. “What’s wrong with you today, Silas? Got up on the wrong side of the bed?”

“Maybe if I’d gotten any actual sleep.” Silas runs his hand through long, dark strands. Then he turns to me and I have to fight the urge to back away. “Roonie…” he says my name slowly, tasting it. “I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier. I’m not usually like this.”

He sounds like he actually means it. My eyes widen. I was the one who interrupted him while he was writing a song. If I can just get out an apology, maybe we could put it all behind us? I open my mouth to speak, but no sound comes out.

Silas turns back to JJ. “It’s not just today, man. It’s this whole fucking semester. Auditions are next week and all we have is a half-written song.”

“About that—” Tate starts to say, but Charles interrupts.

“We’re all stressed about the audition, Silas. But we don’t take it out on other people.”

“I know. Look, I just need to get my shit together so I can focus on this song.” He licks his lip piercing. “Do you guys think I could crash on your couch? Just until after auditions?”

I freeze. Their couch? As in the couch I’m staying on?

Technically, Charles is staying on it while I’m staying in his room, or at least he did last night. Tonight, I might be back to being homeless.

Actually, there’s no maybe about it. They know Silas better than me. They’ve known each other all semester. They’ve sung together, rehearsed together. I know where their loyalty lies, and it’s not with me. Silas is the one who’s in their a cappella group. Silas is the one writing their audition song. Silas is the one who’s going to get that couch.

My plan to stay a few more nights so I can figure out my next steps goes out the window. What do I do now? I can’t go back to Father. I just can’t.

Heady with panic, I reach for my bare collarbone. The fractured necklace in my pocket offers no comfort and I lean against the closest guy, who happens to be JJ.

“I knew you couldn’t resist me.” He chuckles. I start to pull away, but he slides onto the piano bench next to me and pulls me into his side.

“What’s wrong with your place?” Charles asks, his attention still focused on Silas.

“Roommates.” Silas shakes his head. “I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks.”

“Can’t you wear earplugs?” Tate suggests.

“Doesn’t work. They’ve been throwing parties every night this week.” Silas runs his fingers through his hair.

His various ear piercings take turns peeking out from between the strands. “Yesterday, some chick threw up in my room.”

“That’s disgusting.” Charles grimaces.

“I know.” Silas spits his words past his lip piercing. “I still can’t get the smell out.”

JJ fake gags. Charles gags too, but I don’t think he’s faking.