Page 52 of Tormented Kings

“It’s not your fault. I think I was foolish to think I’d be able to avoid it forever. Seeing how I live on campus, my mom is best friends with the headmistress, and I plan on taking over as groundskeeper one day. I can’t just be a fly on the wall in a place like this. That’s not how it works.”

“It really could be worse,” Mia says. “Your mom isn’t trying to marry you off to someone. You get to pick who you want to be with.”

“Did you forget about the part where one of them is engaged to you?” I ask, raising a brow.

“Not for long.” She winks. “Soon, my bestie, soon my man will be yours.”

Smiling, I laugh, shaking my head. “It is what it is. There’s nothing I can do to change it. I just need to have faith in the guys that they know what they're doing. Part of me just wants to bow out because I’m not worth this much trouble, but I’ve realized Idon’t think that would work. I wouldn’t put it past Grayson or Collin to resort to stalking me.”

They’re both really intense like that. But in different ways. Not going to lie, they give me dark romance book boyfriend vibes, and I don’t know if that should scare me or turn me on.

My mind wanders for a moment with images of them stalking me from the shadows. That’s a Collin thing, for sure. Or chasing me in masks, fucking me, and calling me all kinds of dirty things. That would be something I could see Preston doing.

Grayson would be more of the kind of guy who watches you from afar, maybe even set up cameras or something.

But this is real life, not a book. Even if I’m fucked up for getting even a little bit turned on by the idea.

Doesn’t change the fact that maybe I’m a lot more fucked up than I thought. Hey, maybe I do fit into this world more than I know. The idea terrifies me.

My friends leave, and I head into the house. Not really feeling like making anything to eat, I order takeout and head for the couch.

I’m not even a half hour in before my own thoughts have me going crazy. Telling my friends to leave wasn’t the best idea. I should be going out and having fun, not staying cooped up in my cottage, wallowing in my misery for the fifth day in a row.

Grabbing my phone, I cancel my food order then call Emma. “So, this crashing-early thing isn’t working for me, is there anything fun going on tonight?”

Going out was a good idea. I ended up changing out of my school uniform and into a cute dress. I might be wearing a summer dress in the middle of October, but that doesn’t matter when you live in Florida.

We went out and had an amazing meal, went to see a movie, and my friends just dropped me off.

Walking through the door, I finally look at my phone, and my stomach drops. Missed calls and text messages from the guys.Well, from Collin and Grayson.

All of them asking me how I was, where I was, why I didn’t let them know I was going out.

Huh. I never thought of checking in with them over this kind of stuff. I mean, I know it’s something people who are dating do, but it wasn’t even a thought in my mind.

Guilt fills me when I listen to my voice messages. They’re from an angry Collin, reminding me that it’s not safe to go out alone with his father’s attention on me.

I know that, and I didn’t go out alone. I was with three other people. I don’t see the big deal. Maybe I should be more cautious?

Not wanting them to worry anymore, I send them all a text letting them know I went out with the girls and that I’m home safe.

Collin calls me right away, and by the time we’re done talking, I see his point and feel bad for making them worry. I promise not to leave campus without one of them going forward.

Sighing heavily, I toss my phone on the couch before throwing myself down on top of it. I close my eyes as I think about all the new changes I’ll have to make.

Couldn’t we all just run away to some island, away from everything and everyone, to live our lives in peace? That would be nice.

I lay there for a while before I start to feel restless. I should be going to bed, I have an early class in the morning. But I don’t think I could fall asleep, even if I wanted to.

So, I slip on my shoes, grab my phone, and head to the one place that brings me peace and allows me to shut my mind off from the rest of the world. The chapel.

Preston

“Where the fuck have you been?” my father shouts, spotting me as soon as I walk through the front door of my house.

Closing my eyes, I take a breath, my fists clenching as nothing but pure hatred pulses through my veins. I regret coming back immediately.

“I’ve been out,” I tell him in a bored tone.