The following morning, Justin was lounging in Caleb’s bedroom, poring over his assignments. He didn’t want to fall behind in his classes.
“Where were you last night?” Caleb asked as he dropped onto his bed, opening his English book. “Woke up and you weren’t here.”
Justin found himself blushing as he remembered his time with Demetri last night. “Slept in another room.”
“Wasn’t my fathers, was it?” Caleb teased. “Just kidding, but the thought of you two together is just weird.”
“We’re not together,” Justin said smoothly.
“Well, duh.” Caleb laughed. “He’s too old and set in his ways. No way would he want to fool around with my best friend.”
If only you knew the truth. Justin felt terrible for hiding it, but what he and Demetri did was none of Caleb’s business. He turned in the chair he was seated in and narrowed his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a prince?”
Caleb scowled. “What are you talking about, numbnut? My father’s loaded and has some strange lineage, but I’m not a prince.”
The seriousness in Caleb’s tone said the man was telling the truth. If Demetri wasn’t lying to Justin, how could Caleb not know? He started to tell his best friend about the conversation he’d had with Caleb’s dad, but closed his mouth. If he revealed that, then Caleb would ask more questions—questions Justin wasn’t willing to answer.
“I think you’ve been seeing Juice.” Caleb tossed a pillow at Justin.
“I don’t do drugs.” Justin caught the pillow and tossed it on the bed.
Caleb rolled until he was sitting up. “Hey, I was talking with Lizzie this morning, and she told me everyone was meeting at Bounce.”
Bounce, the hottest and most exclusive nightclub in Dark Haven. Only the coolest of the cool people hung out there. Justin did not fit into that category. “Another party invitation?” he said skeptically. “No thanks.” Justin waved at the mound of books on the desk. “Besides, I have loads of work to get done.”
Caleb might turn his nose up at college, but Justin didn’t. Demetri was giving him a free ride, and Justin wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize that. It would be ungrateful of Justin to fail his classes. “Your father wouldn’t approve.”
Justin wasn’t going to spy for Demetri, but he’d give it his best shot to keep Caleb home. Or maybe not. The club was sounding more and more appealing. Aside from the strange occurrences at the asylum and the fact that they’d been ditched, getting out might not be such a bad idea.
Caleb harrumphed. “My father’s old-fashioned and still thinks like they did in the early thirties or whatever time period people were prudes. Courting is his idea of dating. Can you imagine doing that?”
“I still have to get my work done.” Even if he did want to go, Justin couldn’t let Caleb think he’d won that easily. The guy expected Justin to put up resistance.
“Just one night and then you and I will hit the books hard.” Caleb jumped up from the bed and dropped to his knees in front of Justin as he cupped his hands together like he was praying. “Come on, please.”
“I don’t have any money,” Justin said, his subconscious telling him this was a bad idea. He could have said no a hundred times, but when Caleb Frost got something into his head, forget turning the guy down. He was like a pesky fly dive-bombing your head repeatedly. Too bad Justin couldn’t squash the guy.
“You know I have you covered.” Caleb nudged Justin’s leg, giving him that devil-may-care smile that only meant trouble. “You don’t have to worry about money.”
“You are such a juvenile.”
Caleb smiled his dazzling smile, his amber eyes alight with laughter. “But you still love me.”
Justin loved his best friend more than anything. He smiled and knew he was going to cave. “Just one night and we can’t stay out too late.”
“Yes!” Caleb rose to his feet and pumped his arm. “Come on, we’ll pick out some party clothes for you.”
Justin glanced down at the jeans and sweater he was wearing. “What’s wrong with this?”
Caleb crinkled his nose. “So not party clothes, J. You look like you’re about to curl up on the couch with some tea and read poetry.” The guy held up his hands. “Not that I think you dress funny or anything.”
This coming from a guy who spent over three hundred dollars on one pair of jeans. The material better be made of gold if Justin was going to…who was he kidding? He didn’t have three bucks, let alone three hundred. Funny thing was Caleb had bought party clothes for Justin some time ago and kept the outfits hanging neatly in his closet. Caleb had claimed that one day they’d hit the clubs and Justin would need them.