The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 39

I continue glaring at Jesse, but Rafe moves on with his interrogation of Ben.

“What makes you think Luca hasn’t figured out that Ariel’s a girl?” Rafe says as he leans forward, eager for Ben’s answer and apparently deciding to trust him.

“I don’t think Luca knows because he hasn’t tried to hit on her yet,” Ben replies, laughing. “Didn’t you see him this afternoon with the seamstress? Luca loves women – he’s dying for some female attention. If he knew Ari is a girl, he’d be all over her.”

“True,” Rafe murmurs, leaning back against the couch cushion and staring into space a bit as he thinks it through.

Jesse’s eyes sparkle as he again catches my eye. My mouth draws to a thin line as I stare at him, shaking my head at him because he is loving this just a little too

much.

God, I want to smack him right now.

But that would give way too much away.

“Well, how did you know?” Rafe asks, blinking back to reality and turning his attention back to Ben.

“Because,” Ben says, turning to smile at me. “I have four younger sisters. You guys – you protect her the same way I’d protect my sisters if they were sleeping in a communal room with a bunch of guys for two weeks. Plus,” his smile widens now as he settles onto the carpet and leans back on his hands, clearly feeling more relaxed. “You laugh like a girl, Ari.”

“What!?” I shriek.

And Ben bursts into laughter at my reaction, and then Rafe and Jesse do too, and I blush, because I hear it now – it was a very girly shriek.

And so I start to laugh too, and we all laugh harder as we hear it, because my laugh – it really does hit higher notes than theirs, lilting above over their low, resonant

tones.

My face reddens even further, and I press my hands to my cheeks. And then, experimentally, I try a lower laugh, seeing if I can make it more boyish

Chapter 39

peels of laughter that come from me as I grab a pillow off the couch and hurl it at Rafe’s face, because he’s laughing the hardest. But he just catches it

of the family now, Ben,” Rafe sighs when his laughter fades, shrugging and giving

think it’s cool.” Ben says with a shrug, reaching for my packet of peach rings on the table and grabbing one from the edge. “Plus, I like girls. It’s nice to

thinking that it’s too nice,” Rafe says, his voice a low growl again. “I said you’re family now, which means hands off the little sister.”

worry,” Ben says, continuing to grin at me. “I don’t think I’m

before I can protest further a knock comes at the door.

we all turn in time to see the door swing

box balanced in his hands. “Can I come in? I

in I take the

Luca but I don’t say anything, because…honestly, I’m still trying to catch my breath. God damn it, Luca in

We’re never going to make it here, I whisper to her, laughing inwardly, but she doesn’t even bother

I can hear the words as

Sun, Tu Mar

Chapter 39

and lean over, smacking Ben hard on the arm.

we both laugh, because we know

coffee table just as the bell to the dumbwaiter rings again. I perk up, completely fascinated by this crazy aspect of on new life, and dash over to it. Even though Rafe beats me there.

but Rafe just laughs and swats my hand away. “That’s too heavy for you,” he says, smiling

I was starving. But I cheerfully grab the

wander over to the couch area in time to see Rafe lift the cover from the tray. “Five!” I say, slipping over the back of the couch so that I’m sitting next to Luca, leaning forward

–

left a note,” Ben says, looking up at me and shrugging. “Asked them to please

reaching eagerly for a plate and a set of silverware rolled in a white napkin. “Seriously, why are we still

eat.”

and start to pour the glasses of water

it was something a little better than water,” Luca murmurs when I hand him his cup. “We’re celebrating, after all.”

and considering that though he might be right, I’m a little glad that we’re obliged to keep sober tonight. With a

as Rafe hands me my plate. I balance the dish on my knees as

really is better up here than it is in the barracks. I had no idea we’d be living in relative luxury candidacy really lowered

the bath I took this afternoon and the evening meal tonight? I think I’m going to like life in