The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy novel Chapter 428

“Oh, you’re making that up, Juniper,” I sigh, flicking through the magazine myself now with a happy sigh. “My baby Mark doesn’t have a p**n collection – he’s just a little baby. Plus, p**n is all on computers these days anyway.”

June shrugs. “He likes it vintage.”

“Are you okay with this?” I ask Jacks, peering up at him as he stares down at the cover of the magazine, I think still a little baffled by it. His blush has faded now and honestly he looks a little pale.

Jackson takes a moment and then looks over at me. “I don’t know, should I be upset?”

I slowly shake my head. “I wouldn’t be, if I were you,” I say quietly. “I mean – we’re in the public eye, tabloids run stuff like this all the time. If you keep hanging out around us it’s bound to happen.”

Jackson nods slowly, considering it.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it Jacks,” Juniper says, stepping close and putting a hand on his arm. “Last year they ran a whole issue on whether I was sent to a boarding school to have a secret Atalaxian baby.”

He looks over at her in surprise, and then drops his eyes down to her stomach.

Juniper bursts out laughing and smacks him hard on the chest. “I mean, I didn’t!”

Jackson blushes again and apologizes, making us all laugh, but we’re interrupted when mom and dad come over to the helicopter with us.

“All right,” dad says, gesturing towards our mode of transport. “Everybody on. Except you, Junepiper.” He gathers her close and gives her a little kiss that she pretends to hate before sending her off, back into the palace and downstairs to catch a ride with Mark to Aunt Cora and Uncle Roger’s.

Everyone else starts to move towards the helicopter but I stand very still, shocked. “Wait!” I call.

Everyone turns to look at me, dad with a frown on his face. He looks at me curiously, waiting for an explanation.

“Why…why are we getting in now?” I ask, a little frantic, gesturing back towards the door to the palace. “Luca isn’t here yet!”

“Fine,” mom sighs, crossing her arms and glancing anxiously towards the helicopter. “Your dad is…still mad. About that little act Luca pulled the morning after his boxing match.”

“But Luca apologized, a lot! And…gave dad whatever was in that envelope that you won’t tell me about!”

“Your father gets over his anger in his own time in his own way, Ariel,” mom replies, calm but standing strong in her position. “There’s no rushing him, you know that. Luca is doing everything he can to make amends and your father will get over it – he’s just not there yet.”

I narrow my eyes. “Really? You’re just going to let dad take the blame for this, when we all know you’re the one who makes all of our family’s travel arrangements?”

“There were six seats, Ariel,” mom says, blinking innocently at me. “What can I say. Chopper was full.”

“You’re playing favorites,” I growl, taking a step forward to glare at my mother.