REPUTATION

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE
Evelyn

I think jet lag is making me hallucinate.

Otherwise, I don't think that I would be staring bleary-eyed at an inhumanly gorgeous boy who's claiming to be the prince of England.

I blink at him, sleep fogging up my mind.

I need coffee before I can deal with crazy people, even if they have swoon-worthy British accents.

"Anyways." He smiles at me, and wow...his teeth are very white.

I blink, again. I have absolutely no idea what he's talking about.

He extends a hand towards me.

I take it, shaking it once and dropping my hand back to my side.

"I'm Elijah. But call me Eli." My God, this boy talks a lot.

I smile. "I'm Evelyn."

"Nice to meet you, luv." He holds my gaze for a second.

I scrub a hand over my face after he turns away from me and begins fiddling with the tray attached to the seat in front of him. I resist the urge to check my breath.

...

"Sorry, hun." The woman behind the counter glances up at me with apologetic eyes. "I'm afraid we have no available drivers."

She gives me a quick smile, painted lips turned up, minimal teeth showing, before beckoning over the next customer. It seems she's done with me.

I take a deep breath, shrugging my backpack higher up on my shoulder and looking for a place to sit until I can call a Lyft. Or whatever types of taxis they have here.

I flop back on the black leather, my body ready to curl up in the bed waiting for me. I just have to get there.

The boy from the plane catches my eye and I don't think it's fair for anybody to look that good in a pair of jeans. He saunters over, hands shoved in his pockets, bag slung over one shoulder.

"Hello, luv." He flashes a smile, showing off his pearly white teeth again.

I know it's a common term of endearment around here, but the way he says it brings the butterflies in my stomach back to life.

"Hi." I toss my long, blonde hair over one shoulder.

He jerks his head over to where I was previously standing. "Couldn't catch a cab?"

I shake my head, words failing me. I blame it on the lack of sleep. And coffee.

He pulls his lower lip through his teeth. "You could ride with me?"

Now, all mother's prepare their little girls—and boys—for this moment. And the obvious answer is no. But my sleep-deprived brain is telling me to just say yes. Because, honestly, what else could possibly go wrong today?

I stand, grabbing the handle of the suitcase next to me.

"It's just outside those doors." He starts walking away and I'm left to follow.

I heave out a sigh, bracing myself for whatever kind of shitty car waits outside. I'm starting to wish I was back in New York with Jess and Delayna. Starting. There could be worse things than hanging out with a prince...if he even is a prince.

He pauses at the doors, glancing over his shoulder. "You coming, Evelyn?"

"Yeah." I walk over to him, placing a hand on the door.

He pushes the other door open and we're greeted by a cold that nips at our exposed skin and what seems to be a million camera flashes.

My eyes find Eli's, his hand shielding his gaze from the paparazzi.

I drop my phone.

Holy shit.

He is a prince.