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I take a step back, still staring at Tyler. “Your T-shirt’s in the washing machine. I’ll leave it by the backdoor.”

* * *

All day Monday at school,people are talking behind my back. I’m dreading rehearsal that afternoon, but it’ll be a relief too, because I’ll find out what they’resaying.

Turns out I don’t have to waitlong.

Jenna leans over in calc, when the teacher steps out, to whisper, “Are you okay? There’s a rumor going around that you begged Kellan to punch your V-card, he said no, then when he tried to leave, you crawled afterhim.”

I cut a look at Carly across the room. “That’s how it happened,” I deadpan. “I planned the whole party so some jock would stick his dick inme.”

Jenna goes back to her book. My gaze lands on Pen’s empty seat. I really wish she werehere.

By the time I make it through lunch, then fourth and fifth periods, Carly and her minions have been spreading gossip all day, but it’s Kellan I’m dreadingmost.

I don’t want to look him in theeye.

I don’t want him to touchme.

Not because I’m afraid, but because he’s a reminder of how stupid I was to think I could win these peopleover.

Miss Norelli calls us to attention. “Since Mr. Albright doesn’t have lacrosse today, we can run the rowboatscene.”

The one where they nearly kiss.Perfect. I get to beg for Kellan’s attention on stage,too.

Miss Norelli looks around as I drop my bags on the corner of the stage. “Where isKellan?”

There’s no Kellan insight.

She checks her watch. “He must be running late. Annie, aword.”

I cross to her, and the rest of the crew goes about theirpreparations.

“It was kind of you to host the party this week, which makes it hard to saythis.”

The hairs on my arms lift. “Saywhat?”

“I’ve been thinking long and hard, and I’m not ready to put you on stage in the leading role after your inconsistent performance this pastweek.“

Every muscle in me tightens at once in denial andpanic.

No. Shit, no,she can’t take this away fromme.

I want to say it’s hard to focus when someone’s threatening to poison you with your own water bottle or point out that Kellan misses more rehearsals than hemakes.

But Kellan’s good when he’s here. I hate that it’strue.

“I know I haven’t been consistent recently,” I admit, “but I’ll fix this. I swear. Just give me twoweeks.”

“We put a premium on words, but actions speak louder.” Norelli sighs, checking something on her phone. “I can give you ten days, but I’m making sure Carly is well-versed in the lead. If your consistency doesn’t improve, I’m making an executive decision and putting Carly in yourplace.”

I nod because I can’t find the words tospeak.

Before I can, Kellan strides in the door. He makes his way up to the stage, and I drag my feet to meet my prince, who’s taking his sweet time shrugging out of his blazer. When he straightens, my gasp isn’t the only one in the room. His eye’s so swollen it’s almost shut, fresh and pink andangry.

“I trust you’ll be more careful leading up to opening night. We can’t have our prince looking like he was bludgeoned,” Norellichides.

I swear this day can’t get worse until Kellan’s good eye narrows as he lowers his voice. “You can wave your ass in my face and then fuck someone else, but tell him he doesn’t need to run interference. You’re not worthit.”


Tags: Piper Lawson Rivals Romance