“Oh, that does explain the tension.” Elle cocks her head as I squirm in my seat, tugging the hem of my skirt that’s riding high up mylegs.
“I bet he’d learn everything you like, memorize it, use it all against you to get hisway.”
Rae’s words have me flushing, averting mygaze.
Forgive me for not bringing a change of underwear to thisvenue.
My gaze drags from the girl and over to Tyler, his strong shoulders, handsomeprofile.
He’s beyond sexy. Thinking about him is sexy. Talking about him issexy.
Breathing the same air in the same room issexy.
The guy in question turns his head and catches me staring. His gaze skims down and back up, as if he can see me press my thighs together under thetable.
I can’t lookaway.
If I’m honest, I still have feelings forTyler.
But even if I think there’s a chance he feels the same way, that’s not why we’re here. We have our dreams, and we’ve both given up things to pursuethem.
The waitress comes by to see if we want more drinks. “You guys are Vanier students. I was one.Acting.”
“Do you work?” Raesays.
“Mostly, I’m here. I get good hours.” She winks, but her smile seemsforced.
We order another round, and shedisappears.
That’s the reality, I remind myself.It’s easy to want this life. It’s harder to make it happen. Especially when your plan for getting it done—the showcase—gets yanked out from underyou.
Before I’ve taken another sip of my drink, hands settle on my neck. I jump as something soft brushes myear.
“You’ve been quiet tonight.” Tyler’s not in my line of sight, but I feel his touch on my bare skin, smell his familiar cedarscent.
Before I can respond, he lifts me out of the booth and sets me by hisside.
“Tell me what’sup.”
“What’s up is you win. Congratulations.” I pull my phone from my bag and hold out the email I got from the dean’s officetoday.
I shove a hand through my hair, looking past him while he reads it. “They’re not letting me audition,” I say under my breath. “Newpolicy.”
“This isn’t happening.” The edge in his voice does nothing to soothe myfrustration.
I take the phone back and tuck it away. “Whatever. It was a long shotanyway.”
I try to brush past him, but he cages me in with his arms. “Tyler… there’s nothing we cando.”
“Audition withme.”
My mind goes blank as I take in his angry face. “Wait,what?”
“We can do your songtogether.”
“They won’t letus—”
“Then we’ll makethem.”