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“Well, I think he got that message when you yelled at him about it.”

Evan didn’t know the half of it. I hadn’t told him about bumping into Liam at the grocery store last night, and I most definitely hadn’t divulged the fact that he’d helped me carry my groceries home and I’d yelled at him once again. His arrival had really messed with my head, and I needed to get past it. I was normally so calm and controlled, and I didn’t want to turn into a crazy lady because of some guy.

I shrugged. “He needed to know this isn’t just some stupid play.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t think that.”

I scoffed. Evan was dreaming if he believed Liam was even slightly interested in our play.

“And just think of the positives he’ll bring to the performance,” Evan continued. “So many more people will come to watch the production because he’s in it. And who knows, maybe the play will garner some real media attention. Teagan, this could be your shot.”

His words made my stomach sink. Evan knew I was desperate to get out of this town and be an actress one day. I should be taking every chance I could get to make connections with someone as famous as Liam Black. With his star power, I might be able to get the attention I needed to kick-start my acting career.

Something about the idea felt icky to me though. I didn’t want to use anyone as a stepping-stone to my dreams, and even if Liam could help me out, I highly doubted he would be bothered. There were other ways of achieving what I wanted without Liam’s help, and the scout Miss Appleby had asked to our play was one of them.

“You do still want to act in movies someday, don’t you, Teags?” he prompted when I hadn’t responded.

I gave him a tight smile. “Of course, I do. I’m just very aware that all that added attention won’t be very helpful if our play is a flop, and I’m especially nervous about that after Liam’s lifeless performance yesterday.”

“It was just a read-through,” Evan replied. “I’m sure he’ll be brilliant once he gets onstage.”

“Perhaps.” I shrugged. “But I’m going to keep being nervous until I’ve seen him taking it seriously.”

“Well, I think you’re worrying too much.”

“I guess time will tell.”

We had drama class first up, and as we walked into the room, the two of us fell silent. Liam was already there, speaking with Miss Appleby, and my stomach dropped at the sight. He had a script open in his hands, and even from here, I could see huge red marks all over the pages.

As if he sensed me enter the room, Liam glanced in my direction. As soon as our eyes collided, a smirk lifted at the corner of his lips. He looked so damn smug for some reason, but I kept my face impassive. I was done letting this guy get a rise out of me.

I turned my attention back to Evan and smiled broadly, like we hadn’t just spent the last five minutes talking about how worried I was. “Have you started memorizing your lines yet?” I asked.

Evan chuckled and shook his head. “I think we’re still a few weeks off putting our scripts down, Teags.”

“Yeah, but the sooner everything’s memorized, the better, right?”

A knowing smile formed on his lips. “How much have you already memorized?”

“I don’t know, a few scenes.”

“Teags…”

“Okay, maybe more than a few scenes,” I admitted. “But I have a really good memory for lines.”

“You do,” he agreed. “I bet Hayley twenty bucks you’d have the whole play memorized by the end of next week. I hope you’re not going to let me down.”

“You did not bet on me!” I exclaimed.

“What? I could really use the money.”

I shook my head at him. “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” he agreed.

We sat at the back of the class, and I tried not to look in Liam’s direction. My gaze felt magnetized to him though, and I struggled every few moments as my eyes started to naturally drift toward him. I was desperate to know what he and Miss Appleby had been doing with the script, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of going up and asking.

At least I didn’t have to wait long to find out. As soon as class started, Miss Appleby began by telling us all about Liam’sgreat ideasfor the play.