Page 22 of Play the Part (Marsford Bay #2)

CONNIE

“ H ow long do we have?” Jamie asks. She blows a pink strand of hair out of her face as she fiddles with the table full of refreshments, her face scrunched up in concentration.

I check my phone. “Like, thirty minutes?”

“Perfect,” she says under her breath. “I’m almost done with the table. What else needs to be done?”

“The booze is still in my trunk. Give me a hand when you’re finished?”

Jamie nods and smiles, eyes sparkling with happiness as she returns to her task.

It’s Saturday evening, just after audition week, and we’re busy prepping for the cast party. Well, maybe housewarming is a more accurate word. A little something to mark this new era for the theatre.

Casting was pretty seamless; three days and we had the actors picked out. To my delight, Mary-Beth auditioned and got the part of Kate. It’s a small comfort to have an old friend with me at the Remington.

I didn’t waste any time planning the party. I invited everyone, from the cast to the technical crew and even the renovation team. The more, the merrier—and nothing to do with needing an excuse to invite Huxley.

Things have been … fine … since the big snowstorm four days ago. It didn’t stop snowing until well after midnight. Eventually, I left Huxley to brood in the auditorium and took a nap in my office just to get away from the tense silence between us.

The torturous ride home wasn’t any better, but by the next day, it was as if we both had decided to pretend the kiss never happened. We’ve been pretending ever since while I continue to pick him up and drop him off from work.

I don’t even know why I stopped the kiss in the first place. What is it about Huxley that makes me so tentative?

Aside from that first time at Jamie’s engagement party, that is.

I have a history of not thinking about the consequences. Our one-night stand is a classic example of my impulsivity.

But would hooking up with Huxley again really be such a giant mistake? I keep blaming my reticence on him being Ozzy’s brother. But would that really be such a problem? Would Jamie even care?

It’s not just that.

As much as I like to entertain the thought of him and me, Huxley could never just be a fling. It would be too messy, with the family ties and all. It already is too messy. And I’m nowhere near ready to consider anything serious after what Oliver did to me.

It doesn’t mean I want Huxley out of the picture, either.

I’m standing near the stage with Jamie and Mary-Beth, sipping on a vodka soda.

Most of the cast and crew have arrived, and I’m buzzing with excitement.

With everyone here, there are about thirty of us, and the auditorium is alive with music and conversation.

Even Virginia seems to be enjoying herself.

After two weeks of killing her with kindness, she’s finally warming up to me.

No one can resist my infectious charm for long.

My gaze sweeps across the auditorium, but there’s no sign of Huxley yet. I try not to make it obvious that I’m seeking him out in front of Jamie but thankfully she’s too busy catching up with Mary-Beth to pay much attention to my nervous antics.

When I finally see him walk in, I swallow sideways, choking on my drink.

He’s cleaned up for the party. The burgundy sweater under his bomber jacket looks new, and even his blue hair appears freshly done.

But I can’t linger long on those details when all I can see is Selina hanging off him, all smiles and fake designer boots.

Letting my emotions get the best of me, I grab Jamie by the sleeve of her dress and tug her toward me.

“What the hell is she doing here?” I whisper harshly, pointing my chin toward the duo. “I specifically said no partners.”

Jamie looks confused, then squints. “Wait, is that the Selina?” Then eyes me for half a second too long before she laughs, trying to defuse the tension. “But also, why were you expecting Huxley to follow the rules in the first place?”

I quell the urge to stomp right up to Selina and tell her to leave in front of Huxley and the whole cast. But I’m twenty-nine, for god’s sake, I should maybe start acting my age.

I harrumph at Jamie’s answer but don’t reply. Taking another big gulp of my vodka soda, I let Jamie resume her conversation with Mary-Beth, and I make a show of pretending to listen. But try as I might, my gaze is fixed on the asshole who brought a date to my cast party.

He pauses near the doors and looks around, most likely looking for Whit, who’s talking to one of the set designers. His green eyes land on me, and he pauses his sweep of the room just long enough to stare back and smile.

God, his smile.

It’s calculated and inexplicably delicious. It’s as if he thinks he’s won something unsaid between us.

Little fucker.

Two can play this game. I turn away first before he has the chance to.

Half an hour later, I’m still fuming. He hasn’t even come up to say hi to me or Jamie yet, and by my best friend’s nonchalance, I’m the only one who seems to have a problem with his aloof behavior.

I’m this close to walking up and introducing myself to Selina just to spite him when he finally catches my eye. Leaning down to whisper something in Selina’s ear, he keeps his gaze steady on mine, then turns and walks away.

Assuming he’s going out for a cigarette, my curiosity—or more like suspicion—piques when he veers to the left and heads for the balcony stairs.

Is he wanting me to follow him?

I press my lips together, subtly rolling my eyes. He’ll be waiting a long time for that.

I return to the conversation Jamie is now having with Nacho.

A minute passes. I’m not listening.

“I need some air,” I blurt out. And before anyone has time to offer their company, I add. “I’ll be right back.”

I walk out of the auditorium and end up standing like an idiot in the middle of the lobby.

“This is so stupid,” I mutter under my breath.

After barely thirty seconds, I loop back inside and bolt up the stairs, praying that no one has noticed me. I find Huxley sitting exactly where we sat last time.

The night we kissed.

The memory of his lips on mine does nothing to quell the flames licking up my body.

Huxley is holding his beer with a loose grip, letting it hang between his legs as he stares down at the party downstairs. Even if he doesn’t look at me as I approach, I can tell he knows I’m there.

With every step, I feel his presence like a magnet pulling me even closer. I stop just beside his seat. Placing my hands behind me on the railing, I lean against them.

“I said no partners.”

He flicks his gaze up without moving an inch, staring at me from under his eyelashes. His smile is just as disarming as before.

His voice is low when he speaks. “She’s not my partner.”

I smooth my tongue over my teeth with irritation. “Whatever the fuck she is to you, she’s not supposed to be here.”

“James is here.”

“Oh my god,” I say dismissively as I look away, then back to him. “As if Jamie counts as a plus one.”

He takes a slow swig of his beer before letting his arm fall back between his legs.

“I’ll read the fine print next time.”

I can tell he’s goading me. He’s trying to get a rise out of me, and to my dismay, it’s working. I can’t help but narrow my eyes at him and try to think of another lame comment to fling back at him.

“Nice dye job,” I say with a snark. “Did you have your little girlfriend give you a hand with it?”

I realize I’ve walked right into it when Huxley shoots me an arrogant look, his chin lifting slowly so he can stare at me square in the eyes. He toys with his tongue ring, rolling it between his lips before speaking, and the sight has my cheeks flushing in heat.

“She gave me a hand, alright.”

My stomach churns at the image he just painted, but I don’t react, keeping my face as smooth as stone. I don’t have any right to lay claim. Selina isn’t doing anything wrong, even if I hate her fucking guts right now.

“Cute.” My tone is dripping with condescension. “Is that supposed to make me jealous?”

I see his cocky expression falter, but he regains his composure just as fast.

It’s enough for me to go in for the kill.

I drop my head backward and laugh before my taunting gaze lands back on Huxley. He looks rattled, and I feed off of it.

“Was that your master plan?” I push off the railing and surprise him by dropping sideways on his lap.

Crossing my legs, I wrap an arm around his neck.

While walking two teasing fingers up his chest, I pout mockingly.

“You really thought parading a girl in front of me would make me fall at your feet?”

Too wrapped up in wanting the upper hand in this insipid game of chicken we’re playing, I realize my fateful error when his green eyes darken.

His face is inches from mine, his hot breath tickling my parted lips. An entire lifetime passes between us before his hand slowly slips over my knit dress and settles on my upper thigh.

“It’s working, isn’t it?”

His voice is just as heated as the slow trace of his thumb across the dip of my hip. It’s as if he’s touched my core directly. My clit throbs in response as my breath catches in my throat.

I try not to react, caught up in how close his face is to mine.

I could kiss him. Part my legs and beg for him.

His tongue swipes slowly over his bottom lip before he flashes me another one of his infuriatingly smug smiles.

With it, his hold on me snaps.

And I suddenly remember the game .

I straighten in his lap and cock a grin, breaking the tension between us.

“Not even close, sweetie,” I say while I pat him on the head and jump to my feet.

I don’t look back and bound down the stairs, grinning with victory, knowing I must have left Huxley fuming in his seat. But it’s done nothing to quell the fire still roaring inside of me.

Distracted, I realize much too late, when I get to the bottom of the stairs, that Selina is heading straight for me. My heart drops, thinking she might have seen something she shouldn’t have. But her expression is one of forced friendliness.

“Hi!” she says excitedly, pressing both hands to her chest, eyes glimmering and mouth open wide in a smile.

“I can’t believe it’s you, I’ve been following you for years!

I’ve been trying to find a way to introduce myself all night,” she gushes.

She then points to her phone in her hand. “Can we take a selfie?”

My gaze lands on Huxley walking down the stairs on the opposite side of the auditorium. He’s staring daggers at both of us, but Selina notices nothing.

I return my attention to my fan and flip my hair off my shoulder as I return her beaming smile.

“Of course we can!”