Page 121 of Playing Dirty

An announcement comes over the loudspeaker a couple minutes later, calling for everyone to be seated as the show is about to begin. Then the four of us take a ride down to Hadestown together.

Pride swells in my chest every time the spotlight lands on Vaughn, who absolutely kills his first leading role as Orpheus. The kid can sing and act like no other, and every part of me hopes he winds up getting into the Royal Vale Academy of Performing Arts next fall. It would suck having him move to London for a year, but it would push him closer to his goal of winding up on Broadway, which is what really matters.

I can’t help myself from glancing over at Theo every once in a while during the performance, watching his reaction to what’s happening on stage. He catches me a couple times, though I’m not exactly discreet about it, and shoots me a little smirk before he’s sucked back into the performance.

Despite the show being nearly three hours with the intermission, it comes to a close feeling like no time has passed at all—the same feeling I’ve had all three times I’ve seen it. And just like the two times prior, I’m left with this heaviness in my chest from the bittersweet tale of a doomed love.

But this time, the story hits a little harder.

A little too close to home, maybe.

Torin and Miles lead the way to the lobby once the show ends, andtogether, the four of us wait for Vaughn. He emerges from one of the side doors only ten minutes after their final bows, and as he approaches excitedly, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly he can get out of costume.

“Did you guys like it?” Vaughn asks instantly, glancing between us. “Most people get pissed about the ending if they didn’t already know the myth.”

He asks it like three out of the four of us haven’t seen the show at least once before, but Miles replies before I have the chance to point it out.

“I don’t think that even matters,” Miles says with a laugh. “Torin was crying like a little bitch by the end.”

“I think you’re embellishing things quite a bit,” Torin gripes from where he’s leaning against the wall a few feet away.

Miles does have the habit of making things more grandiose than reality, I’ll admit, but in this case—and thanks to the bit of red rimming Torin’s eyes—I don’t think that’s the case. Of course, I don’t mention it, because I’m not looking to stir the pot.

“I thought it was really good,” Theo chimes in, pulling my attention to him. “Way better thanHigh School Musical.”

I laugh and knock my shoulder into his. “You’re gonna give Vaughn a heart attack with that comparison.”

“No, no. It’s fine. He’s just uncultured, but I’ll change that.” Vaughn’s dark brows waggle a little bit before he says, “Starting withThe Greatest Showmanif he’s planning to come over tonight.”

Torin and Miles let out a simultaneous groan, and I start laughing.

“Your obsession with Hugh Jackman is unhinged,” Miles laments, and Vaughn instantly holds up his hands like he’s the picture of innocence.

“I was offering because it has Zac Efron in it. I never mentioned Hugh.”

Torin scoffs. “I’d sooner believe Madden gave up his shot at going pro than that, Vaughn.”

“Hey, at least he’s not offering upLes Mis,” I point out before looking at Theo. “I don’t know if you’d survive that.”

Theo just shrugs. “I mean, I liked this one. I didn’t know what to expect in terms of the music, but the story itself was great.” He pauses for a second, giving me a thoughtful look, before asking, “The myths have the same ending as this did, right?”

I don’t miss the way Vaughn shoots a glare my way, but I ignore him in favor of answering Theo’s question.

“The reasons vary. Sometimes he hears her stumble or can’t hear her at all, other times it’s more like this, and he thinks it’s all a trick Hades is playing on him. The doubt creeps in, and he can’t help himself. But, yeah, they always end with him turning around, sending her right back to the Underworld for good.”

“But it makes sense that he would, right?” Vaughn says, looking directly at Theo.

Miles lets out an exasperated sigh. “And here we go. Another session of Vaughn trying to convince the world that Orpheus isn’t weak as shit.”

Vaughn gapes at him. “He’s literally going to hell and back for her because he wants her alive and with him every day. Her being alive means he can see her, touch her, know that she’s physically there with him. How is it weak for him to cave for—”

“You literally just said he caved,” Torin points out, his signature bored expression firmly back in place while he plays with the black nail polish chipping on his thumb.

An annoyed little sound leaves Vaughn, and his blue eyes slide to me for backup, the way it always does. BecauseI’musually the only one who agrees with him: that Orpheus turning is more nuanced than it appears.

Maybe that’s why we’re both surprised when Theo decides to chime in again.

“I think they were doomed the moment Hades made him walk alone.”