Page 90 of Playing Dirty

Theo glances my way, obviously not sure what to make of the question, before letting out a nervous laugh. “Uh, doesHigh School Musicalcount? I watched that as a kid.”

Vaughn’s features pinch up. “I mean, not really, but I guess it’s better than nothing.”

Confusion etches into Theo’s brow, but Torin is quick to supply some context around Vaughn’s inquiry.

“Vaughn is a theatre major. So, naturally, he likes to see if anyone is asculturedas he is. And if not, he makes us suffer through any show he stars in.”

Torin’s statement is partly accurate. I’ve seen pretty much everything Vaughn has ever played a role in. More than either of the other two combined, since I’ve known him the longest. Though, I enjoy most of the shows, so I wouldn’t necessarily call it—

“Suffering is a strong word choice,” Vaughn shoots back, stealing the thoughts straight from my head. “Especially for someone who cried when I was inNext to Normallast year.”

“Yeah, because it was so bad,” Miles teases while taking his turn, only to elbow Vaughn in the side playfully once he’s passed the dice over to Theo for his roll.

But I don’t miss the way Torin’s expression shutters on a dime.

“Oh, fuck off,” Vaughn says on a laugh before looking back at Theo. “Blackmore’s theatre program has a show every April. You should come.”

Theo stills mid-roll, and I glance over to catch a perplexed expression on his face while he stares at Vaughn.

“Really?”

Vaughn shrugs. “Sure. Why not, if you haven’t seen one in person?”

Theo’s gaze darts from him to me, gauging my reaction to the offer. Which, as unexpected as it is, isn’t unwelcome. So I lift one shoulder in a slight shrug, and leave the choice up to him.

His attention drops to the board while he rolls, offering a non-commital, “Yeah, okay. I’ll think about it.”

“That usually means no,” Vaughn points out.

Torin pelts him with one of his road pieces. “Stop being you for five seconds and hand out my damn brick cards.”

My friends are a bunch of menaces sometimes, but thankfully, Theo doesn’t seem to mind. If anything, he’s entertained by it, if the way his attention darts around the room while they toss banter—and game pieces—is anything to go on.

“So if you’re in theatre,” Theo starts, glancing from Vaughn to my other friends, “then what are you two majoring in?”

Miles slaps down a few cards and starts building roads on the board while he answers, “Business, with a focus on organizational management.”

“Visual arts,” Torin says before grabbing the dice for his roll.

Theo’s brows furrow as his gaze moves between my friends, only to land on me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask quietly, assuming his confusion is about something happening with the game.

Theo leans toward me, his musky scent invading my senses as he whispers, “Nothing’s wrong. I just feel like I’m sitting at a table with the group fromThe Breakfast Club.”

The chuckle that escapes me can’t be helped, though I do attempt to cover it with a choked cough. It’s not the first time the comparison has been made in regard to the Core Four, and I doubt this will be the last time either.

Then again, looking at the group of us from an outside perspective, it’s clear why people think it. What exactly would a happy-go-lucky theatre kid, a professional-bound athlete, a jokester frat boy, and a grungy artist really have in common?

Vaughn shoots me the most intimidating look he can muster from across the table. “Are you table-talking right now?”

“Table…talking?” Theo echoes beside me, confusion tinting his tone.

“Ignore him.” This comes from Torin, who has a bored, vacant expression pasted on his face as he absently stares at the game board in front of us. “He’s just having a hissy fit because I’m about to take the longest road card from him.”

“If they’re making an alliance, then they should be freely discussing it aloud,” Vaughn quips as he begrudgingly relinquishes his card to Torin.

“They’re not talking about the game, you dolt,” Miles chimes in, and I glance over to catch him eyeing the two of us with equal parts suspicion and intrigue.