Page 37 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

“What are you gonna play?” she asks.

“Something classic. Ariana Grande, maybe?”

Her brows rise. “I didn’t expect that. I figured you’d go full emo.”

“I might look like I listen to Screamo, but I’m in my Ariana era.”

“You wear it well,” she says with a wink.

We get in line behind three people. While we wait, Heidi confesses that she’s also wearing clothes way sexier than usual, which makes me laugh. “Glad I’m not the only one who got a little push in the wardrobe department.”

“You clean up good, though,” she tells me.

I rest my head on her shoulder and sigh. “I didn’t think I’d make friends here. Glad I was wrong.”

“We’re hanging out after this show ends,” she promises. “No matter what happens. Though let’s be real. Ryan’s totally into you.”

“Nope.” I shake my head fast. “He’s pretending. It’s all for the show.”

She gives me a look but doesn’t argue. I want to tell her everything. That I’m a producer plant, that I’m not supposed to fall for him. But I don’t. I just swallow it down and pretend I’m not dying inside.

We take turns picking songs at the jukebox, then drift over to the bar to watch the chaos unfold. The lighting is flattering, the drinks are flowing. For a moment, I forget I’m being filmed.

A guy appears next to me. Tall, flirty, and trying way too hard. But he’s funny. I don’t hate talking to him. He leans closer, his arm brushing mine. “You don’t look like a barfly,” he says.

I smile. “I can be full of surprises.”

We chat easily. It feels safe. Detached.

Until I feel it.

A prickle on the back of my neck.

I turn and see Ryan watching me from the other end of the bar. His jaw’s tight. His eyes laser focused. His hand lands on my shoulder. Warm, possessive, totally unwelcome.

“Didn’t know you were making friends, Wren,” he says.

I don’t even flinch. Just flash a smile, all teeth. “Didn’t know you cared.”

The guy beside me stiffens. “Is there a problem?”

Ryan doesn’t answer. Just glares until the guy mumbles an apology and disappears.

I whirl on him. “Are you serious?”

He shrugs. “This is my dating show. You’re here to make me happy.”

I blink. “That wasn’t about me making bad decisions. That was about you not liking someone else talking to me.”

“In your dreams, Chirp. I was rescuing you. Like always.”

I turn back to the bar and try to order another shot.

“What was that?” the bartender shouts, cocking his head and putting his hand to his ear.

It is getting louder in here for sure. There are more people crowding into this tight space, making it difficult for someone like me, who’s basically invisible, to be heard. I mumble something about needing a shot and the bartender squints at me.

“One more time!”