Page 32 of The Surprise Play

The thought calms me a little, but I’m still not convinced and lose the courage to “let myself in.” Instead, I knock once and nearly flinch when the door opens immediately and a tall Black man gazes down at me.

I take a quick step back and blink up at him.

“Can I help you?” His voice is deep and rumbly.

Oh shit, this is terrifying.

Tugging on the edges of my skirt, I swallow and try to smile up at him. “I’m looking for Wily Wilson?” My voice comes out as a soft squeak, and I hate that I’m not more confident.

But this one looks mean.

His face is so serious and he’sreally tall, and I can see his huge biceps and pecs. The fitted T-shirt he’s wearing hides nothing, and?—

“Hey, Ty, is that my tutor girl?” Wily calls down the stairs.

“Uh, yeah, I think so,” the man replies over his shoulder, looking me over. “A shorty with cute brown hair and big hazel eyes?”

“That’s the one. Send her up.”

I blink. No one has ever referred to me that way before.

Cute?

I’m not cute.

People never call me that.

I flush, not sure where to look as he steps aside to let me pass.

Keeping my eyes to the floor, I try not to breathe as I shuffle through the front door and make a beeline for the stairs.

“Second door on your right,” Ty’s voice rumbles behind me as I trip on the first step. “You okay?”

“Yep, I’m good. Thank you.” My cheeks flame and I pick up my pace, scrambling up the stairs and only tripping again on the second-to-top one.

Holy crap! I must look like such a moron!

But when I glance back down, Ty isn’t standing there watching me, frowning at me or laughing. He’s just gone.

I blink, unused to this kind of behavior.

What is this strange place?

I figured I’d be swamped with curious gazes and sneering looks, snide comments and intimidating glares, but… the house seems quiet, calm almost.

A door opens across the hall from me, and I turn with a gasp, blinking when a guy with dirty blond hair strolls out of the bathroom, a towel slung over his shoulder. He’s shirtless and looks like the embodiment of Adonis. I can see every curve and ridge of his torso. He’s just skin and muscle, and the towel wrapped around his waist is hanging so low I can see the top of that triangle thing that leads down to his?—

Oh my gosh, would you look away already!

But I can’t.

I’ve never seen anything like him before!

He jerks to a stop, giving me a curious frown, his eyes narrowing like he recognizes me or something. And then he starts walking right toward me.

Why? Why is he approaching?

I tense.