Page 78 of The Surprise Play

What if they catch me with Wily?

What if they find out that I’ve broken their rules?

I hate to think what their retribution will look like.

But…

Creeping forward, I work my way down the aisle of books and peek my head around the corner.

There he is.

All tall and beautiful, sitting in his chair… waiting for me.

He’s got headphones on, his head bopping along to whatever music he’s listening to, and I can’t help watching him for a second.

My lips twitch, then grow into a smile when he mouths the words, then plays a little air guitar.

He’s adorable.

And funny.

And I really want to tutor him right now.

But I probably shouldn’t.

Sadness sweeps through me as I rub my cheek again and go to turn away.

“Satch!” Wily calls, his voice booming across the quiet space.

I wince, hunching my shoulders as the woman at the table nearby gives him a marked frown and hisses, “Shhh!”

“Sorry.” Wily’s voice is still way too loud as he pulls his headphones off and waves me over.

Crap. What am I supposed to do now?

His head tips, his eyebrows puckering in obvious confusion when I still haven’t made a move. He waves me over once more, and I can’t just bail on him now. He’s seen me!

Sucking in a nervous breath, I squeeze my index finger and head toward him, bumping my hip on the table closest to me before slowing to a snail-like crawl and eventually stopping beside him.

CHAPTER 23

WILY

I gaze up at Satch, wondering what her problem is. Why was she hiding in the aisle? She’d obviously seen me and looked like she was about to bail.

Did I do something wrong?

She seems so nervous and uncertain right now. She won’t look at me, and her face?—

Wait a second.

What the fuck?

A low growl rumbles in my throat as I lightly take her wrist and ask, “What happened to your face?”

She bulges her eyes at me, wriggling her wrist out of my grasp and shaking her head. “What… what do you mean?”

“Your face.” I reach up to gently brush my thumb over the red stain on her cheek.