Page 26 of Dungeons and Drama

Anthony coughs out a laugh.

At 8:45, Dad comes over and lays a hand on my shoulder. “Great singing earlier. If you keep this up, I’m going to need to build a little stage back here for you.”

My eyes pop and I turn around to look at him. “You heard?” Of course, I knew that anyone playing in the back room would hear me, but I hadn’t seen Dad back here like last time.

“I snuck in as soon as I realized.” His hand squeezes my shoulder. “I never miss a chance to hear you sing. Your mom will be jealous she’s missing out.”

There’s a flutter in my chest to know that Dad was listening. He’s never been activelyunsupportiveof my theater and singing in the past. He came to my recitals and shows, even remembering to bring flowers a few times, but he seemed to be there only out of obligation. He always sat in the back instead of center front like Mom and he snuck out as soon as he’d said congratulations after the performance. I figured it was always pretty boring to him. I have to admit, it feels good to know he was listening. I just hope he went back to the registers before he noticed any flirting between Nathan and me.

“I hate to break up a great session,” Dad continues. “Butit’s time to close up for the night. Riley, do you mind helping with the register?”

“Um, sure,” I say, and stand up.

Nathan looks between Sophia and me, clearly pulled between staying to talk to her before she has to leave and making her more jealous. After a moment, he stands and walks to the front with me. I glance over my shoulder.

“She’s looking at you,” I say in anI told you sotone.

He shakes his head and follows me behind the register counter. “Fine, go ahead and gloat. You were right. I can’t believe how well this is working.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I was thinking we should talk a little more about this, though. Maybe—”

“Incoming,” I interrupt. I nod toward the back of the store where Lucas is marching toward us. Clearly Sophia isn’t the only one to notice something different between us tonight.

“What’s the plan?” I ask Nathan. “Are we telling the others about this?”

He hesitates and then Lucas is upon us. “What is going on with you two tonight?”

Nathan shrugs at him. “Uh…listen…”

But Nathan is too busy with Lucas to notice Sophia is heading our way now. If I don’t stop him, she’s going to heareverything and there’s no coming back from that.

“Just having fun at the game,” I say. I lay my head on Nathan’s shoulder. “And his paladin character is really cute.”

“You don’t know that,” Lucas argues, and leans across the counter. “Maybe he has a snaggletooth.”

“Who has a snaggletooth?” Sophia asks.

“Nathan’s paladin,” Lucas replies with exasperation.

“No, he doesn’t. My character would never date someone with a snaggletooth.”

Nathan swivels toward her. “I didn’t know our characters were dating.”

“Maybe not right now,” Sophia says with a wink. “But she’s always wanted to.”

Nathan steps away from me and I have to catch myself before I fall over.Seriously, man?I swallow my annoyance. Way to lose your cool at the slightest moment of interest.

“Nathan, if you’re done, will you walk me out to my car?” Sophia asks. “I don’t want to be alone after dark.”

Nathan barely gives me a backward glance as he scurries out the door with her. I sigh. If he drops me every time she gives him a bit of attention, then she’ll realize there’s nothing to be jealous of and this will all be for nothing. I need Nathan to keep up with this plan until we’ve convinced Paul I’m off the market.

John and Anthony come up on either side of Lucas, all three of them staring intently at me.

“Are you into Nathan now?” John asks. “Because this is too much change for our group. How are we supposed to defeat the hydra with all this drama going on?”

“I…” I look out the glass door into the dim parking lot, but I can’t see Nathan or Sophia. Is he going to keep his friends in the dark or not?

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