Page 78 of The Wrong Play

RILEY

The glow of the bonfire danced against the night sky, painting long shadows across the field as the air buzzed with life. Laughter floated over the crackle of burning logs, mixing with twangy music from a truck’s speakers and the sharp scent of smoke and beer. People were everywhere—crowded around the flames, stretched out on the grass, leaning against tailgates with red cups in hand, their voices loud and bright.

Too many people.

I lingered at the crowd’s edge, my fingers twisting the sleeves of my hoodie, the soft fabric bunching under my grip. It was so loud, voices overlapping, cups glinting in the firelight, bodies weaving in a blur that made my chest tighten. The energy hummed, wild and overwhelming, and I wasn’t sure I could step into it. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I should just turn back, slip away to my dorm before anyone noticed I’d even?—

My feet left the ground, the world tilting fast. I gasped, a quick little breath, as strong arms scooped me up, lifting me like I was light as air. A startled squeak slipped out, high and silly, before I felt a warm, solid chest press against mine, spinning methrough the air until my head spun and my heart raced. Jace. It had to be Jace.

He grinned down at me, his golden hair catching the fire’s light, his lips flashing like he’d just found a prize. “There’s my girl,” he said, his voice warm and steady, wrapping around me like a blanket I hadn’t asked for but couldn’t push away.

My sneakers skimmed the ground again, soft dirt under my feet, but he didn’t let go, his hands stayed on my waist, firm and warm through my hoodie, sending a flutter through me I couldn’t shake. I blinked, breathless, my hands hovering like I didn’t know where to put them. “You can put me down,” I stammered, my voice small, tripping over itself.

“Just celebrating the fact that the night’s actually perfect now that you’re here,” he said, his grin widening, all smug and pleased. His eyes sparkled, mischief glowing in the brown, the fire’s reflection flickering like something wild and alive.

I stared, my thoughts scattering, my heart doing a nervous little dance in my chest. He leaned closer, too close, his breath brushing my cheek, his nose almost touching mine. “I followed you from your dorm,” he said, casual as anything, like it was no big deal. “I had to make sure you showed up.”

My breath caught, eyes widening as I tried to process it. “You followed me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as my stomach flipped around—part shock, part something soft and warm I didn’t want to name.

Jace’s smirk deepened, as he dipped lower, his voice a low, teasing murmur. “Yeah, babycakes,” he said. “Couldn’t let my favorite girl slip away before I caught her.”

A rush of heat climbed my cheeks, and I ducked my head, tugging my sleeves over my hands. He always did that…said things like they were sweet, not completely unhinged, and for some reason I was never as weirded out—or scared—as I probably should be.

Jace slid me down the length of his body, slow and deliberate, like he wanted me to feel every hard inch of him, his chest, his stomach, and then…ok…the firm, undeniable press of his erect length against my hip as I moved past it. My breath hitched, a quick, shaky pull and he groaned softly.

“I would tell you to ignorehim, but I don’t really want you to,” he said with a wink.

I scoffed, unable to help the grin that slipped past my lips.

I didn’t really want to ignorehimeither.

His hands stayed on my waist, thumbs brushing my ribs through my hoodie, soft and teasing, while he looked at me—really looked—like he was soaking me up, memorizing every nervous blink. I fidgeted, my fingers twisting my sleeves, unsure where to hide from the sudden warmth tingling through me.

Then he smiled, soft, devastating, and entirely too sincere. He winked, quick and playful, and my heart stumbled, caught in my throat. “Riley-girl,” he said, his voice dropping low, husky, the glow of the flames painting gold across his sharp jaw and his messy hair. “You’re fucking gorgeous. Prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.”

Callum had never called me beautiful after that first night. He’d replaced any compliments with critiques and criticism, and I’d believed every harsh word that had come out of his lips.

Jace said these things like they were a revelation, and I had no idea what to respond. Heat rushed up my neck, my breath stalling, a lump I couldn’t swallow. “Jace—” I started, voice wobbly, but my brain blanked, words slipping away like sand.

“Welcome to our first official date,” he said, grinning like he hadn’t just flipped my world upside down, like this wasn’t a total ambush that left me dizzy. His arm went around my shoulders, tugging me into his side, warm, solid, smelling like pine and smoke as he steered me toward the bonfire. “Come on. I gotta introduce you to my bestilicious bros.”

I blinked up at him, my head spinning. “Your what?” I asked, my voice small, tripping over his words as I stumbled to keep up with his long strides.

“You know,” he mused, guiding me through the crowd like it was nothing, his hand steady on me while bodies parted around us, laughing, shouting, cups sloshing. “My boys. My ride or dies. My No Drama Llama brothers from other mothers…” He smirked, obviously thinking he was funny, even though I had no idea what he was talking about. “They’ve all beendyingto meet you.”

Panic squeezed my ribs, sharp and sudden, my sneakers faltering on the uneven grass. “Jace, I don’t—” I swallowed, my voice quivering. “I think it’s too soon. Don’t you?”

He stopped dead, turning to face me, one eyebrow arching high, all fake innocence and teasing light in his eyes. “Too soon?” he echoed, like I’d said something hilarious. “Huh. That’s weird.” He tilted his head, gold hair falling over his forehead. “Did I feel like a stranger in my Jeep yesterday?”

My stomach flipped, a quick, hot twist, and I glared, cheeks burning. “That’s different,” I said, my voice a little colder, though it trembled at the edges as I remembered—his hands on me, the Jeep’s leather seat cool against my back, the way he’d touched me like he belonged there.

He grinned, wide and wicked. “Is it?”

“Yes,” I huffed, crossing my arms tight, trying to ignore the memory.

“Interesting,” he said, dragging the word out before he sighed big and dramatic, like I’d wounded him. “You and Matty both need a wake-up call. I’m always right.”

I scoffed, a tiny laugh slipping out despite my nerves. “Those words are never going to come out of my mouth,” I said, shaking my head, my ponytail swaying as I peeked up at him.

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