Page 52 of The Wrong Costar

“I heard you and Liam spent the day together on Saturday,” she said.

“Where did you hear that?”

She smirked. “So, it’s true?”

“I didn’t say that…”

She wasn’t listening though. “Are you guys dating?” she pushed on. “The two costars of the school play, rehearsing together in close quarters, night after night. It makes sense.”

“We’re not dating,” I confirmed, stopping her before she formed her wild theories any further. “We had an English assignment to work on together.”

“Uh-huh.”

“We’re not dating,” I repeated.

“Sure, sure.” She winked at me.

“Goodbye, Zoe,” I said, giving her a final push out the door.

I shook my head as I returned to my seat.

“What did Zoe want?” Evan asked, as he joined me in the audience. He’d just finished a scene with Liam, and he looked pretty happy with his performance. He had every right to be. He’d held his own against the Hollywood hotshot.

“The inside scoop,” I replied.

Evan chuckled. “Sounds like her. Did you spill any of your deep, dark secrets?”

I laughed uncomfortably. “I don’t have any deep, dark secrets. You know that, Evan.”

He glanced knowingly in Liam’s direction. “I think you might, actually.”

“What are you saying?”

“Just that you haven’t been able to take your eyes off a certain Hollywood heartthrob all rehearsal.”

“He’s been in every scene. Of course, I’ve been watching him.”

“So, you’re not hiding a secret obsession with Liam Black?”

My cheeks warmed at his question. Anything I might have felt for Liam was completely one-sided, and there was no way I was admitting any feelings out loud. “I’m not hiding a secret obsession,” I replied.

“If you say so,” Evan said though he sounded far from convinced. “I guess it’s no problem then that, since Todd is sick, we have to skip ahead a few scenes. We’re rehearsing the final scene of the play next.”

“What?” The word felt like it caught in my throat and I struggled to get it out. “We’re not supposed to get to that scene until later in the week.” I’d thought I had a few more days until I had to worry.

Evan shook his head at me. “Maybe you were a bit too busy talking with Zoe to hear Madi announce the change just now.”

“It’s not like I wanted to be talking to Zoe, she was only trying to dig up dirt.” I bit on my lip as I considered my friend. “Are you sure that’s what Madi said?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Evan replied. “But, I thought you weren’t worried about that scene?”

“I’m not.”

“So, you’re feeling totally cool about kissing Liam onstage?”

My stomach dropped, and I really wished Evan hadn’t felt the need to spell it out like that. It was just a stage kiss and it meant nothing—at least, itshouldn’tmean anything. I started twisting my hair around my finger as I tried to remain calm. “I said it’s fine, didn’t I?”

“Teags, it’s okay to be nervous.” Evan was always such a jokester, but right now, his eyes were filled with sincerity, and he reached out to give my hand a comforting squeeze.

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