Page 161 of The Off-Limits Play

Zoey wanders down the hallway in her pajamas, stopping next to my mom and pointing up at me. “Pity!”

I crouch down so I can see that smile face-to-face. “You think I look pretty?”

She nods.

“Well, I think you look pretty.” I poke the yellow duck on her pajamas and she giggles, snuggling against my mom’s leg.

Brushing my finger down Zoey’s chubby cheek, I stand tall and clear my throat. Fuck, these nerves firing through my stomach are gonna kill me.

“Hey.” Mom pats my chest. “It’s okay. Just breathe. She’s going to forgive you. She’d be crazy not to. You’re a catch.”

“Mom, come on.” I try to brush away her compliment.

“Well, you are.”

“She’s right.” Sienna appears, resting against the railing and giving me a once-over. “You look good.”

“Pity.” Zoey points at me again.

“That’s right, lil’ bug. Carson looks so pretty.” She gives me a teasing wink, lifting Zoey into her arms so they can both grin at me.

My lips twitch as I tug at my choking collar for the thousandth time, then turn when I hear footsteps behind me.

But it’s not Wily.

“Is he coming?” I ask Grady.

“He’s perfecting his hair,” Grady mumbles. “I don’t know.”

I roll my eyes and resist the urge to holler up at my roommate to hurry the fuck up.

Grady moves around me, reaching for my mom’s bags.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

“I’m gonna take your mom to the airport.”

“What? Why?”

“So Zander can stay here with his girls.”

“You’re not going to the dance?”

Grady pauses by the front door, clenching his jaw and giving me a quick headshake.

I frown at him. “What about Teah? That’s totally her thing, isn’t it?”

He shrugs and shares a quick look with Sienna. She bites her lips together and looks at the floor.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Grady shakes his head. “She’s not feeling very well. She just wants a night to herself.”

This doesn’t feel right, but Grady bolts out the front door with Mom’s luggage before I can ask any more questions, andfinallymy slow-ass roommate makes his big entrance.

“Oh my gosh, Wily Wilson!” Mom smiles past me. “You hot thing. I could just eat you up.”

“Gross, Mom. Just… can you not?”

---