Page 47 of Play the Part

“Oh my god,” I say dismissively as I look away, then back to him. “As if Jamie counts as a plus one.”

He takes a slow swig of his beer before letting his arm fall back between his legs.

“I’ll read the fine print next time.”

I can tell he’s goading me. He’s trying to get a rise out of me, and to my dismay, it’s working. I can’t help but narrow my eyes at him and try to think of another lame comment to fling back at him.

“Nice dye job,” I say with a snark. “Did you have your little girlfriend give you a hand with it?”

I realize I’ve walked right into it when Huxley shoots me an arrogant look, his chin lifting slowly so he can stare at me square in the eyes.He toys with his tongue ring, rolling it between his lips before speaking, and the sight has my cheeks flushing in heat.

“She gave me a hand, alright.”

My stomach churns at the image he just painted, but I don’t react, keeping my face as smooth as stone. I don’t have any right to lay claim. Selina isn’t doing anything wrong, even if I hate her fucking guts right now.

“Cute.” My tone is dripping with condescension. “Is that supposed to make me jealous?”

I see his cocky expression falter, but he regains his composure just as fast.

It’s enough for me to go in for the kill.

I drop my head backward and laugh before my taunting gaze lands back on Huxley. He looks rattled, and I feed off of it.

“Was that your master plan?” I push off the railing and surprise him by dropping sideways on his lap. Crossing my legs, I wrap an arm around his neck. While walking two teasing fingers up his chest, I pout mockingly. “You really thought parading a girl in front of me would make me fall at your feet?”

Too wrapped up in wanting the upper hand in this insipid game of chicken we’re playing, I realize my fateful error when his green eyes darken.

His face is inches from mine, his hot breath tickling my parted lips. An entire lifetime passes between us before his hand slowly slips over my knit dress and settles on my upper thigh.

“It’s working, isn’t it?”

His voice is just as heated as the slow trace of his thumb across the dip of my hip. It’s as if he’s touched my core directly. My clit throbs in response as my breath catches in my throat.

I try not to react, caught up in how close his face is to mine.

I could kiss him. Part my legs and beg for him.

His tongue swipes slowly over his bottom lip before he flashes me another one of his infuriatingly smug smiles.

With it, his hold on me snaps.

And I suddenly remember the game.

I straighten in his lap and cock a grin, breaking the tension between us.

“Not even close, sweetie,” I say while I pat him on the head and jump to my feet.

I don’t look back and bound down the stairs, grinning with victory, knowing I must have left Huxley fuming in his seat. But it’s done nothing to quell the fire still roaring inside of me.

Distracted, I realize much too late, when I get to the bottom of the stairs, that Selina is heading straight for me. My heart drops, thinking she might have seen something she shouldn’t have. But her expression is one of forced friendliness.

“Hi!” she says excitedly, pressing both hands to her chest, eyes glimmering and mouth open wide in a smile. “I can’t believe it’s you, I’ve been following you for years! I’ve been trying to find a way to introduce myself all night,” she gushes. She then points to her phone in her hand. “Can we take a selfie?”

My gaze lands on Huxley walking down the stairs on the opposite side of the auditorium. He’s staring daggers at both of us, but Selina notices nothing.

I return my attention to myfanand flip my hair off my shoulder as I return her beaming smile.

“Of course we can!”

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