Page 4 of Play For Me

Without my permission, my gaze drifts back toward Cecelia, who now has her arms raised over her head as she half-jumps, half-dances in the center of the room, flanked by two girls. Her cousins. Cecelia isalwayswith her cousins. They seem to travel in a pack, like separating for more than five minutes is against family policy, always laughing and talking over each other as if the rest of the campus barely exists. Which isn’t to say they aren’t friendly.Everyonelikes the Ransomes. But the five of them clearly seem to enjoy each other’s company over anyone else at this school.

That probably has something to do with the fact that their fathers are basically rock and roll royalty and the entire family is famous—and loaded. I’d imagine it’d be difficult to let strangers in when the whole world can read about your family all over the internet.

The dark-haired girl—Vega, I think— says something and Cecelia throws her head back and laughs.

I shift on the couch, tearing my eyes away yet again. I don’t want to be the creepy guy at the party who gets turned on by girls dancing in his vicinity, but Jesus. I find it difficult to come up with the right words to describe her, which is really saying something. When I was a kid, I won our regional spelling beethree years in a row and nearly went to nationals. I know alotof words.

“Shit, Solomon.” Jay laughs, shaking my shoulder this time. “You’re really far gone inside your head tonight. Worse than usual.”

I grumble something under my breath, making him laugh again. “Yes, I do understand that these are the consequences of bringing you out to a loud party.”

That’s the thing about Jason Miller—he might come across as a beer-swigging party boy, but he understands more than he lets on. At least when it comes to me. Most of the time, I don’t have to say a word for him to know what I’m thinking.

Probably just years of practice dealing with my silent, grumpy ass. I mightknowa lot of words, but putting them together in full sentences has always been a different matter entirely.

“Seriously,” Jay says, leaning in to study my face. “You at your limit yet? We can go if you’re uncomfortable.”

I feel a swell of affection for my old friend. Leaving a party early is definitely not his style, but he won’t hesitate to do it if I really needed him to.

“I’m not at my limit yet,” I tell him. It’s mostly the truth. For once, the loud noises and pounding music don’t bother me too much. Probably because I’m distracted byher.

Jay slaps my shoulder. “You just let me know and we can jet.” He gives me a knowing look. “But since we’re here now, how about I call CeCe Ransome over here so you can stare at her up close this time?”

Shit.

He bursts out laughing at the scowl on my face. “Dude. Did you think I didn’t notice? You’ve been looking at her all night.”

“Have not,” I mutter, only making him laugh harder.

“What’s so funny?”

I groan louder when I see Emery, Jason’s older sister, perching on the arm of the couch at my side. She glares at me. “Did you seriously just groan when you saw me? Way to make a girl feel welcome, dick.”

I shrug. “Just don’t feel like getting shit from both the Miller siblings tonight.”

She narrows her eyes at her brother. “Why are you giving him shit?”

Jay holds up his hands in surrender. “Stand down mama bear. I was indulging in some very mild teasing about our buddy’s crush.”

Em’s eyes snap to my face. “You finally admitted you have a thing for the Ransome girl?”

“Seriously?” I yelp, while Jay practically falls off the couch laughing.

“I told you so, man,” he wheezes. “Totally obvious.”

“I hate you both.”

Em, sitting close to my eye level for once, since she’s on the arm of the couch, pats the top of my head. “You love us. Don’t deny it.”

I do love them, loathe as I am to admit it right now. The Miller siblings, loud and overprotective and annoying as they are, have been my best friends since we were about six years old.

My only friends, if we’re being honest.

“Listen,”’ Jay says, voice uncharacteristically serious. “I know CeCe pretty well.” My eyes snap to his, already narrowing, and he holds up his hands again. “I don’t know her likethat, geez. Get your mind out of the gutter.” He flashes a grin. “Though I would like to point out how you just looked like you were ready to kick my ass at the mere hint I’ve hooked up with her.”

Emery coughs to cover up her snort of laughter.

“Like I was saying,” Jay continues. “We’re friends. It wouldn’t be weird at all for me to call her over here. Then you can introduce yourself?—”