“You like him,” she says cheerfully.
“I do not like him.”
“You’re saying it with your mouth, but not your face.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“It means your face just yelled liar.”
Before I can respond, Lola materializes in the doorway again.
“Bryce,” she calls. “I want you on stage with me for a song tonight!”
My drink nearly launches itself from my hand.
Lola steps farther into the room, twirling a strand of her red hair as she saunters toward Bryce. “Seriously, honey, I’m doing a new song tonight. Brand new release. Emotional, raw, all about falling stupid-hard for someone you absolutely shouldn’t.”
Bryce looks amused. “Sounds intense.”
“Oh, it is,” she says, pressing a hand to her chest like she’s feeling the drama from within. “But songs like that need a spark. Someone the audience can look at and go, ‘Oh, she meanshim.’” She winks. “A real face makes it hit harder.”
“I’m not a prop,” Bryce says, though he’s smiling.
“You’d be my muse,” Lola corrects. “Just stand on stage, look pretty, and exist. I’ll do the heavy lifting.”
Dex snorts from the corner. “He’s good at that.”
Lola gestures broadly. “I’m telling you, the crowd will lose their minds. And when this single charts, we’ll both look like geniuses. You with your athlete celebrity, me with my powerhouse vocals, and together, bam. Viral magic.”
Bryce glances at me again, eyes glittering with mischief. “Tempting.”
My stomach does a full-body nosedive.
Lola beams. “So, you’ll do it?”
Bryce slowly turns to look at me, eyes bright with one clear message:
Try to stop me.
Heat crawls up my neck. Determination snaps through me.
Oh, I’ll try.
I’ll do more than try.
Because if Bryce Blackhorn thinks he’s going on stage in front of thousands of people where he can create a PR nightmare with one smirk?
"Uh, Bryce, I’m not sure this would be a good idea, given the team's guidelines with public appearances."
I am trying to be diplomatic here.
He smirks at me, slow and wicked, like he’s been waiting for this exact moment. Then he turns to Lola with infuriating charm and says, “Sounds fun. I’m in.”
“Ooh,” Eli says loudly, elbowing Dex. “Someone’s not listening to the boss.”
Dex perks up instantly. “Rebellion. My favorite flavor.”
Mason crosses his arms, grinning like he’s settling in for premium entertainment. “Annabelle, you gonna let him disobey direct orders on your watch?”
