Play It Again by Ashley Stoyanoff Read Free Book Online Page A

seat.
    “Someone’s drunk,” Vance says, amusement
passing across his face as he eyes his cousin.
    “Not drunk,” Kim says, grinning at him.
“Happily buzzed.”
    Vance shakes his head slowly and smiles, as
he tugs out the chair beside him, gesturing for me to sit. “Thought
you were out on a girl’s night.”
    I slip into the chair. “Me, too.”
    Vance shakes his head again, this time at me,
and he smiles. “Glad that girl’s night brought you here. You want a
drink?”
    I shake my head. “Jimmy’s getting them, but
thanks.”
    “Jimmy’s here, too?” He raises his eyebrows
questioningly. “On girl’s night?”
    I roll my eyes. “He is staying with me. It’s
not like I could just leave him out, and he did save me from having
to take a cab here so it’s all good.”
    His brow furrows, his eyes turning dark and
hard. “So he’s staying with you now?”
    Crap.
    That’s not a happy look. Not happy at
all.
    Quickly, I consider how to respond, wondering
if somehow I can just avoid this conversation all together. I
glance at Kim, quickly catching her eye, and she gives me a look
that clearly says, I told you so.
    I can feel Vance’s attention on me, waiting
for my response. It unnerves me on so many levels that I can’t even
begin to pinpoint how I feel about his unhappiness. My stomach
flutters while another sensation desperately tries to snuff it
out.
    Frustration.
    But then Kim smiles, winking at me.
    “Where’s Jase?” Kim asks, reaching across the
table, and nabs Vance’s beer, drawing his attention. She takes a
sip and makes a sour face. “That’s just gross.”
    I smile inwardly. God, I love my best
friend.
    “Jase is at home,” Vance says, rolling his
eyes as he snags his beer back. “He’s Skyping with Elena
again.”
    “When’s she coming back?” Kim asks. “I’m
dying to meet the girl that has Jason Pierce missing Friday night
drinks to sit at a computer.”
    “Supposed to be Wednesday, but it’s been put
off again,” Wes says. “She just bought a truck and is gonna drive
back now, leaving New York on Thursday.”
    “Ooo, another truck girl,” Kim says, winking
at me. “Nice.”
    Jimmy appears at the table, his hands wrapped
around a beer, a bottled water, and some pink concoction. “Piper’s
beer, my water, and Kim’s summer breeze,” he says, passing out the
drinks. “Next time, let the guy that’s buying you drinks know where
you’re going.”
    Kim giggles. “I knew you’d find us.”
    Thanking Jimmy for the drink, I reach for it,
taking a sip, as Kim starts rambling on about the list we made,
explaining to Vance and Wes why it has to be a woman that’s been
messing with me.
    They talk.
    They laugh.
    They drink some more.
    Ten minutes passes … fifteen minutes … and I
think I’m in the clear. Thanks to Kim I’ve managed avoidance, but
then, Vance leans into me. “You do know I caught that whole distract Vance look you shared with Kim, yeah?”
    “Yep,” I say. “But tonight I’m just trying to
have fun with some friends. I don’t want to worry about your issues
with Jimmy staying with me, because news flash, we haven’t even had
our first date, so please just drop it for tonight.”
    He flinches at my sharp tone and leans back
in his chair.
    Crap. That came out wrong, too blunt and too
harsh.
    Ugh. Too much stress and alcohol is
totally to blame here.
    He eyes me peculiarly, as though trying to
decide whether or not to accept my words. I open my mouth, about to
tell him that I didn’t mean it the way it came out, but he must see
it in my expression because he tugs me into his side, wrapping an
arm around me. Bringing his lips close to my ear, he says, “I’ve
just got one question for you.”
    “Sure,” I say, feeling my stomach sink with
dread. Please don’t let it be something serious. Please
…
    “You and Jimmy seem close,” he says. “Should
I be worried about that?”
    A bark of laughter escapes me before I can
swallow it down.