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Are you ready for this? GAHHHHH๐๐ We’re gonna do it anyway…
A LOVE SONG FOR LIARS
Chapter 1
Annie
I hate Tyler Adams. Hating him would be my religion if music wasnโt.
But heโs here, facing me, his hair falling across the pillow in a dark cascade. His eyelashes are thick and so long itโs unfair. His mouth is parted in sleep, the top bow firm and the bottom lush.
Iโm freaking out, my heart racing a mile a minute.
Heโs warm. His heat emanates from his body, inviting me closer.
I hate how much I want to.
I want. I want. I want.
My thighs press together because if thereโs a response to that realization that doesnโt involve a rush of heat flowing south, I donโt know what it is.
Of course Iโd never let him know that when heโs awake, but heโs not.
Thank God heโs not.
I shift in bed, wincing as my muscles ache.
Perfect.
Thereโs a reason Iโve never had sex, and if I were going to, heโs the last guy Iโd sleep with.
He could have so much more than this stupid place, this stupid schoolโฆ Instead he sold me out for a bunch of dumb, rich assholes.
Tyler groans, and my heart leaps.
When he shifts, rolling onto his back and exposing even more beautifully carved torso, the covers ride low on his hips.
Not quite low enough to see if heโs wearing anything. I swallow.
I could look.
Donโt fucking look.
I press my hands to my eyes as if itโll erase the image of the beautiful guy next to me.
Two days ago, all I cared about was being on stage, impressing my rock-star father, and not falling for Oakwood Prepโs rebel prince, Tyler Adams.
But when his eyes start to openโฆ
I know Iโm well and truly screwed.
* * *
Two days earlier
โAre you going to fuck it or just fantasize about it all day?โ
The syrupy sweet voice makes me cut off my chorus halfway through a line.
โYour spoon.โ The platinum blonde in the front row crosses one tan leg over the other, making her plaid skirt ride up. โYouโre staring at it like you want toโโ
โSheโs a mermaid, Carly. She wants to be human. Itโs an emotional moment.โ My hand tightens on the flatware from the school dining hall.
โWhatever, Little Virgin Annie. And you?โ Carly turns to the corner of the stage, where Jennaโs reading her lines behind a curtain of straight, dark hair. โYouโre wearing a garbage bag for a tail. You look homeless.โ
โAnnie made it,โ Jenna blurts, turning pale under her freckles. โI was afraid Iโd trip when we got our costumes, so I wanted to practice first.โ
I step between them. โFirst off, Jenna? Daniel Craig slept on park benches and J. Lo couch surfed at our age, so thatโs a compliment.โ She finds a nervous smile before I turn back to Carly. โSecond, Jenna has conditional acceptance to Stanford, and your fast track is to Real Housewives, but thatโs no reason to be jealous.โ
Our schoolโs queen bee edges forward in her seat. โI donโt know why youโre even rehearsing, Annie. Being a dumb teenager whoโll never be what her daddy wants must be super relatable. I bet every night the great Jax Jamieson wishes he hadnโt fucked that groupie and ended up with you.โ
I could beat Carly over the head with this spoon. Not hard enough to do permanent damageโassuming there are cells inside to damageโbut hard enough to mess up her perfect waves. Maybe hard enough the made-up minions on either side of her would lift their overtweezed brows in surprise.
But I wonโt let her see her words get under my skin.
โGirls, I hope youโve been practicing while Iโve been gone.โ Miss Norelli strides through the auditorium doors, returning from checking on a burnt-out stage light.
Our drama director shuffles up the aisle, her black sheath dress hugging her full figure, and takes a seat a few rows behind Carly and the others.
She pushes her purple glasses up her nose expectantly, eyes narrowed on the stage.
When the music starts again, I will myself to focus on my performance. To be a mermaid far away from the catty comments of bitchy schoolgirls who wouldnโt have the first idea what to do with themselves if they ran out of people to torture.
But when I see Carly unscrew the top of my water and tip a tiny brown bottle to pour something inside, my voice wavers.
โStop! Annie, I thought we had this section,โ Miss Norelli calls from her seat a few rows back.
Frustration flows through me. โWe do. We did.โ
โWhy donโt we try it with the understudy?โ Carly smiles as if the idea just popped into her head.
โGood idea.โ Norelli folds her arms, and I swallow the anger as I trade places with Carly, who holds out her hand expectantly.
I shove the spoon into her hand before flipping her off. โWash it when youโre done.โ
I step out of my garbage bag and retrieve my water bottle, sniffing it before shoving the thing back in my bag.
โThat part never shouldโve been yours,โ Lana, one of Carlyโs minions, whispers. โThe only reason Norelli picked you is because your dadโs a rock star. Thereโs no way you got his talent.โ
โCarlyโs still the understudy,โ Tara, the other minion, points out. โA lot can happen in five weeks.โ
โShut it, Flotsam and Jetsam.โ They shouldโve been Ursulaโs eels, not Arielโs sisters.
Watching Carly perform, I wish she sucked, but sheโs actually good.
โThatโs enough rehearsal today,โ Miss Norelli says when Carly finishes. โAnnie, a moment.โ
I get up and cross to her seat.
โWhereโs the girl from auditions? The fearless one, the focused one.โ
I shake my head. โSheโs here. I swear.โ
She sighs. โWeโre running out of time.โ
It was my decision to audition for the lead in the school musical and cross our schoolโs reigning queen, but what even Carly doesnโt knowโwhat she canโt knowโis how much I need this role.
This year, everything is going to change for me. I feel it the way you feel spring in the air before anything blooms.
I cling to that conviction as I head to the front of the auditorium to pack up my things.
โHey, princess.โ
I glance up to see Kellan Albright, a senior, standing over me. With his perfect dirty-blond hair and bright-white smile, heโs athletic and has a decent voice. Itโs a curse for the rest of us because he landed the male lead and begged out of almost half of rehearsals for sports.
Of course, if any of the girls missed that many rehearsals, weโd get cut. But itโs hard to find guys whoโre both willing and capable of doing the part.
โLook forward to seeing you at the party this weekend.โ
โThe mid-production cast party? Canceled,โ Jenna offers with a look toward Carly and her minions. โCarlyโs solarium is getting renovated, and her parents wonโt have people over until itโs finished.โ
โWhat about your place?โ Kellanโs blue eyes dance.
If looks could melt skin, mine would be peeling off from the evil stares of Carly and her minions, and I swallow an incredulous laugh. โAs much as weโre all BFFs, thatโs as appealing as waxing my eyebrows off.โ
He laughs as I head for the doors, falling into step next to me.
โI know Iโve been busy with practice, but we should rehearse together. Maybe at the party.โ He squeezes my arm before holding the door for me.
โMaybe.โ
I pass him and head to my locker to grab my books and sunglasses, the feel of his touch lingering on my bare skin.
Kellanโs attractive, and a lot of girls would love his attention, but heโs not my type. Heโs sports and parties and being seen. But right now, Iโll take my allies where I can get them.
I pull out a pen and lift the front hem of my skirt to write a single word on my thigh in blue ink, then I shut my locker and head for the main doors.
If Iโd thought Oakwood Prep would be simpler than the public school I attended most of my childhood, I was wrong. Itโs full of people with too much money and too many expectations and too many liposuction.
If I could go back to public school, go back to being normalโฆ Iโd take it in a hot second.
Because the difference between them and me is I grew up with less than nothing until I was plucked from that existence and told I was meant for another one.
Outside, I slide my sunglasses on as I head for the parking lot.
The campus is sprawling and beautiful. I soak in the spring day, the expanse of green grass, the mature trees. Itโs hot for Dallas, and all I want is to get home and jump in the pool.
I reach the modern steel fountain that marks the middle of the quad, the halfway point between the school and the parking lot, when a familiar form blocks my way.
I swear Iโve hit my daily quota of assholes.
โThere are consequences for taking things that don’t belong to you.โ
Carly stands between me and the parking lot, flanked by minions.
โRoles don’t belong to people.โ
โI was talking about Kellan,โ she retorts.
โPeople definitely don’t belong to people.โ
My focus falls to Lanaโs dirty manicure, the black smudges up her arm that werenโt there during rehearsal.
Oakwood Prep is like societyโthe rules supposedly apply equally to everyone. They donโt. Not even close.
Even amongst the rich, there are circles of power, of influence.
Carlyโs dad is the head of the schoolโs board, which means she can do what she wants. To whomever she wants.
โIf Kellanโs your pathetic attempt not to die a virgin, good luck with that,โ she goes on, leaning in as she senses the kill. โNo guy at Oakwood will touch you.โ
I close the distance between us and meet her predatory gaze head-on. โPromise I can get that in writing?โ
โCarly.โ
A low, smooth voice at my back has the baby hairs on my neck lifting. The minionsโ attention snaps to behind me.
Uniforms are an attempt to make everyone look the same. In this case, they come up short. All three guys coming down the stairs toward us are good looking, but one stands out. Youโd feel this guyโs magnetism in a blackout.
Heโs tall, with ropy arms his navy jacket canโt hide, and broad enough he could carry the entire schoolโs baggage without breaking a sweat. He has an angled jaw and cheekbones, brown eyes a little too serious to be kind, and dark, wild hair.
If Kellan is this schoolโs preppy king, Tyler Adams is its rebel prince. He has the easy grace earned by being a senior, gorgeous, and a musician.
When he speaks, everyone listens.
When he plays the guitar, everyone worships.
โTyler,โ Carly breathes. โWanna give me a ride home?โ
I donโt wait around for the answer but use the distraction to dodge all of them and head to my car.
I want to get the hell out of this toxic place before I burn it down.
I shift into my silver Audi, turning the key in the ignition.
It doesnโt start.
My forehead falls to the steering wheel as I remember the minionsโ black-streaked arms. They probably rummaged under the hood for the shiniest parts to stab at with their manicure sets.
โThe Little Mermaid. A girl who has everything but itโs still not enough.โ
My attention snaps toward the guy leaning in the passenger window, and I immediately regret leaving it down.
If Tyler Adams and my co-star Kellan share top billing on the โsenior boys every junior girl would give their BMW to bangโ list, itโs for different reasons.
Kellanโs full of charm, the golden boy who comes from money and radiates ease and promises of good times.
Tylerโs gorgeous. Talented. Mysterious. He comes from nothing and doesnโt blink before taking everything.
But no matter how fascinating he is, itโs a lie.
โBeing the daughter of a king doesnโt mean her life is perfect,โ I answer at last. โIf you think so, youโre dumber than you look.โ
He rubs a hand through his dark hair, the chunk of blue at the front that sets him apart. โBut you told me I had a great future. You put on a scarf and held my hand and ogled my fate line.โ
โIt was a charity carnival. I was fourteen.โ
โI paid five bucks for that spiritual advice. Donโt tell me I wasted it.โ
I hit the start button once more. It makes a grinding noise until I slap a hand against the dash.
Please, donโt let me be stranded at school.
When I blink my eyes open, Tylerโs nodding through the windshield, rolling up the sleeves of his dress shirt, the jacket already gone.
I donโt want Tyler Adams under my hood. But if I have to call my dad, itโll invite questions as to why my almost-new car wonโt start.
So, I pop the hood before rounding to the trunk for my toolkit, dropping it at his feet after I find it. Tyler yanks off his loosened tie and holds it out.
I take the tie from him, draping it around my neck for safekeeping.
I donโt notice his height, his hard body, the careless way he rubs a hand over his neck as he surveys whatโs under my hood with a relentless intensity.
โYou know why Carly fucks with you.โ
I shift against the front fender, twisting one end of his tie around my fingers as I watch. โSheโs jealous of my fashion sense.โ
He spares me an incredulous look. โYou bait her. You walk around this place with your heart on your sleeve, begging to bleed. Itโs impossible for her to resist.โ
You could teach an AP course on making me bleed.
I knot the bottom of my shirt up around my navel to get relief from the heat. โShe canโt handle anyone having anything that could be hersโincluding the stage.โ
โThe spotlightโs not all its cracked up to be. Fans donโt want you, they want what they think you possess. And the more you possess, the more people feel entitled to take.โ
The edge in his words catches me off guard.
I work a coiled elastic off my wrist, twisting my long hair up in a messy knot and fanning my sweat-damp neck. โCareful, Tyler. Someone might think being Prince of Oakwood is getting old.โ
Tyler shifts to stand in front of me in a heartbeat.
Heโs in my space, tall and built and intent, the weight of his attention moving from the car to me. The crisp white shirt, rolled at the sleeves, makes him look gorgeous and a little reckless, like some pirate on a mission to charm and destroy.
But itโs the expression on his face, that knowing smirk, that pins me in place. Itโs as if he just caught me doing something filthy.
โCareful, Annie. Someone might think you give a shit.โ
Once, I held his hand and told his fortune.
Never again.
He betrayed me. Hurt me more than Carlyโs teasing and pranks ever could.
I want him to back the fuck up, but I canโt speak. Right now, all I can do is take in Tylerโs light cedar scent, his half-lowered lashes, his voice a soft murmur on my skin.
I clear my throat, arch a brow. โDo you need something?โ
โYeah, I do.โ
Finally, he moves.
Down my body.
My breath hitches as his face is level with my chest, my waist.
I press my thighs together when his face passes my bare legs.
The heart is supposed to propel blood to your vital organs.
Mineโs a traitor. It doesnโt give a fuck if I live or die.
When heโs this close, it beats for him.
He drops his wrench in the toolkit at my feet, and I shut my eyes in humiliated relief.
Get a grip.
If he ever finds out how I feel, the last of my pride and self-respect will go up in flames.
โWhatโs this? Donโt tell me you cheated on our English test.โ Tyler lifts the edge of my skirt, and I smack his hand away.
โWhatโs under my skirt is none of your business.โ
He huffs out a breath as he straightens and returns to work.
โThere it is,โ he murmurs moments later under the hood. โThey yanked the coupling for yourโฆ never mind,โ he says at my blank expression. โCarlyโs better at politics than cars.โ
He lowers the hood, wiping the rolled-up arm of his dress shirt on his forehead. โYou should be fine. If it gives you any grief, let me know.โ
โThanks.โ The word sticks in my throat, and he holds my gaze for a beat, two.
I hurry to slide in through the driverโs door. When I hit the start button, the engine roars to life.
Relief washes over me as I stuff my blazer in the back seat and unbutton my shirt another button while the A/C kicks in. Sweat beads on my chest, and Iโm fastening my seatbelt when Tyler leans his muscled forearms on the driverโs door.
โYou get slapped with community service?โ He nods toward the black garbage bag on top of my books.
I shift my sunglasses up on my head. โOh, I led the litter pickup for Young Environmentalists at the park last week, but no, thatโs my practice costume for the musical. It has a hole in the bottom so I can walk.โ
โI see. Youโll have trouble evading horny sailors.โ
โYeah, well, Hans Christian Anderson was pre-MeToo.โ
This time, Tylerโs smile is genuine. I can tell because it lands in the center of my chest like a blow.
I wish I could lick my suddenly dry lips without him taking credit for it.
He reaches into the car, and my breath hitches as he lifts his tie from around my neck, drawing it out in a long ribbon.
The silk strokes my neck for what feels like minutes, and I force my gaze away when he finally pockets the tie.
My attention lands on the lone motorcycle across the parking lot. โNext time Carly gets creative with my car, Iโm borrowing your ride.โ
โNo, youโre not.โ He straightens, shoving a hand through his messy-is-sexy hair. โJax Jamieson would destroy me for letting his baby girl near it.โ
There it is. The reason I canโt avoid Tyler completely, even I want nothing more than to cut him out of my life.
Oakwoodโs rebel prince doesnโt live in a brick mansion with a closet full of V-necks and two Ivy-League-educated parents.
He lives in our pool house, thirty feet from my bedroom.
—
AHH! I hope you guys love Tyler and Annie’s angsty, delicious and epic story! You can grab A LOVE SONG FOR LIARS (RIVALS #1) at your fave bookstore by clicking the links right here:
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