Dangerous Crush (Dangerous Noise 2)

The bathroom is way in the back and it's stuffed with cleaning supplies and overstock. I use the moment to remind myself that anything that happens between me and Piper is going to end in pain and misery for everyone.

By the time I'm back at the table, I almost believe it.

Piper is sitting cross legged with a paperback play in her hands, scribbling notes in the margins. Her cheeks flush as she scrambles to close the book.

I take my seat. "You going out for a play?"

"No. Just... reading."

"Yeah, I usually highlight one character's lines when I read."

"You read on your Kindle."

"They highlight."

"Which play?" I motion for her to hand over the paperback.

"A Streetcar Named Desire." She sets the paperback on the table. "I'm too young. I won't get cast."

"Doesn't mean you can't try."

She shakes her head. "I have too much to worry about with school. This is community theater and I can't really commit to a rehearsal schedule."

"What about over the summer?"

"Auditions are next week. Rehearsals start the week after. It doesn't work with my finals schedule—"

"Piper."

She drags her eyes from the paperback to me. "Yeah?"

"That's bullshit."

"No. It's true." She grabs the play and slides it into her purse. "There's no point in auditioning. I can't become an actor. I need a practical career."

"Do you love acting?"

"Yes, but..." Her eyes turn down. She recites her words like they're memorized. "I could never be serious about it."

"Why not?"

"I want to do something practical. I don't want to have to rely on anyone else." Her blue eyes fix on mine. "You must have thought about that before you committed to the bass guitar."

I shake my head.

"Yeah, your parents are rich, right?"

"Your parents are rich."

"Not rich, more—"

"Your house is three blocks from the beach," I say.

She laughs. "Okay, how about well-off?"

"Okay, they're well-off."

We're interrupted by the server dropping off Piper's drink and taking our orders.