The Fake Boyfriend Experiment(47)

It was freaking awesome. I grinned at Rafe and he winked at me.

This was so different from a recital, where everyone just sat around in silence then applauded politely. This was awesome!

* * *



The dance ended way too soon, and we all high fived each other when we were done playing. Even Angel hugged me. Then, when she let go, Rafe came over and hugged me, too.

It wasn’t a quick hug, like Angel’s. It was long and warm, and he squeezed me hard, like he wasn’t planning to ever let go. “You did great,” he said.

He was so warm and smelled so good. I buried my face against his chest. Was this really simply a friend hug? Because it felt like so much more. “I had the best time,” I said. “It was so much fun!”

“Imagine that?” He pulled back slightly so he could look at me, keeping his hand on my hip. “Music is fun. What a concept.” He touched my cheek, and my heart started to pound.

“Thanks to you,” I said. “You showed me how to enjoy it. I owe you.”

“Nah, it was my pleasure.” He tangled his fingers in my hair as Chris bumped into me, but neither of us looked away from each other. Rafe kept his gaze fastened on my face. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to say anything, but...” He paused.

“But, what?” What was he going to say? Was Angel right? Was he going to tell me he liked me? Ask me if I’d dump my boyfriend for him? Um yeah, the answer to that question would be yes!

Rafe rubbed the back of my neck. “I think you should do the audition.”

I blinked. “What?” Audition? He wanted to talk about the audition? But what about the hug? What about the way he looked at me? What about the fact Angel said he was crushing on me?

“The NESM audition,” he said, as if I hadn’t already grasped the topic. “Don’t go in there and play Mozart or Bach. Play music from the band. Play tunes that make you come alive. You don’t have to play classical to be great.”

“Why are you talking about the audition?” We’d just finished the most incredible performance I’d ever experienced in my life, the chemistry between us was sizzling, and he wanted to talk about the audition?



He tightened his grip on my waist, and his eyes became fierce with an intensity that leapt through me. “Because you’re amazingly talented, Lily, and you deserve to be recognized. But do it on your own terms. Play what you like.”

I felt the sudden burn of hope in my chest at the thought of going to the audition on my own terms. I would never have thought of it before, but tonight had been amazing. Tonight, I had loved music. Was he right? “I don’t want the pressure...”

“I’ll drive you. We don’t even need to tell my aunt or your parents. We’ll just do it.” His gaze was locked onto mine, refusing to allow me to back down. “What time’s the audition?”

“Ten.”

“So, I’ll pick you up at eight thirty. Next Saturday.”

I was so tempted to say yes, to leap into what he was offering, but then I thought of going back into that world, of being trapped in the torment of hating music again. I couldn’t go back there. I couldn’t do it again. I shook my head and pulled back from him. “No, I can’t. I don’t want to.”

He let me go, and I saw him take a deep breath, like he was trying to pull himself together. “That’s fine. If you want to, I’ll go with you.” He shrugged and trailed his fingers through my hair again. “If you don’t, that’s cool too. I’ll still—” He cut himself off.

I caught my breath. “You’ll still what?” Like me?

“Lily!” Erin’s shout was a jolting intrusion that made us both jump.

No! Not now! I ignored Erin’s voice and didn’t turn away from Rafe. “You’ll still what?” I urged, moving closer to him. “What were you going to say?”

“Lily!” Erin yelled again.

Rafe looked away toward Erin, and the moment was lost. Argh! I spun around to face Erin, then nearly died. She was standing there with not only Val and Delilah, but the guys from Inverness. Including Les. Who was watching Rafe intently.

Oh, no! Two fake boyfriends in one place had bad, ugly mess written all over it.

Rafe dropped his hand from my hair. “Are these your friends?”

I grimaced, wondering how I was going to get out of this one. “Yeah.” I quickly turned away, hurrying over to my keyboard. “I think we should pack up our instruments, don’t you?”



Erin hopped up on the stage, and Les came with her. Erin shrieked, charged over to me and hugged me. Yeah, so that quick ‘pack the instruments’ save hadn’t really worked. Crud!’