A Love Song for Liars (Rivals #1) - Piper Lawson Page 0,40

and full, wrapping around me as if we’re the only two people here.

He’s playing Kellan’s part better than Kellan does.

I feel each word in my soul.

His gaze holds mine as he sweeps me across the floor. I dig my fingers into his shoulder through his shirt, living for the warmth of his palm against mine, the one I read at that carnival so long ago.

I knew something was going to change for me this year, I could feel it coming like a promise.

I’d thought it was landing the lead in the musical, but it’s more than that.

It’s Tyler.

I don’t know if this is his way of showing me I can’t avoid him or the world’s most public peace offering, but no girl or fish could resist this prince. He’s strong and sure. The cool edge that follows him around has melted, and the invitation beneath is impossible to reject.

It takes a moment for me to realize he’s stopped, we’ve stopped, and the stage crew cuts the music.

“It’s not her. It’s you.” His words are loud enough for the entire auditorium to hear.

Kellan's watching from the corner, stunned.

Tyler’s touch leaves my skin tingling, my heart hammering as he steps away.

I’m missing his warmth, his talent, his strength, even before he picks up his bag and jacket and heads for the door.

I don’t pretend I’m not watching him go, standing in the middle of the stage and waiting for my heart rate to return to normal.

Actions speak louder.

When Norelli calls us back to order, I catch sight of Carly’s pale face, her slack mouth, and I understand what happened.

In this power struggle between me and the assholes, I forced Oakwood’s prince to choose a side.

And he chose mine.

13

After rehearsal, I make a stop on the way home.

Then I collect my prize from the trunk of my car and head around the house toward the patio.

I rest my package against the siding before knocking on the door of the pool house.

Tyler answers, deliciously disheveled. He looks as if he started changing but forgot, clad in faded jeans with his dress shirt half-unbuttoned. “What’s up?”

“What’s up?” I laugh. “You show up at rehearsal and go all Rodgers and Hammerstein, and you’re asking me what’s up?”

He pulls back the door, and I glance past him at the three guys in the main living area with their instruments, all staring at me.

“Give us a second,” he tells the guys.

“Right. We’ll just… water the plants.” Brandon offers a wink as he and the others trail past me.

Tyler crosses the room, the muscles of his back tugging at the dress shirt in a way that makes my throat dry as I follow him inside and shut the door.

He picks up a remote, and a speaker in the corner starts to croon something bluesy.

I set the guitar case on the bed. “This is for you. Because you believed in me enough to help me. And I believe in you.”

He opens the zipper with calm hands, pulling back the soft top to reveal the instrument inside.

His long exhale has the hair standing up on my neck. “Annie, I can’t accept it.” Tyler tries to shut the case, and I grab the top at the same time.

“You know,” I say, my voice rising, “most of the time, I let you be an idiot.”

His jaw tics, eyes flashing. “I’m an idiot?”

“Yes, because you won’t take the things you want. I had this guitar made for you because this way you can’t ignore it, can’t pretend it’s not yours.”

He doesn’t release my hand as I stare at him, my eyes burning as the weight of the last few days builds up on me.

“This guitar is made for a prince. Not a prince of assholes, but a prince who trusts himself enough to take what the world gives him and then some. You can break it or sell it or throw it in the pool, but if you’re going to throw it in the pool, at least wait until I’m gone.” My heart twists at that sickening thought. “It’s so beautiful—”

“You’re so beautiful,” he interrupts. “Do you know that? How fucking beautiful you are?”

His voice is raw silk.

My heart thuds as he steps closer, stops in front of me.

Tyler fills my vision, his sculpted chest and shoulders making me feel small but not weak.

“You’re worth a thousand of every person in that school,” he states. “When they’re assholes, you fight back. When you almost get assaulted at your own party, you turn it into