Page 108 of Play The Game

His fingers start to dance over the keys in a somber, lilting dance, and my heart finally slows down until it’s following the beat of the music.

My mind turns off, my eyes drifting closed, and I let myself fall into the song.

I hit every note and my voice doesn’t falter.

I’m so glad Blaise’s chest is shielding my face from the audience because the second his voice joins mine in the first chorus, tears prick at the back of my eyes. We sound fucking perfect together.

I sneak a peek at him and find him staring down at me, ignoring his music sheets and playing the song by heart. He’s practiced for this moment for hundreds of hours all semester.

We’ve knocked it out of the fucking park.

I feel more powerful than I’ve ever felt before. Better than standing across from the Jackal drawing lines in the sand.

I’ve reclaimed my voice for myself, and I’ll never let anyone take it again.

We’re going to war and for the first time, I feel confident that we’re going to fucking win.

As Blaise finishes the notes, there’s a stunned silence like the whole room is holding its breath, then the applause is deafening. I can hear Avery screaming again, exactly like she did last time, but I can’t look over. I’m still trying to pull myself together.

Blaise grins out at the chapel and gives a little wave, before turning back to me and wiping my cheeks with one of his big, colorful hands even though they’re dry.

The microphone is still on so he can’t speak without the whole room hearing, so he quirks his eyebrows at me until I nod, I’m okay. I’m not broken. I’m just so fucking relieved to be healing finally.

He stands, making sure he’s still blocking me from the crowd, and then tucks me into his side to walk us both off of the stage. Miss Umber catches his arm at the bottom of the stairs to gush, but I don’t want to look at her while I’m still so raw.

Ash pries me out of Blaise’s arms and wedges me between him and Avery. I take a shuddering breath and Avery slips her hand into mine.

“That was fucking incredible, Mounty. I have goosebumps,” she whispers, and I nod. I swallow and smile at her, my eyes still a little watery.

Snickering comes from behind us and the look Harley serves the freshmen there would shrivel the balls of any gangster in the Bay.

I try to find my voice so they don’t think I’m going fucking crazy. “I’m fine. It’s just⁠—”

“I know,” Avery cuts me off, running a soothing hand down my arm. “You’re slowly being put back together.”

This girl. Where the fuck would I be now without her?

Blaise takes his seat next to Ash and we sit through the rest of the performances, none as breathtaking as ours had been. My hands stop shaking, and by the last song, I can hum along under my breath.

The grin Ash gives me when he hears me is worth all the fucking tears I’ve ever spilled.

The chapel empties out and we wait until the crowd disperses. I look like I’ve spent a week in bed moping like some pathetic heartbroken teen, and I don’t want photos of that shit on the gossip site for the Jackal to see.

He’d probably enjoy them too much.

“Right. Dinner? I think we should order in, I feel like sushi,” Avery says, and everyone agrees, though I just want coffee and ice cream after my stressful day.

We stand and start toward the door only to be stopped by an unfamiliar voice.

“Blaise,” a woman’s voice calls out, and I frown when he freezes, then jerks his head around to follow the sound.

It’s his mother.

Harley curses viciously under his breath and moves in front of me while Avery and Ash both stare over at her like they’re hoping she’ll drop dead.

I try to stay calm.

“What are you doing here?” Blaise croaks, and my heart breaks a little at the haunted tone in his voice.