Playing with Fire by Phoebe Rivers Page B

say?
    â€œLily?”
    Nothing. The whir of the air conditioner filled the silence.
    Tears pricked the corners of my eyes.
    â€œLil?”
    I rolled over and, in the dim glow cast off from the bathroom, watched Lily’s blanket move ever so slightly up and down. I heard her soft, rhythmic breathing.
    Perfect. Just perfect.
    I’d finally told her my secret, and she’d slept right through it.

Chapter 8
    â€œWyatt’s gone,” Kayla announced in a mysterious hush the next morning. We’d gathered under the canopied pavilion at the tennis courts for the teen clinic.
    â€œGone?” Lily cried.
    â€œWhat happened?” I asked.
    â€œGhost attack.” Owen made a slashing motion with his racquet.
    â€œSeriously?” Lily sucked in her breath.
    â€œNot seriously.” Kayla snorted. “His dad had to go back to the city. Some office emergency. The whole family packed up and took off early this morning.”
    â€œOh.” Lily couldn’t hide her disappointment.
    Kayla wove her arm through Lily’s. “Wyatt has the looks, but he’s a pain. Trust me, no big loss. We’ll hang. I’m so much more fun than silly Wyatt.”
    Lily grinned. “True.”
    â€œClinic’s starting.” I pointed to the bald tennis pro waiting on the first court with one of those machines that fires balls at you. Four other kids waited with him.
    Neither Lily nor Kayla seemed to hear me.
    â€œI love your outfit!” Lily gushed. Kayla wore a graphic white-and-navy tennis dress with matching hat and socks.
    Kayla pulled an identical hat from the huge tennis bag she carried. “I have two. You should wear it. We need to protect our skin from the sun.”
    Lily slipped it on. Kayla snapped a photo of their faces pushed together, grinning in their twin hats. I guess Kayla’s concern about the sun didn’t extend to my fair skin.
    â€œDo you want to be partners?” Owen asked. “You know, if he pairs us up?”
    Normally I’d be excited that a boy wanted to partner with me, but I was getting a strange vibe from Kayla. A vibe that made me want to be Lily’s partner. I don’t think I’m usually a very possessive person, but I was suddenly feeling really possessive over Lily. I didn’t like the feeling.
    â€œSure,” I said, unable to stop watching Kayla. Shewas telling Lily a story about an audition. She had a way of touching Lily’s shoulder every time she wanted to emphasize a point. She had a lot to emphasize. Every sentence seemed to have an exclamation point.
    My phone buzzed. I hesitated, unsure if I should leave it on the bench and follow Owen out to the court. It might be Dad , I thought, reaching for it.
    SO? A text from Mason.
    SO NOTHING, I typed.
    WHEN????
    SOON.
    â€œWho’s that?” Kayla reached for my phone.
    â€œNo one.” I grabbed my phone back.
    â€œOoh, do you have a secret?” she teased. “A secret boyfriend?”
    â€œNo.” I clicked my phone off. “Just a friend.”
    â€œWho?” Lily asked. “Miranda?”
    I didn’t want to lie to her, and if I did, she’d find me out. Lily and I have the same friends. “Mason,” I said.
    â€œReally? Mason-who-used-to-own-my-dog Mason? I didn’t know you guys texted.”
    â€œIt’s not a big deal.”
    â€œBut he texts you? A lot?”
    â€œSome,” I admitted.
    â€œSara has a secret,” Kayla crooned.
    Lily considered this. “Does he like you?”
    â€œNo way,” I said.
    â€œI bet he does. Or you like him.” Lily smiled. “I could totally see you guys together,” she said loyally. “He’s really cute,” she told Kayla.
    â€œThat’s not how it is,” I insisted.
    â€œThen how is it?” Lily asked. Not mean, just interested.
    â€œYeah, how is it then?” Kayla repeated what Lily said, only it did sound a little mean coming