Playing With Fire (Sweet Secrets #3) Read Online Free Page A

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    Once I bought my lunch, I headed over to my usual table near the window where my friend Trinity sat. We grew up together and stayed in touch while I was in Virginia last year. I had two other close friends I’d kept in touch with as well: Tia and Preshá. A week before summer ended, Tia and her family moved to Los Angeles, while Preshá had transferred to another school last year so she could play on their winning soccer team. Even though they weren’t here, it was still nice to be back with Trinity. Thanks to her, I actually had a friend group to hang out with.
    When I got to our table I wasn’t surprised to see the salad she had sitting in front of her. She absolutely loved healthy food options, and I often joked that she had been a rabbit in a past life. Sitting next to her with my greasy pizza made me feel like I should have gotten a healthier option, but I got over that feeling quickly.
    “Hey Trin,” I said, as I slipped into my regular seat. I waved at her friends Riley and Avery, who were sitting across from her, already deep in a conversation. They smiled and said hey before continuing their conversation.
    Trinity, who was looking down at her phone when I sat down, looked up at me and turned the corners of her mouth upward in a close-lipped smile. Then she raised a finger to tell me to hold on a second while she finished chewing. Once she finished, she said, “Hey, El. How’s your day been so far?”
    Sadly, we didn’t have any classes together. “It’s been annoying. I just want to curl up in my bed and sleep for a year.” I pouted to add emphasis to my words as I reached across the table to grab a napkin.
    She laughed lightly, scrunching up her tan nose. “Sign me up. That would be the life.”
    Across the table, Riley turned away from Avery and gave me a dumbfounded look as she knit her eyebrows together in confusion. Her brown hair was curled in loose ringlets that framed her pale face. “ You want to sleep for a year?”
    I nodded, not understanding what she was trying to get at. Lifting my pizza up, I took a huge bite and chewed slowly while staring directly at Riley, who looked at me like I had just grown a third eyeball. She didn’t even break eye contact when another one of their friends came and sat down next to her.
    “What’s going on?” Amaya asked as she placed her tray on the table. She scanned the table slowly, her brown eyes squinting. She had obviously picked up on the awkward air that enveloped us.
    Trinity stabbed her fork into her salad. “Ella wants to sleep for a year, and Riley doesn’t know why.” She gestured at Avery and then at her chest. “Avery and I are confused.”
    “Why can’t Ella sleep for a year?” Amaya questioned, sliding into a chair.
    “I just don’t understand why she of all people would want to sleep for a year. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Riley clarified, shaking her head lightly. Her brown eyes remained fixed on me.
    “Me of all people? What does that mean?” If it was even possible, I became more confused than I already was. That didn’t stop me from taking another bite of my pizza while Amaya and Avery joined Riley in staring at me. The only thing Trinity was concerned with was her salad.
    Riley slid her lunch tray to the side and leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “It means, why would you want to sleep for a year? You’re dating Shane Quinn.”
    Trinity smirked at me and raised an eyebrow. She knew all about Shane and I and our lack of a relationship status.
    None one else did, though.
    Riley swiped a stray strand of hair off of her face. “If I was dating Shane, I would never want to sleep again.”
    I laughed, shaking my head. “What makes you think I’m dating Shane?”
    “Well, I’ve seen you guys ride in to school together sometimes,” Riley answered. “You also hang out with him and Carter, and you two seem to make googly eyes at each other a lot.”
    “There have also been some rumors about you