Scorching Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page A

realize that this is a Steinway grand piano?” I run my hand across the top, admiring how smooth it is.
    “I don’t know what that means.”
    “This piano is ridiculously expensive.” I jump back from the seat when my mind finally catches up to me. “I can’t play on that.” I’ve never played on anything that nice before. The piano that I played on was an old wooden one that my mom inherited when Grandma passed away.
    “Why not?” asks Liam.
    “That piano is worth tens of thousands of dollars.” I say pointing to it. Everyone just looks at me like I am crazy. I know my eyes are wide. “Tens of thousands,” I repeat. Are my words not being processed in their brains? Their expressions don’t change. Tens of thousands . Why am I the only one that is worried about how much this costs? I can’t be the only person here that understands the value of a dollar.
    Colton rolls his eyes and pushes me back toward the piano. “Play something.” I really do want to play it. However, I don’t really want to embarrass myself if I mess up. It has been a long time since I’ve touched a piano, let alone tried to play anything.
    “I don’t know what to play,” I say hoping to waste some time. They’re going to make me play no matter what, but if I can prolong it for a little bit…
    “Oh quit stalling, Ryanne. I want to hear you play,” Emma whines. I place my hands on the cool keys and take a deep breath, preparing myself. I’ll play a simple song first.
    Facing everyone, I ask, “Can you not look at me? It’s making me nervous. Turn around or something.” Collectively, I hear frustrated sighs, but everyone listens and turns around. I take a deep breath and place my hands on the correct chords. I start slowly to make sure that I remember how to play the song and get adjusted to the weight of the keys. I close my eyes and let my fingers move across the keys, focusing only on the piano. Everything else is forgotten in that moment. It is just me and the piano.

    Colton
    I almost growl at Emma when she tells Ryanne to quit stalling. She looks over at me and smirks. Obviously Ryanne is nervous about playing in front of all of us. When she mentioned that she could play piano, I just had to hear it. It shouldn’t surprise me that she could play though. I’m more surprised that she never mentioned it before.
    She reaches up and pushes her long hair out of her face and looks down at the keys. I watch as she slowly places her small hands on the right keys. It looks like she is about to play, but instead she turns around and asks us if we can look away. I chuckle at the request, while everyone else groans. After everything that we’ve been through together, she still gets nervous and embarrassed around us.
    I turn around and everyone follows. Ryanne exhales loudly, and then the notes start playing through the room. I try not to turn around like she asked, but after the first couple of seconds I can’t help it.
    I can’t see her face, but she is moving with the music, her hands seeming to glide across the keys. I look around at Logan and Liam and see that they have similar expressions. She really can play. Emma walks over to me and puts a hand under my chin and pushes up, closing my open mouth. I blink a couple of times and smirk at her before walking toward the side of the piano. The music starts slowing and I expect her to stop playing, but she transitions into another song.
    Her eyes are closed like I expected, with a calm countenance. Liam walks over and stands near me. Ryanne leans forward and clears her throat. Her long hair starts falling over her shoulders and shields her face from my view, so I can no longer see her expression. Under the notes of the piano, I can hear her humming along with the music, but I’m not prepared for what happens next.
    She sings.
    Emma gasps when Ryanne begins singing along with the music. “Did you know she could sing?” she whispers to me. I shake my head, not able to tear my eyes