“Don’t say it, don’t say anything.” He presses his finger against my lips. “I don’t want you to say it just because I did.”I’m not.I scream at him, hoping he can read my mind.
He leans down and replaces his fingers with his lips, kissing me senseless.
“Let’s go shower, we have a TV show waiting for us.”
33
HUNTER
My palms are sweaty, and I wipe them against the polyester fabric of my Halloween costume. The fundraiser that Zoey worked on was fun. Adam was by my side the whole time, pointing out different people he knew and introducing me to the few acquaintances he’s met around campus.
It was… Nice being in an inclusive environment and not having to hide my sexuality. Even though I can’t walk around holding my…Adam’shand. It would cause an upset of epic proportions. Because I still haven’t talked to Thomas, and I doubt Adam has talked to Danielle.
The reasonable part of me is guilty, knowing that we’re deceiving not one but two separate people. But Danielle will understand, I know she will. She’s my closest friend, and she’ll be happy to know I’m happy. And one day when she’s standing on the altar marrying the love of her life, I’ll hopefully be standing beside her.
Thomas is a whole other story. He’s been so stressed with exams, and it doesn’t feel right to put that hurt on him.
But last weekend with Adam and my parents was perfect. The four of us hung out around the house, my mom teaching me a few different recipes, and while my dad and Adam were outside working on the fence, I pictured bringing him home with me all the time, watching my parents welcome him with open arms.
Our phones were thankfully silent while we were gone, and I haven’t seen Thomas since we got back from fall break. So maybe talking to him and telling him it isn’t working for us will be easy since we’re already becoming distant.
Adam’s hand brushes mine, the soft touch soothing.
“Ready?”
Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.
We walk into the house, the loud music pumping and the bass from the pop song shaking the ground below my feet. My teeth chatter against each other, the combination of the music and people’s yelled conversations already stressing me out. I was not built for this. I’ve never been to a party. I don’t know how to act in a public setting like this.
“Breathe, baby. You’re fine,” Adam whispers into my ear. The smooth fabric from his costume tickles my bare arm.
He’s right, I am fine. Just a little stressed and overwhelmed and wondering what the absolute heck we’re doing. The vibes we’re giving off with our matching Halloween costumes leaves little to imagination, this is different than two dudes being bros, this feels…Couple-y.
The white fabric of my angel costume soaks up the color from the flashing strobe lights by the speakers, bathing me in an array of colors. My wings haven’t snagged on anything yet, thankfully. The cropped top lets a breeze blow across my midriff, but it’s a welcome sensation in a house packed full of bodies.
Adam is dashing in his costume, the black, velvety material loosely draped across his chest. He has it completelyunbuttoned, showing off the lines of sinewy muscle. His eyes are lined with a dark charcoal eye shadow that he borrowed from Danielle, and it makes his blue eyes look ethereal. He looks like the villain in every way, but I know underneath that he’s the exact opposite of a villain. He’s my prince charming, asshole ways and all.
“Hunt!” Danielle squeals, and the crowd of people parts like the Red Sea to let her pass by.
She’s dressed like Greek royalty. A white sash adorns her body, artfully pinned to keep all her private parts private, but the flash of skin with every sway of the fabric screams temptation. Coupled with the sheen of gold glitter covering her body, she looks beautiful.
I’m hit with imposter syndrome, staring at her in all her beauty while I stand next to her boyfriend, whom I confessed my love to last week. Something we’ve both pushed under the rug, and I refuse to let the hurt from that take root. Not tonight. Not when I’m already struggling with everything else.
“You look so hot,” she screams in my ear, the smell of alcohol assaulting my nose.
I chance a look at Adam, and he’s staring at me, not at her, with a hint of amazement in his eyes. My cheeks flame.
She’s right,he mouths, his smile wide.
“So do you,” I say, wrapping my hands around her and pulling her into a hug.
Adam pats my shoulder and puts his arm around Danielle as well.
“Cute throuple,” Zoey says, her arm around Brittany’s back as they join the fold of our group.
“The cutest,” Brittany agrees, smiling at us, even though it doesn’t fully meet her eyes. I lower my gaze, my guilty conscience rearing its ugly head.
Danielle breaks the hug and grabs my hand, dragging me into the kitchen. Red cups full of beer line the counter, and behind that is a bowl of liquid full of mixed fruit the color of swamp water with a ladle hanging precariously off the rim.
