“Okay, but… he is hot,” I say.
Alex gasps and claps like I just admitted to a crime. “Hot? He’s more than hot. He’s like—ruin my life please daddy—hot.”
I groan, covering my face with one hand. “Oh my god, stop. He probably heard us talking about me dressing up slutty tomorrow. He probably thinks I’m a bad girl now.”
Alex just smirks. “Good. He’s probably imagining you in those dainty threads right now.”
My cheeks flame. “Alex!”
She laughs and loops her arm through mine, dragging me toward the racks of costumes. “Now come on—we’ve got to get you a party ‘fit to scandalize Vermont with.”
CHAPTER FOUR
KELLAN
I step into the house, the door clicking behind me. I toss my jacket onto the chair, kick my boots off, and I’m moving toward my computer before I even take a breath.
She’s going to a party tomorrow. Dressing… like that. Getting sloppy drunk. No. There’s no way I’ll have her out there vulnerable. I’ll be at that party. She deserves to have fun. I’ll be there to keep her safe. That’s it.
Her friend’s words from earlier echo in my mind.Maybe you’ll find someone dressed like one of your book boyfriends.
Damn it. I need a costume. I need it fast.
And I need to know who she likes.
I pull upHappyReadsand start searching for Opal. Oakridge, Vermont. Filter by location. Scroll. Scroll. My fingers tighten around the mouse.
Finally, I see her. Her display name isOpalReadsSmut, and her profile picture shows her curled up with a book—hair falling around her face, that perfect combination of sultry and nerdy. She looks…sexy, as always.
I click her profile, scanning through her five-star reviews, reading the snippets she’s left behind. The titles she gushes over, the characters she loves.
Suddenly this isn’t just about keeping her safe. I need to know everything about her. Everything.
I scroll through her reviews, and a pattern jumps out at me—she loves stalker romances. My lips twitch into a small, ironic chuckle. If only she knew.
I spot some familiar titles, some of the same ones I have on my shelves. My chest tightens a little at seeing her taste reflected in the books I know.
And then I see it:Her Soul is Mine. Five stars. She goes on about how sexy Kade Cross is.
I sit back, a slow grin spreading. That’s it. That’s who I’ll be.
I open a new tab and start adding pieces to my cart—black, tactical, military-style clothing. Mask. Goggles. Boots. Gas mask. Everything to match the dark, dangerous vibe of her favorite character.
I select overnight shipping without a second thought. This has to be ready for tomorrow. I hit check out, heart hammering.
I’m going to this party. And if anyone even looks at her with a hint of sinister intentions, they’re going to regret it.
I go back to herHappyReadsprofile, scrolling again.
“Oh my god,” I mutter under my breath.
All her socials are linked. Every. Single. One.
First, I click her TikTok, too eagerly, I’ll admit.
Holy.
She has 200k followers. Two hundred thousand people watching her, laughing with her, swooning over her just like do.
