I laugh, my gaze moving across the room to Maddox, who is leaning against the vanity and laughing quietly, his head shaking at his bandmates’ display. Zeb goes over and roughs him up by the shoulders, trying to get him to get up and celebrate with them, though the bassist just stuffs his hands back in his pockets.
I exhale some of my fear when our eyes meet.
“I did,” I say.
Bonnie throws her arms in the air upon seeing me, and I dodge her hands because she has red hair dye all over them.
“Whoa—my hands are already green from this idiot,” I say, pointing toward Reed.
“Air hug,” Bonnie says. She holds her arms up, and I laugh when I wrap my arms around her.
“Thank fuck we don’t have to worry about that asshat anymore,” Bonnie says as I release her. “Thought we were going to have to have a group seance to banish him tonight.”
“Happy Halloween,” I say.
“You look hot, by the way,” Bonnie adds. “I love the Sally makeup.”
I shrug and look at the stitches I’ve drawn to extend my red lips, across my forehead and through my eyebrow, along with two across my throat. The makeup around my eyes is heavier than I usually wear, though it’s perfect for the Sally look.
“I found an extra eyeliner and thought, what the hell,” I reply.
“Looks amazing. I love you.Hey!—” Bonnie darts over to Reed and bends backward so that he can pour the energy drink into her mouth, and as she does, I finally make my way over to Maddox.
Maddox’s eyes drag a little longer over me, and I exhale a uneven breath under his surprised stare.
“Congratulations,” I tell him as I lean on the counter beside him. “Looks like the demons won this round.”
“For now,” he says, and I know why he’s hesitant about celebrating.
He crosses his arms over his chest and examines me up and down again, causing me to look away before I do something rash.
“I heard we were under a ‘no walls’ rule tonight,” I say as cryptically as possible.
Maddox scoffs. “I heard the same.” His eyes lock on mine, and he raises a brow. “After, though.”
I wish I could kiss him.
Because I want to bite that smirk off his lips.
I suck my bottom lip between my teeth, practically feeling my eyes dilate upon him. “After, though.”
I can see the darkened smirk in his eyes when he gazes at me, and before anyone can notice us, he lays his hand atop mine and squeezes it.
“Hey, Andi—” Reed calls from the door. “Can you do my makeup?”
My head swivels in his direction, Maddox and I’s hands parting. “And turn you into the Joker? Yes. I can do that,” I say as I push off the counter.
Our family arrives an hour before the set start—just in time to say a quick ‘hello’ before the band starts their rituals. Tina brings bags of candy for each of them. They stay to chat for a while, and by the time they’re ready to leave, the opening act is less than fifteen minutes from going on.
I know I should leave, too.
I wish I could have one minute with Maddox to see how he’s feeling, what he’s thinking after the news of Adam being stifled. Even so, I know it’ll have to wait.
Work first.
As we part ways and I head out into the pit, I see Maddox backstage beginning his before-show walking rounds. I get my camera ready and check the settings, even snapping a few pictures of the mass of people in costumes in the front row.
Someone screams behind me and points toward the wings. I swing my lens to the stage, finding Maddox with the Bane mask on and standing in the shadows between the curtains. Another person yells, “Bane!” as loud as they can, and a few others follow.
