I laughed and glanced at Ari, who shared the same amusement I did. She seemed to relax a bit and leaned against the pole beside me.
“Fair enough,” I said. “In our defense, itisHalloween.”
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I’m Dennis, by the way.”
“I’m Aurelia and that’s my cousin, Emery.”
“Call me Emy.” I gave him a friendly smile.“Why are you wearing such an ugly mask? I hope you’re not ugly under that,‘cause then I really shouldn’t be talking to you.”
“Be nice.” Ari nudged me, but I waved her off.
“I’m kidding. I would still talk to you,” I said. He slipped the mask off. “Oh,” I murmured.
He was my perfect type: dark clothes, messy black hair that fell toward his eyes, though the sides were shorter and dyed blonde. Hazel eyes and a cute boyish smile, small black earrings, a black lip ring. There were a couple of chain bracelets on his wrist and a padlocked chain around his neck. A few tattoos were peeking out, though his dark shirt blocked the full artwork. He looked around the same age as us, probably early 20s.
“You don’t have to stare.”
Ari burst out laughing as I smiled.
“Sorry.” My eyes ran across him one more time before I regained composure. And then my attention was caught elsewhere.“Are you wearing a double costume? What’s with the vampire fangs?”
“He’s wearing fangs?” Ari bent to see. He smiled, causing her to gasp.“Those look so real. Where’d you get‘em?”
“A Halloween store down the street.” He gestured in the general direction behind us.
There may or may not have been a Halloween store in that direction. I hadn’t visited this town in years before moving in with Ari three days ago. It had been a second home growing up, but the area had gone through countless changes over the years and wasn’t so familiar anymore.
“Do you know that guy?” I nodded past Dennis toward another man who was quickly approaching. The speed was uncanny.
“Yeah.” Dennis turned as his friend joined us.“This is Mateo.”
Mateo’s light brown eyes lit up as he smiled. I couldn’t help but ogle his dimples. He was the opposite of my type: well over six feet tall, bulky muscles, tousled dark brown hair. Dennis was far more enticing, but Mateo’s dimples were adorable.
“I’m Emy. This is my cousin, Ari.” I gestured accordingly as Mateo took us in.
“You found a cute one.” His eyes lingered on me longer than Ari.
“I did,” Dennis said. Both were staring at me.
I scrunched my nose in distaste.“Can you not talk about me like I’m someone’s property?”
“You’re not?” Dennis raised his eyebrows as Mateo leaned against the pole opposite Ari.
“No. I’m not.” I gave Dennis a weird look as he laughed. It was high-pitched. Eerie. Somehow, it fit him.
“I see.” He smirked and glanced at Mateo before turning back to me.“Wanna bet?”
Ari shook her head at the same time I carelessly agreed.
“Is that a yes or ano?” Mateo asked.
I squinted before pointing at his teeth.“You’re dressed as avampire, too? You guys really put in zero effort with those costumes. Ours might be skimpy but at least we tried.”
“Costume. Right.” Mateo chuckled, exchanging an amused glance with Dennis.“So that’s a yes, then?”
“Yeah, sure. What are we betting on?”
“How about you ask him ten questions and if he gets every single one right, then you become his property?”
