Her legs wrapped around me instinctively, pulling me closer, and I groaned softly into her mouth.
She smiled against my lips.“I missed you more than a little.”
“Good,” I murmured.“Because I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Star
Four o’clock felt way too early to be sweating this much.
I stood in front of Cole’s mirror, arms awkwardly lifted while hetriedto help me step into the pink dinosaur costume without tearing it or suffocating me.
“This is,” he said slowly, circling me like he was inspecting a crime scene, “the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen.”
I grinned.“Liar.Your aunt is Alice.”
He snorted and tugged at the elastic around my waist.“I’m serious.You look like you’re being attacked by a cartoon.”
I shifted, then wiggled, and finally managed to get the inflatable settled so it looked like I was riding the dinosaur instead of being eaten by it.
I turned in a slow circle, presenting myself.“Am I not the sexiest dino rider you’ve ever seen?”I laughed.
Cole dragged a hand down his face.“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… yes.Yes, you are not.”
I gasped dramatically.“You flatter me.”
He stepped forward and tried to pull me into his arms, but the costume bumped awkwardly between us.
He frowned.“I’m not going to be able to kiss you all night.”
I reached out and patted his cheek.“I guess you’ll just have to wait, then.”
“Oh, I don’t think so.”
He lunged at me.
I shrieked and jumped away, barely missing his grasp, and yanked the door open just in time to escape.The second I hit the hallway, I galloped—actually galloped—down the corridor, laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
Cole chased after me, boots pounding behind me.
“Star!”he barked.“You’re going to hurt yourself!”
I skidded into the common room, nearly wiping out.
“Whoa!”Alice called.“Runaway dino!”
Alice stood near the couch in a blow-up Highland cow costume, arms out like she was ready to wrangle me.Next to her, Nikki was standing completely still in a black-and-white cow costume, but hers wasn’t inflated.
She frowned down at the silent pump in her hand.“Do you know how loud it’s going to be in here with fourteen of us wearing these?”
“It’ll be fine,” Alice said.“Just have another shot.”
Carnie waddled out of the kitchen, wearing a full T.rex costume, tail dragging behind her.She spun in a circle and wiggled it.“Freak really likes the tail,” she announced.
Alice catcalled.“I can see why.Shake it!”
More girls filtered in.
