Don’t go to bed yet, I just need to finish drafting this email and then we can play
@theanswerisno:
I waited a lifetime for you. I can wait a little longer.
I knocked on the bathroom door. “Lily, come on. We’re going to be late. William made me promise I’d help him set up Thunderstruck’s booth. Didn’t you promise Rose you’d help her over at Fun&Games?”
“Uh-huh,” she replied. “I’ll be done soon. Rose’ll totally understand when she sees this.”
Elizabeth stepped out of the bathroom wearing the maroon leather pants I’d dreamed of. They hugged her curves and hung low on her hips. My mouth dropped open.
“You like?” She ran her hands down the black corset, tight around her waist. “This is because you made me watchStar Shieldthree times. I was inspired.”
“Oh no,” I groaned, then nodded. “I mean yes, yes, obviously yes but oh no, no, no. How am I supposed to…?” I couldn’t even finish my sentence.
She spun around, obviously enjoying my pain.
“Maybe we can be late.” My eyes dipped to her cleavage and got stuck there.
She pressed a soft kiss on my mouth. “Nope. Rose asked me to be there early, and I agreed. We have no excuse.”
“But this is an excuse.” I gestured to her outfit. “Like you said, Rose and William will understand.”
“I like to keep you waiting.” She winked, knowing it would drive me up the wall, and before I could grab her and have my way, she swayed her hips and escaped, making sure I’d get a good view before adding a cape and completing her costume.
We hopped into my truck and drove down to where Comic-Con was being held. I read the directions off the special-access tickets Rose had given us. “It’s supposed to be here. Which is weird. It’s not where the main con access is.”
We parked. Beside us, Claire, Dean, and Hannah climbed out of their car. Claire gave Elizabeth the tightest hug.
Shaun, Neema, and their brand-new baby arrived. Elizabeth practically teleported toward them.
“Lincoln,” Claire called, and pointed at Elizabeth, “it was the secret identity trope all along.”
“Fated mates, maybe,” I said, that familiar heat filling my chest.
Claire clapped and nodded before asking, “How’s work? Any regrets?”
“None at all. I love it there.” My cheeks ached from all this smiling. I wasn’t used to this. But my new job was good, and after all these years, I didn’t feel so frazzled every morning.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, seemed to thrive under pressure,and she gave Anders a run for his money on the daily. It was as though she was avenging me for every trouble he’d ever given me. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy that.
“William sent a text,” Shaun yelled over at us. “He said to hurry and stop chitchatting.”
We walked through the entrance, and the doorman stopped us. “Are you here for Rose and William?”
We nodded, and he took a quick look at the tickets Rose had emailed us. He led us inside and pointed to the board game area. “In you get. Pick one costume off the rail. Your names are on them.”
“No way,” Claire said. “She was being serious about us dressing up?”
“But I like my costume,” Elizabeth said.
“I like it too.” I slipped my hands around to her backside underneath her cape and nearly glitched. That was dangerous.
The stillness of the empty venue was eerie and somehow exciting. I’d been here before, but it was filled to the brim. I had never returned.
Shaun located the costumes and wasted no time finding his name. “Hey! I’m an elf! Look at this epic wig.” He lifted his clothing and a few smaller outfits. “There are costumes for the kids too.” He handed Hannah’s outfit, which looked like a hobbit’s costume, to Claire. He handed an even smaller version to Neema and then walked into the changing booth.
Shaun stepped out fully dressed, and his excitement was almost enough to get us moving, and if that didn’t do it, well, the person who walked out from the board game area did.
