“You look like a bad porno version of Johnny Depp!” Blake shouts over the music, his tone both horrified and impressed.
“Get real. Even Johnny Depp himself would be proud of the Captain Jack Sparrow I’ve managed to pull off.” I smirk, tugging at the collar of my coat. “Plus, jealousy’s a bad look on you, Weiner Man.”
Blake looks down at his half-assed “Hot Dog Vendor” costume—literally a striped apron and a cardboard sign that reads HOT DOGS 4 SALE. “I didn’t know we were going full Broadway production, man.”
Before I can reply, I feel a hand on my arm.
I turn to look and spot Scarlett standing there. She’s in a crimson devil costume with glitter horns and a neckline that defies the laws of gravity. She twirls a fake pitchfork in her hand and leans in close, her voice purring in my ear. “Well hello, Captain Kelly. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Blake snorts and backs away like he wants zero part of this.
I give Scarlett a polite smile. She’s always been confident and a little dangerous in that way that makes most guys lose their minds. Last year, before everything with Scottie went down, I probably would’ve tried to see where things went with her. She flirted, I flirted back, but then everything happened.
And now, I see her and feel…nothing.
Well, not nothing.
I feelJulia.
Even when she’s not here.
Scarlett steps closer. “You look good,” she says, eyeing me like I’m on the menu. “Really good. You have plans after this?”
Before I can formulate a smooth let-down, the crowd at the front doors stirs. There’s a flutter, a hush that spreads like a wave. I don’t even know how I know it’s her, but I do.
I turn.
And there she is.
Julia Brooks.
She walks into the theater like a goddamn vision, dressed in a black lace mask and a costume that hugs her like she was born for it.
She’s flanked by Scottie, who’s in an angel getup with gold wings, Finn in a skeleton suit and LED glasses, and whatshisface dressed like he thinks he’s charming in a tuxedo shirt and vampire cape.
He puts his hand on Julia’s back, steering her toward the bar.
I swear I see her stiffen, only slightly, but fuck, I could be imagining it.
Scarlett says something beside me, but I don’t hear it.
All I can think about is last night and how I got to be the guy by her side, taking care of her. I held her in my arms. I calmed her down and distracted her with dumb jokes while the ER staff worked on her hand. And I watched her look up at me with those sleepy, loopy eyes and smile like none of the last two months happened. Like she didn’t reject me when I told her that I’m in love with her. Like I haven’t nearly gone crazy trying not to text her, call her, knock on her apartment door every single goddamn day.
And now, here she is. Looking like every dream I’ve ever had of her and none of them at the same time. But of course, she’s standing beside someone else.
I should look away. I should go back to my dumb pirate act and the overzealous girl practically drooling beside me.
But I can’t.
Because no matter how many cloaks I order or parties I throw or girls like Scarlett who try to get close—there’s only ever been one person who always has my full attention, even if she doesn’t want it.
Julia
The Beckley Theater doesn’t even look like Beckley Theater anymore. It’s unrecognizable in the most ridiculous, over-the-top, badass way. The velvet curtains glow under strobe lights. Jack-o’-lanterns line the aisles. There’s a DJ in the orchestra pit and actual fire dancers twirling onstage like we’re in some underground club in Europe instead of a campus theater.
Seeing all of this makes a surge of pride fill my chest. Ace has taken on the responsibility of Double C, and he’s doing it in a way that only he can do. Lexi was a fantastic president, but Ace, well, he’s taken Double C to another level.
He’s made it his own. And I’m really proud of him for that.
