“I’ll be back,”Madison mumbles before walking toward the crowded cabin.
Music pumps through the speakers, and the song’s haunting melody pulses through me like a heartbeat. Being outdoors at this party isn’t as overstimulating as being inside the frat house. It helps that I can step outside to get some air and escape the crowd for a while. However, because I ditched my jacket at home, I can’t stand out here for long without freezing my tits off in my nun costume.
Maybe Aiden will help warm me up.
Grinning, I turn to Olivia at the tail end of whatever she’s been talking about. Dahlia sips her soda beside me, listening intently.
Olivia smirks at me. “You didn’t hear anything I said, did you?”
I snort a laugh. “Nope. I got distracted.”
“Aiden’s back?” She cranes her neck to look past me, searching the crowd for my brother.
“What? No.” I blow a raspberry. “He’s hanging out with some friends. Am I really that attached to his hip or something?”
Olivia smirks. “More like the other way around. I’m surprised he’s not out here with you right now, being your shadow, like usual.”
“Like usual? You mean recently, right?” I cross my arms over my chest and rub them to help warm up. While the fire pit is nice, it isn’t chasing off the chill or the goosebumps. Or maybe it’s what Olivia said that’s making the shiver run down my spine.
“Recently?” She wrinkles her nose. “No, babe. I noticed years ago. Whenever I hang out with you, Aiden isn’t far away. He’s your shadow, and sometimes you don’t notice when he’s there.”
My stomach does the weird thing again, like I’m free-falling from the clouds and hurtling toward the ground with a stupid grin on my face. But I know what it means now.
Falling in love with Aiden is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done. It was the easiest and most natural thing to do as well.
“By the way,” Olivia says, “how’s the fake-dating going?”
A soft gasp beside me reminds me that Dahlia has been quietly listening the entire time. “You and Aiden are dating?”
I nervously laugh and shake my head. “Not really. It’s all pretend.”
“It’s to make another guy jealous.” Olivia smirks and sips her drink. “But you haven’t given me any updates. Are you moving on to bigger and better things now? Like, let’s say, your brother?”
“The plan is working,” I say, deflecting from her last question.
She purses her lips and eyes me. “Is it?”
I scoff, wave bye to her and Dahlia, and stride toward the cabin. “I’m going inside to warm up.”
Olivia cackles. “Bye! Make sure Aiden wraps it before he claps it. Also, don’t let him rip your dress. Wait! Scratch that. Let him do it with his teeth.”
I chuckle, ignoring the sideways glances from random people hanging outside.
My phone vibrates in the pocket I stitched into the costume, and I pull it out and read the new message from Brandon.
Brandon
Happy Halloween. Do you have any fun plans tonight, or are you free to play a game with me?
I’m at a party right now with my brother and friends, otherwise I’d say yes.
Ahh, damn. I was hoping we could play.
Sorry. But maybe later?
Oh, definitely. It’s a sick game lol. The graphics are crisp, and it feels like you’re in it.
I can’t wait! I’ve been needing something new to hyper-focus on for a while.
