“And what’s that?” His lip quirks, but the bottles call out to him. And his eyes flicker away from me.
“I will not cheat on Loren Hale.”
Lo inspects the cabinet. “I like mine better,” he says, distant. He plucks a triangular shaped bottle off the shelf, and despite my lust for him and my worry for his mental state, I leave him to binge.
Gradually, I brace the crowded living room where the lights dim and the Halloween colors strobe. I spot Connor beside the crackling fireplace, surrounded by a large group of people chatting over each other, as though he’s the focus of the party. He interjects a couple of times, but more people talktohim than him needing to talk back. All plans whoosh out of my head, and even the idea of vying for someone’s attention sounds both exhausting and terrifying.
Before I can look away, Connor catches my eye and waves me over. My gaze traces the hippies who stagger, even with bare feet, and I shake my head. I belong in the shadows and the cobwebs. Connor clearly lives in the spotlight.
Frown lines crease his forehead, and he mutters something quickly to his friends before surprisingly detaching from the herd and heading to me. His cape billows behind him, but he pushed his mask to the top of his thick, wavy brown hair.
“You know,” Connor says, “they don’t bite. Dreadful company but relatively harmless.”
“I know,” I say. “I just don’t like large groups. Usually I just…dance when I go to parties.” What a big fat lie, but I’d rather not addand have sexto the statement.
“You never know, one of these pirates may be a future investor that you need in your back pocket.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” I motion to the talkative groups. “Go find a future millionaire.”
His feet stay cemented. “Where’s Lo? Did you lose him again?”
“He’s in the kitchen and probably going to get us kicked out. I thought I’d take a tour of the house before then.” Hopefully I sound as bitter as I feel.
“Why would he get us kicked out?”
I shake my head, clearing away the sudden judgment. “Nothing. It’s fine.”
A shirtless firefighter saunters past us, sweat glistening on his bare chest like he’s saved someone from a burning building.I will not cheat on Loren Hale.Nope, not even with a sexy firefighter.
“Hey, Connor,” Batman walks over carrying a rare beer in this place. “I didn’t think you would show here. Darren Greenberg’s party is supposed to have free helicopter rides.”
“Flying in puke doesn’t sound that appealing, and I thought there would be food here.”
“Yeah, Michael went cheap this year. I thought he was going to recreate a scene fromEvil Deadin the front yard. Instead, he went for D-list zombies.” Batman glances at me. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”
Ireallylook at him this time but come up blank. Usually the only people that recognize me and I can’t place, are the ones I’ve slept with.
“No, I don’t think we’ve met,” I tell him.
“This is Lily,” Connor introduces. “She’s a friend.”
Batman slaps Connor’s shoulder. “Good job, man.” What does that even mean? He glances at my bare stomach with a hungry gaze. Oh. I cross my arms. He then notices my costume. “Hey, Wolverine!”
I don’t even try to correct him.
“We should go find all the superheroes here and try to fight some fucking evil together.”
“Her boyfriend is around here somewhere. He’s part of X-Men too.”
Batman looks a bit crestfallen. “Boyfriend, huh?” His eyes narrow to slits. “I think…I think I do know you. Do you ever go to The Cloud? It’s a club downtown.”
Before I say a word, I see him formulating the answer. Amusement flashes across his features. Immediately, my gut reaction kicks in and I bolt away from both of them, hoping Connor will follow. One guy spotting me and claiming we hadsex is a weird coincidence. Two guys—Connor will think something’s wrong with me.
I stop in the foyer, blocked by a pack of people watching Fred Flintstone slide down the curving bannister.
Connor touches my shoulder, and I spin to face him, glad tonotsee Batman by his side. “I would adopt your methods at avoiding douchebags, but I’m guessing running away doesn’t make many friends.”
I relax. He thinks I flee to avoid jerks like frat Kevin and Batman. Truth be told, I’m not even sure if these guys are the assholes in the situation. I slept with them, acting exactly how they perceive me to be. Trashy.
