So, I stand outside of my work, bundled and hyper aware of my surroundings as I wait for Sam to pick me up.
While it’s gotten only slightly better, I still find myself looking around at every movement, each person who comes from the darkness to go inside the hospital. It’s a hard feeling to shake when you’re convinced someone is always watching you.
Sam pulls up in her purple jeep wrangler, beating with music while Macey sits in the passenger side.
“Get in, you sexy nurse!” Sam chants through her rolled down window.
I hop inside whileMan! I Feel Like a Womanby Shania Twain plays in the car. They both turn back to look at me, revealing a glimpse of their well thought out costumes. Mace is wearing cat ears, her face painted with whiskers and a cat nose. Sam has devil light up horns and dark smokey makeup with black lipstick.
“Well you guys look fantastic,” I say, buckling my seatbelt.
“Tonight, we are all gonna get a piece of some ass.” Sam puts the car in drive and takes off into the night.
Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up to a warehouse type building namedCurfew.People moving in and out of it are dressed in various costumes. Sam tosses her keys to the valet, and we’re led inside.
Different colored lights scatter across the warehouse as masked and painted faces whisk around. The air is filled with sweat, alcohol and sex. Sam drags us through the crowds with our arms linked as we bump into sweaty bodies.
“Where are the guys?” I ask.
“On the rooftop,” Sam answers.
Somehow, we manage to make it through the masses of costumes and onto the cool rooftop, which serves as relief from the sweaty heat inside the club. There isn’t much up here except for a few chairs and fire pits that can be mistaken as trash cans. It’s quieter, calmer, which is something I soon realize I need after just a few minutes in the chaos ofCurfew.
Approaching the guys is a treat, seeing what they all bring to the table for costumes. It doesn’t surprise me when Anthony turns, revealing the iconic hangover costume. Sunglasses, baby holder with an old doll in it and the clothes to match.
A genuine laugh leaves my lips, because only Anthony would pull this off perfectly. Cole stays in Cole fashion, with simple dog ears as his only effort for a costume.
“Where’s Tyler?” I ask.
“Right behind you,” he whispers, making my heart skip a beat and my body react, unsure of whether to be scared or relieved. He places his hands on my shoulders, heavy in the most comforting way as he stabilizes my shaking body. “Hi, little fire,”
I turn around to face him, seeing his costume on full display. A half painted face like a skull, one side the predator, the other the human. A black hoodie and dark jeans.
“Where the hell have you been?” Sam asks.
“Someone has to work around here.” He grins.
In what world is an outfit like this used for work?
Sam arches a brow. “Sure. If work is code forlaid.”
Tyler's jaw flexes as his eyes briefly fall to me and then back to his sister. “Don’t talk about things you don’t know, Sam.”
“An outfit like that doesn’t call for business,” she counters.
“Your end of business and mine are totally different things.” He stares at her blankly. “Consider yourself lucky for that.”
What once was a lighthearted night has quickly grown heavy. The shift in everyone is prevalent. His tone changes, and everyone else does, too. Nothing else is said as he leans against the edge of the rooftop, bracing his forearms on the ledge, looking at the city.
By whatever confidence I’ve just gained, I say, “So maybe we should go dance?” I don’t want to dance. Hell, I’d be content staying up here all night, trying to find stars through the light pollution if I had my way.
“My love language!” Sam says, skipping towards me, linking our arms together.
She grabs Macey, leading us off the rooftop. Looking behind me, I see Tyler watching me run off with his sisters, his arms crossed over his chest and a smile hooking the corner of his mouth, curving that scar I want to kiss.
I can’t like you, Tyler.
Eventually, the guys follow after, because where we go, they go. Strobe lights dance around us asRosesby the Chain Smokers fills the venue.
