Page 32 of Trick or Heat

I push his shoulder, the playful gesture surprising me because it’s like we’ve been friends for ages. “No, but Halloween just ended. Why can’t we let it rest in peace for a moment?”

“Says the spooky-season fan that probably starts celebrating on August first,” DJ comments.

My cheeks heat. “Hey! I do not!”

“Your reaction says otherwise,” he teases. “But that’s fine. We all love spooky season.”

“I wish it was at least six months of the year,” Brodie agrees, and my shoulders relax a little.

“You two are jerks,” I joke, my lips curving, and their answering grins make something in my stomach dip.

I keep forgetting I’ve been fucked by both of them, once at the same time…

“Speaking of scary things,” Brodie adds. “I know we’re here to see a horror movie, but I have to be honest with you and say they’re not my favorite.”

“You don’t like horror movies?”

He shakes his head. “I get spooked easily. One time, my father put on one of the Saw films, and I puked right onto my mother’s favorite rug.”

DJ snorts, and I hide my mouth behind my hand. “That’s horrible, Brodie. I’m sorry that turned you off to other spooky films.”

Brodie smiles. “Just movies with gore, to be honest. I like animated Halloween movies, like Coraline or The Corpse Bride.”

I feel stars in my eyes. “I love those movies.”

“At least we have those in common.” He laughs. “But if you catch me closing my eyes or trying not to cry in the theater, please don’t hold it against me.”

I take his hand and give a supportive squeeze. A surprised gasp escapes his lips before he squeezes back.

“Don’t worry, Alpha,” I say, loving how natural it feels. “I’ll keep you safe.”

His smirk returns. “Those are beautiful words to hear indeed.”

The movie is amazing just like I knew it would be. The alphas bought popcorn, drinks, and any snack I wanted, and didn’t complain about movie theater pricing once, which made my guilt for getting two different candies a lot more reasonable. I held Brodie’s hand the entire movie and let him put his face into my neck during the scary parts. DJ giggled at him a few times, which I had to shut down with my ferocious and scary glare (he just laughed again, but he kept quiet after that, so a win is a win).

After exiting the theater and throwing away our food, the boys walk us over to the bookstore.

“Are we going in there?” I ask, my eyes wide.

Brodie nods. “It’s one of your favorite places, right?”

I nod, still stirring with surprise. “But how did you⁠—”

“A little birdie told us that you like books,” DJ answers.

I narrow my gaze. “A little birdie, huh? Does this birdie happen to have blond hair?”

“Yes. And he has the most delicious chai scent,” he adds.

I feel my face heat up at that. He does have a really good scent.

“I’m going to get us some drinks,” Brodie says before heading off toward the crowded in-store coffee shop.

When I turn back to DJ, his grin is wide and knowing. “Where do you want to start first, beautiful?”

We start in the fantasy section before swinging around to romance. DJ holds my tiny stack of books in his arms as we peruse the selection of stories.

“I have to say, it’s been a while since I’ve been here. I usually go to the library instead.”