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Then voices approach from the other direction. A group of laughing runners bursts around the corner.

The moment breaks and one of them sees me. “BRIDE!”

I laugh. “That’s me.”

They race past.

When I turn back, the masked man is gone.

“Rude.”

I continue walking. It takes me ten minutes to find Mariah.

She launches herself at me. “YOU’RE ALIVE!”

“Barely.”

“Some guy threw me over his shoulder!”

“Did you get his number?”

“I TRIED.”

I laugh. “Where’s Ali?”

“Caught.”

“No!”

“She tapped out.”

“Traitor.”

“She said she’s going to the bar.”

“Actually, that’s fair.”

Mariah notices me looking behind us. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You keep looking.”

“There was a guy.”

She gasps dramatically. “There was a man at the adults-only Halloween event?”

“Shut up.”

“Was he hot?”

“He was wearing a mask.”

“So yes.”

“I don’t know.”

“You know.”