Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Harper

The nerve of him.

Ugh, I'm so mad I'm shaking.

And it's been six days since Easton said I'm not allowed to come to his

party, and I'm still as furious as when he'd first told me.

Who cares if I'm Ryan's sister? My brother flirts with girls in front of me,

he’s stringing along my best friend, but all of that's okay because he's a

boy?

Well, it's not okay. It's a double standard.

What makes it worse is that Easton is the one who uninvited me. It

couldn't have been Ryan or Blake, it had to be the guy I have the

biggest crush on. The guy whose mouth I can't stop fantasizing about.

The costume ! ordered online with Easton in mind just in case I ran into

him at a party.

Now, I won't even be leaving my bed tonight.

And that's exactly what I plan to tell Sadie when she pops her head into

my doorway and says, “Get dressed, we're going.”

I shake my head. “Nope. I'm not. You are.”

Chit

“Do you honestly think I'm going to let you sit home tonight?” She

moves over to my chair where I'd placed the box my costume is in. “Or

that Easton was really serious about what he said?”

I cross my arms to stop my hands from shaking. “Oh, he was serious, all

right.”

“Remember when Ryan was having a heart attack over your bikini?” She

reaches into the box and takes out the costume. “I'm positive that's why

Easton said that to you. He's looking out for his best friend, who prefers

his sister dressed in a big, baggy tent.” She holds up the leotard that's

supposed to make me look like a cat. It comes with thigh-high boots, a

long tail, and a silicon masquerade mask that covers most of my face,

the top adorned with cute little ears. “And this is definitely no tent, this

is s-e-x-y, whoa!” She glances from me to the skintight leotard. “You're

going to be the hottest one there.”

“You're going to be, because I'll be right here ..." I point down at my

mattress. “In bed.”

She sits beside me, her hands resting over mine. “I'm going to put this

as nicely as I can.” She grins. “You have exactly twenty minutes to get

ready or I'm

carrying you outside and we're going whether you're in a costume or

not.” She squeezes my fingers. “Understood?”

My stomach leaps at the thought of seeing Easton even if I still want to

strangle him

I push my back against the wall behind my bed. “It sounds like you're

giving me no choice.”

She taps my hands. “Good, my message was loud and clear, then.”

“But I need more than twenty minutes,” I squeal, and I hurry over to my

chair, stripping off my clothes.

0

With the leotard in place and the tail positioned, I put on my mask and

start my makeup. Most of it's black, I only fill in the few spots the silicon

doesn't cover, and I add a deep red lipstick. I slick down my hair with

lots of gel, securing it in a low bun.

I check every angle in my small, full-length mirror, and then I turn

toward Sadie. “How do I look?”

She eyes me up and down. “Who are you?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I know my best friend is in there somewhere, but all I see is this

smoking hot, ridiculously sexy

minx."

"Oh my God,” I laugh. “Let's go.”

Sadie follows me downstairs and orders a car, and we climb into the

backseat, heading to the other side of town. Although I've never been

inside Easton's house, he lives only a few streets away from Sadie.

We get out of the car, my stare taking in the large, two-story entrance

that's framed by white pillars. The massive brick mansion spans almost

an entire block, the music so loud inside I can hear it from the walkway.

“Are you ready?” Sadie asks, her

Chiper

hand reaching for the doorknob.

I take several deep breaths, preparing myself for the rejection 1 may

receive the moment we get inside. Ryan won't be the one to kick me

out, but I can't predict what Easton will do.

Especially if he recognizes me as the girl from the bathroom.

“As ready as I'll ever be,” I tell her.

Sadie opens the door, and the room is filled with a thick fog,

decorations hanging from the tall ceiling, we're met with cutout

pumpkins and cackling goblins. Everyone is dressed in costume, masks

and makeup, outfits much

more revealing than mine.

I don't see Easton or Ryan anywhere.

“I have an idea,” Sadie says, pulling me past the entrance, into a large

sitting area where people are making out on the couch.

“What kind of idea?"

“Ryan told me Easton's dad has a small garage off the side of the house

where he keeps his Porsche and a whole fridge stocked with beer. You

go grab us two beers and I'm going to find Ryan and gentle break the

news that you're

here.”

“He doesn't know?"

A knot forms in my stomach. I had assumed Sadie told him she was

dragging me here, and I need Ryan on my side in case Easton gets

cranky again and tries to make me leave.

“I didn't exactly mention you when I told him I was coming.” She runs

her finger down the air in front of me. “And he’s not going to be happy

about this.”

“Sadie”

“Trust me, it'll be fine. Ill meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes.”

The knots in my belly are starting to really ache. “Are you sure?”

“Go that way.” She points toward

what

the kitchen. “Take a left at the stove and it's at the end of the hallway,

last door on the right.” Her hand goes to my shoulder. “If you see the

guys before me, hide.”

I nod and she immediately takes off to look for them while I walk

toward the kitchen, reciting her directions in my head. There are so

many people here, it's hard to navigate the thick crowd and the

furniture that's like a maze and the fog that's making it hard to see.

I find the door in the hallway and the light inside the garage is so dim,

I'm surprised there isn't a brighter one. But the car is in the center and

the fridge is in the

corner. I hurry over to it and I'm bending over to grab two bottles from

the bottom shelf when I hear the squeak of the door opening behind

me.

"Hey, that's my secret stash,”

Shit.

The voice tells me it's Easton

I've been caught by the one person I didn't want to find me.

“Damn, it's you,” he croons.

Me?

I put the beer back, trying to stop myself from shaking, and I

gradually straighten and turn around. I'm expecting the wrath,

corner. I hurry over to it and I'm bending over to grab two bottles from

the bottom shelf when I hear the squeak of the door opening behind

me.

“Hey, that's my secret stash,”

Shit.

The voice tells me it's Easton.

I've been caught by the one person I didn't want to find me.

“Damn, it's you,” he croons.

Me?

I put the beer back, trying to stop myself from shaking, and I

gradually straighten and turn around. I'm expecting the wrath,

but his expression is full of hunger.

Desire.

His eyes soak in every inch of me.

“I could never forget that ass.” His stare slowly travels up my body.

“And those fucking lips I've been thinking about all week...”