Page 121 of Unwritten Rules

“Okay,” I muttered, taking a leap into my closet for the finalpièce de résistance.

As I rummaged through the hangers, I brushed past Brent’s jacket—secretly wanting to burn it—and found what I was looking for.

I grabbed what I’d really been looking for: a floor-length sheer robe in a perfect red, the kind that whispered danger with every flutter of its fabric. Along with it, the matching red heels that promised to make even walking feel like a power play.

Making haste before Kelly noticed, I slipped into the robe, letting it glide over the bodysuit, its sheer material teasing just enough while covering nothing. I told myself if I was doing this,I was fucking doing this.

“Kel,” I called out, poking my head from behind the closet door, keeping the rest of me hidden for maximum effect. “Mind giving me a once-over? Just wanna make sure I look halfway decent.”

Her eyes flicked up, glistening with excitement. “Yes, show me!”

Her jaw fell to the floor when I slowly stepped out, donned in all red. A small twirl in a circle made her jump up and let out a scream.

“Oh. My. God!” She clapped both hands over her mouth to prevent herself from screaming again. “You’re a... I don’t know! A fucking goddess. Holy shit.”

I looked down, swirling the material between my fingers. “It works?”

Slapping my arm with half anger, half laughter, she said, “Girl! You’re going to kill it. Let me get your horns and pitchfork so people know you’re there to lead them back to hell with you when they inevitably follow you out of that party.”

I laughed, but deep down, I knew this was one of those bad decisions I’d regret by morning. I was sure of it—I was regretting a lot of things the mornings after. Brent would be in attendance at the party; they were celebrating the upcoming baseball game along with getting ready for Halloween.

Despite texting him for help, I didn’t want to see him. Things were too complicated for me. He wasn’t just the toxic playboy everyone whispered about; he was somethingdarker, more dangerous. The man was judge, jury, and executioner in his world of underground dealings, and I had willingly stepped right into the middle of it.

But why me? What drew him to me in the first place? His family business and its relationship with mine felt like the perfect reason to string me along to make sure things went smoothly. If he took over his company, hitching himself to me even closer than his grandfather was to my mom made perfect sense. It was all just business.

Garrett had known who I was all along, yet he claimed his intentions were pure. He never told me he knew what my inheritance was and that pissed me off. It felt like everyone had a hidden agenda these days, and I was the one walking blindfolded into the fire.

Then there was the issue of the conspiracy to take the company out from under me, pulling the rug to send me crashing to the ground. Whoever was involved, it was a long con that had been carefully plotted, and I was desperately trying to catch up. Five years behind, and now everything—me, the company, my future—was dangling by a thread.

I couldn’t shake the anxiety that constantly gnawed at my core that everyone around me was in on a secret that I wasn’t privy to. They’ve been in the loop while I’ve been blissfully ignorant waiting for a group of thieves to steal it all away, leaving me in the wreckage I could have never seen coming.

The frat house was alive with flashing lights, smoke machines, and costumed students. Skeletons, witches, clowns and more laughed, drank, and danced under the all too spooky lights. The party flickered with warning signs I refused to acknowledge.

As we walked up the pathway, a few mummies chased each other around with rolls of toilet paper, throwing streamers, and squirting silly string everywhere.

Eyes all turned to Kelly and me as we walked, almost dazed, to the entrance, heels clicking with each step. My costume was tight to my body and exposed me to everyone, but I made a last-minute decision to add a red masquerade mask to add an extra layer between me and them.

A hint of hiding the storm brewing.

Inside the party was alive. Laughs, drinks, and dancing galore. We moved through the foyer desperately seeking our first drink to take the edge off, to numb me just enough to pretend to be normal. Like they all pretended to be.

“What drinks you have back there?” I asked the literal joker manning the bar.

He made a flourishing movement with his hands and laughed maniacally. “A drink for everyone, my dear.”

“Eh, just give me something strong, Mister J.” I turned to Kelly as he hopped away to concoct something. “I feel like everyone is staring.”

A giggle escaped her bright red lips while she adjusted her horns. “It’s because you’re hot and mysterious, dear. Enjoy it for a while and let’s get your mind off of everything for just one night.”

Before I could respond, cheering began in the front room as a crowd formed. “Sharks! Sharks!” They yelled. We peered into the room to see what all the fuss was about, and a break in the crowd showed the baseball team.

Their uniforms were dirtied, covered in fake blood, while they each sported different kinds of masks. Half masks, full head silicone masks, and classic Halloween movie masks. A horror-fied baseball team.

And there goes the hoard of girls.

I rolled my eyes and accepted my drink from the clown behind the bar, taking a nice long swig of it to burn my throat—and jealousy.

“Remind me never to swoon over a male,” I offered my drink to Kelly.

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