Page 35 of Well That Happened

I raise an eyebrow. “Is it about mascots again?”

“Nope. Higher stakes. Halloween.”

I blink. “What about it?”

“We throw a party here every year. House tradition. Costumes, drinks, bad decisions. You in?”

“I guess so.”

“Perfect. It’s only a few days away, which means if you don’t start planning now, you’ll be stuck last minute in cat ears and existential regret.”

I stare at him. “Please don’t tell me you guys have matching costumes.”

He grins wider. “Grayson’s refusing to participate unless he can be something obscure and tragic. Hunter’s pretending he doesn’t care, which means he cares deeply. And me?” He spreads his arms. “I’m open to options. Group theme? Power couple moment? Your call.”

“Oh, so I’m invited now?”

“You live here,” he says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “You’reexpected.”

I laugh, despite myself. “What are you going as?”

He leans forward, conspiratorial. “I was thinking… cowboy. But like, slutty. You in?”

I snort. “You want me to be your slutty cowgirl?”

He winks. “I want you to be whatever you want. As long as you’re there.”

And just like that, my pulse flutters.

I reach for my laptop. “Fine. But I’m not wearing fringe.”

“Deal. But can I wear assless chaps?”

I toss a pillow at him.

He dodges it and stands, backing toward the door.

“Think about it,” he calls. “We’d be iconic.”

And then he’s gone.

Leaving me alone in my room, heart annoyingly warm, laptop open toSexy Halloween Costume Ideasand zero clue how I’m going to survive this house without losing my mind—or my clothes.

Chapter Ten

Grayson

The house is quiet.

Hunter went to bed early—unusual for him. And Caleb’s door is closed, maybe crashed out or maybe not. I don’t ask. I don’t need to know.

My room’s dim except for the glow of my sketchpad lamp and the faint blue light from my phone. I lie back on my bed, one arm behind my head, the other resting across my stomach.

I should be asleep. I should be doing a dozen things besides staring at the ceiling and letting my thoughts get too loud.

But here we are.

And there’s only one way I know how to do that.

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