Page 67 of Reconciling With the Rival

Oh, right. Grant told me Oliver avoids alcohol, and so does Paige sometimes. Those two are usually the designated drivers, which is fine by me. I need a night to let loose. That’s the reason I picked being a gangster for my costume. Not only will it allow me to smoke for one night only to combat my stress, but I look fucking fantastic dressed like this. I look like I walked right out ofPeaky Blinders, and that’s exactly what I was going for.

“Dehydrated, Ells?” my sister asks her.

“Yes.”

These two look kind of ridiculous in their costumes. “Who are you guys again?”

Alissa just smacks me over the head.

“Daphne and Velma, dumbass,” Ella tells me. Ah, I see it now.

Ella seems to be Velma, with an orange cropped shirt, a red skirt that’s way too short—not that I mind—orange socks that goto her knees, and fake glasses on her face. My sister has a red wig on, a purple dress, and pink tights or whatever.

“Cute,” I say as someone knocks on their door.

I hear Ella mutter something under her breath as she goes to answer it.

“Oh, wow,” is all she says as I hear Paige’s voice fill the room.

“You look so cute! Where’s Alissa?”

“In here, girl!” my sister yells at her.

When they come into view, I almost laugh. Oliver is wearing a bowler hat, and I wonder what Paige had to do to convince him to wear it. She’s wearing a top hat and some sort of knit coat. I know exactly who they are without asking.

“Sherlock and Watson?”

“What gave us away?” Oliver deadpans, and I laugh. “Paige, I told you the accent was stupid.”

“You have to practice! Look how good I am!”

I shrug my shoulders. She’s not that bad, but Oliver’s could use some work.

“I’m not doing it, especially in front of Leo and Alissa.” Oliver sits next to me.

“Yeah, probably for the best, dude.” I slap him on the shoulder and he smirks back at me. Though, I’m not sure if I can even call that a smirk.

“Where are Hads and Grant?” Alissa asks them.

“They should be right behind me. Oliver is driving their car with the boys and I’ve got us girls!”

“P, can you at least drive above the speed limit?” Ella asks her, taking a shot. “God, I’ve missed tequila.”

“I will drive how I best see fit.” She pinches Ella’s cheeks as I hear the door open.

“We’re here! Let the actual party begin!” Grant says from the entrance.

“Babe, don’t say that.”

“What? I was joking. Ella’s already here, you know.” Grant comes into view dressed like Jay Gatsby and when I see Hads walk in with a flapper dress on, it’s all but confirmed they’re the characters fromThe Great Gatsby.

“Oh, that’s fitting.” Oliver says.

“This was totally worth the wait!” Paige says as she grabs her phone and starts snapping pictures of the two of them, well, everyone else too.

“Sorry, why is it fitting?” I ask the room.

“Well, old sport, this book is the reason Hads and I are together.” Grant tells me, holding his hand out.

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