Page 18 of Reckless Hearts
It’s a secret that has occupied far too many of my thoughts.
I mean, I’ve never directly lied to her, but a lie by omission is still a lie, right?
“Well, I can confirm that as a gay guy, I’m definitely not interested in what’s in your pants,” I say lightly.
She laughs. “You want me to do your eyes for you?”
Saskia occasionally puts eyeliner on me, but I’m not in the mood to sit still and be fussed over tonight.
“Nah, I don’t need it.”
“Unfortunately, you’re right, you bastard,” she says.
“Hey, don’t hate on the pretty people. You’re one of them too.”
Saskia preens at my words, and I suddenly wonder at the insecurity of those of us classified as good-looking. The need to be constantly reassured we’re attractive because it is so important to our identity, yet we all know deep down that beauty is fleeting.
“Come stand next to me so we can get a photo,” she says.
I obediently get up from the bed and stand beside her. The Aladdin costume Saskia picked out for me, with its skimpy vest, bare midriff, and fitted pants, doesn’t leave much to the imagination. But my eyes slide away from my reflection.
“I can’t believe you have a body like that when you barely hit the gym.” Saskia pokes at my abs. “Life is so not fair sometimes.”
“Oh yes, life treats you so harshly, girl who is about to celebrate her twenty-first birthday in a castle,” I reply.
Saskia laughs.
She snaps photos of us, and then her blonde hair forms a veil as she examines the screen. Knowing her, the photo is about to be plastered on her Instagram, yet another moment of Saskia’s perfect life.
“Tonight is going to be epic,” she says.
For some reason, my thoughts fly to Seb, to the last time I saw him, lying in his bed with messy hair as I left him after our night together.
“Yeah, epic,” I echo.
Saskia’s arrangedfor the limousine to take us and some other friends to Larnach Castle. The limo is filled with the pulsing beat of the latest club hits, but the lyrics are barely audible over everyone’s laughter. Saskia pops open a bottle of champagne, sending a geyser of bubbles shooting toward the roof. Golden liquid sloshes over the sides as she pours the champagne into flutes.
A twenty-minute drive later, Larnach Castle looms out of the darkness like something from a gothic novel. The dark stone and turrets reach up to pierce the night sky.
“Do you know that this is supposed to be one of the most haunted buildings in New Zealand?” Saskia asks as we pull up outside. She seems enthused at the idea of paranormal activity, but I shiver.
I have enough ghosts haunting me. I don’t need more.
There’s already a crowd of people inside. Trust Saskia to be late to her own party.
But it doesn’t seem to matter. She’s instantly engulfed in a crowd of well-wishers, sparkly people and sparkly words swirling around her. Saskia’s smile is dazzling as she air-kisses cheeks and accepts birthday wishes with the grace of the princess she’s dressed as.
I’m saying hi to people, shaking hands and exchanging hugs. I’m still clutching the champagne bottle from the limo, my hand sticky from the remnants of the froth.
“Marcus, my man!” A voice booms from behind me, and I turn to see Liam, one of our law student buddies, dressed as a knight. He claps me on the back, his grin infectious as his eyes scan me up and down, lingering on my chest. “Looking good, bro. You’ll have everyone lining up to rub your magic lamp tonight.”
I give him a flirty wink. “Actually, my lamp’s got a mind of its own. It doesn’t grant wishes to just anyone who rubs it.”
Liam leans in so close that I catch a hint of his citrus aftershave. “Well, maybe I’ll have the magic touch,” he murmurs.
I raise my eyebrows.
Straight-presenting guys flirting is a common hazard of being me.
