Page 178 of The Baby Bargain
"Shit, I forgot you're a fangirl." Forest shakes his headwhere is your taste?
"I enjoy the show. That doesn't make me a fangirl," she says.
"And the comics—"
"Mom's comics?"
"Uh-huh." He shakes his head. "Wait until you get her talking aboutJessica Jones. She'll never stop."
Ariel holds up her handshut up, Forest. She turns to me. "Maybe he'll show off some moves later."
"You have moves now, Keating?" He chuckles. "You want to join me at aikido?"
"If you're ready to lose." I scan the room for a distraction. Brendon and Kaylee are dressed as Prince Charming and Cinderella.
Griffin is joining his wife on the couch. He's in an Angel's uniform. She's teasing him about something—probably his team's losing record.
He pulls her into his lap. Kisses her like he's going to fuck her right here, right now.
Maybe he is. The guy isn't shy.
And there's Leighton and Ryan, hanging out in the corner of the room, with Dean and Chloe.
Leighton and Ryan are dressed as Jack and Sally, fromThe Nightmare Before Christmas. She's in a full face of makeup, wig, sewn together dress. He's wearing a skeleton outfit, with nothing on his head.
Not that she seems to mind. She runs her fingers through his wavy hair like they're the only two people on the couch.
Dean mutters something to them, probably about how they should fuck so everyone can watch. Chloe rolls her eyes. I think. It's hard to tell from here.
They're dressed as each other. She's in board shorts, checkered Vans, and a bright blue tank top. He's in tight black jeans, a tight black tank top, clip on earrings, combat boots, thick black eyeliner.
It's ridiculous.
And completely them.
They really nailed each other.
"I'll leave you to your violence and misery, Devil of Hell's kitchen." Forest pats me on the shoulder. He goes straight to Skye.
Scares off the guy who's flirting with her.
The rest of the room disappears. It's just me and Ariel. And all the confusion in her big, brown eyes.
Does she hate this as much as I do?
Or is she right? Maybe I've overestimated my importance. Maybe this has nothing to do with me.
Maybe it's—
Fuck.
I lean in to whisper. "Can we talk?"
"Forest is watching."
We need a plan. We need to tell him. But I'm not having that argument again.
"My room. Ten minutes. I'll go first." She takes a step backward. Motions to the stairs.
