Page 79 of Sharing Shadow Secrets
Taylor nearly skips over, phone in hand, lifting it as she gets closer. I decide to be flirtier with the bumble bee. I’m still holding the woman’s wrist. I dramatically step to the side, raising my other arm like a ballroom dancer, and the woman picks up what I’m putting down and spins into me. With my arms wrapped around her waist, I pretend to bite her neck again.
Taylor makes an excited noise, and the bumble bee is beaming, staring up at me.
“Perfect for social!” Taylor says, then steps away into the crowd. I feel a little deflated about her reaction. I thought we had a special moment, but Brandon Dubois just kissed her.Theyarecomplicated.
When I see Brandon remerge, it clicks. They were both gone for a couple of minutes. I bet I know what they were doing.
“Brandon,” I call out. “Get in line.”
He shakes his head, and I check him out. While he’s a bad boy, he’s never looked it. But tonight, with the leather and face mask, he looks the part.
“You’re not shy,” I taunt, and the silence stretches as we look at each other. Then he gets in line.
Photo after photo, I’m on autopilot as I pose with the women. My mind is focused on what I should say to Brandon. I mean, he ghosted me after my dick pic. But he’s the king of ghosting. That’s nothing new.
“Can I bite you?” I ask when he approaches.
“No,” I hear him say beneath the face mask.
“Too bad. I’m biting you.” He chuckles, and I pull him into me so he’s facing me versus the camera. Trailing my hand down the leather of his jacket sleeve, we hold a silent stare. It’s been a couple of years since we were this close to each other. “A ghost would have been a more fitting costume for you.”
He shakes his head, then softly says, “Hands off my girlfriend, Andrew.”
“But not hands off you?” I lean in to graze my fangs on his neck below his face mask. He audibly exhales as I make contact, poking his skin. “And I prefer Kyle,” I say into his neck. “You smell like sex,” I whisper, pulling back.
“You had her all hot and bothered,” he says, pulling his facemask down and stepping back. “I had to finish the job.” He flashes me a look I know to be flirty and walks off.
55
Walking through High Five, I record short clips of everyone in their costumes. There’re so many good ones. I have no idea who will win the costume contest.
Spotting Emily in an elf costume, I giggle. I would’ve assumed she’d be Mrs. Claus instead of an elf. Who knew they made slutty elf costumes, but I guess they make slutty costumes for everything. The green elf dress is short with a bustier and belt with a gold buckle paired with red fishnet tights. She’s with Rachel, who’s dressed as an emo girl with a blue wig and bangs parted over half her face, a band T-shirt, ripped up black skinny jeans with multiple studded belts, and a wrist full of bracelets. A girl dressed as a bouquet is also part of their group.
Aaron’s a gardener.I laugh aloud, putting it together. The bouquet must be his girlfriend, Sarah.
“Can I take some photos and videos of all of you?” I ask, approaching them.
They immediately wrap their arms around each other’s waists, and I snap photos. “Okay, now a candid video. Talk to each other. Then on the count of three, look at me.” They play along, and I count, “One, two, three.” They all look my way, and that will be a fun clip to add to the montage video.
“Taylor,” I hear Nicholas’s voice say, and I turn around. He extends a microphone to me, and I take it from his hand. “Remember,youapproved giving Chad a microphone,” he says, raising his brow, then points to the bar. “He’s the guy in the ghost face mask next to the bunny.”
Striding toward them, the blonde in a Playboy bunny costume is covered in fake blood. They seem like a fun couple. She’s leaning against the bar, and Chad’s wearing a black button down and black jeans with the mask. I smile, feeling confident this will go well. Hopefully this type of thing will bring the energy of the crowd up before we announce the costume contest winners in an hour.
“For you,” I try to say nonchalantly, handing Chad the microphone. He takes it, then rips off his mask, placing it on the bar. Running his fingers through his brown hair, he winks at the blonde, then hops onto the bar.
“Chad!” she scolds, and I laugh, stepping away to get a better angle to take photos and videos.
“How’s everyone doing?” he asks, and the crowd whoops. “Did you know that this bar has some magic?” He pauses, and he better not do fucking magic. That’s not what we discussed. There’s a beat of silence, which is surprising since High Five is at capacity. “If there is someone here you’re eyeing, I have it on good authority that it might work out. Take the owner, Nicholas.” He points at him. “When he was dressed as Santa last year, he got the phone number of the lady next to him and now they’re married. Your bartender, Aaron, got his girlfriend’s number at the Valentine’s event. Your bartender Claire, well, she met her man when this place nearly burned down ahead of the Fourth. For me, while I had known this girl for a while, it was inviting her to High Five that changed everything.” He looks down at her. “Little bunny, get up here.”
The blonde shakes her head, and then he extends his hand. The crowd is entirely engaged, and I flinch when an arm wraps around my waist. Looking over my shoulder, it’s Brandon. He kisses the top of my head and squeezes me into him as I record.
The bloodied bunny climbs onto the bar with flushed cheeks.
“Let me see your hand,” Chad says, grabbing her left hand.
“At this exact spot, when we were sitting at these stools below us, I knew that you were passionate, reasonable, too beautiful, funny, caring, and someone special. Six months later, I don’t ever want to spend a day without you.”
Her jaw drops, and a few gasps ripple throughout the crowd. Chad drops to one knee, and the rest of the bar reacts in a collective gasp. Aaron steps to Chad, handing him a ring box. When Chad opens it, a diamond ring is on full display.
