Page 54 of Take Me Slowly: part 2
"In the meantime, it'll be Halloween in a couple of days," Holly said. "Will you be up to joining in?" She adjusted her blonde ponytail, and looked concerned like she didn't want me to push myself too hard just to make them happy.
"I hope so," I said sincerely. "I've been looking forward to it. I have a feeling the guys are planning something, but I don't know what."
"I don't think I've ever seen a pair of adult men more excited over a holiday than Connor and Riley," Whitney said. "I think they like to channel their inner serial killer, stalker or whatever costume they decide on." She smiled indulgently, as if they were a pair of little boys, not a couple of grown men. Of course, as Connor's older sister, she probably thought of them as little boys. Didn't big sisters always feel that way? Especially when the brothers were like those two.
"That sounds like them," I agreed. Brooks too. Although, since he tracked my car and set up a camera to watch me, did he need to channel his inner stalker, or had he done that already? At some point, I'd need to sit down with him and find out if he did anything else. I wouldn't be surprised if he had candid photos of me on his phone. If it was anyone else, I'd be horrified. Brooks, though, was mostly harmless.
As far as I knew.
"You should be getting your results back a few days after that," Fiona said softly. She glanced at Sarah to indicate she hadn't said anything about it to her daughter. That was fortunate, the situation was strange enough without involving akid. At some point, she probably have to be told, but for now it was better that she wasn't.
"Hopefully," I said. Honestly, I was trying not to think about it too much myself. Worrying about it wouldn't bring them any sooner. It wouldn't change the result. It would mean I'd have to confront my mother sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I could live one day after the other and let the future take care of itself when it came. Not to mention, I wanted to enjoy Halloween first. My first holiday in Aurora Hollow.
"So, what are you going as?" Holly asked brightly. They started talking about their costumes, and sharing ideas while I sat back and slowly nibbled on another cookie.
22
BROOKS
"You have to be kidding me."I stared at the costume Connor held in his hand.
"I think it's kinda cool," Riley said, giving me a frowning glance.
"Cool?" I echoed. "It's fucking epic." Hating that it was Connor who came up with this idea, I took the black and silver mask out of Conner's fingers and gave it a closer look. It looked vaguely like a skull, if the skull had shattered into a hundred pieces. It was violent and beautiful at the same time.
"It's very you," Connor said as I held it up in front of my face. "You have a black hoodie and black jeans?"
My voice muffled by the mask, I said, "Of course I do. So we're all dressing like that? All black, and with masks."
"Yeah. Like all those social media videos," Connor said. "Masked men hunting our woman. I have the perfect outfit for Leah too."
"Genius," Riley said. He was looking down at his own mask. His was black and red, also the look of a shattered skull, but with fewer fragments. Connor's had more fragments than mine, but his was black and gold.
"Did you bring one for Josiah?" I asked. Between work here at the pub and him living where he did, I hadn't seen him for a couple of days. With any luck, I didn't sound like I was too eager for his company. I was trying to play it cool.
"Duh." From under his mask, Connor pulled out one that was completely black. The shattered effect was still there, but only if you saw it in the right light.
"You think he'll wear it?" I asked. Josiah was just as likely to tell Connor to shove it up his ass.
"He'll wear it," Connor said with certainty. "He'll want to do this for Leah. She's going to love it."
"Speaking of Josiah." Riley nodded toward the door leading into the pub.
I looked over as he stepped inside and gave us all a dubious look. As if he thought we were plotting against him. His face was all hard lines and angles, covered with stubble like he hadn't shaved for several days.
I couldn't help it, I dug the dark, brooding thing he had going on. At the same time, it was conflicting. Before him, I never met a man I wanted to fuck. Not that I'd admit to myself anyway. Like any normal guy, I fixated on movie stars and rock stars, but I hadn't let myself think about men in real, day-to-day life. I had my share of hookups with women, and was never disappointed, but this was a whole perspective shift. Between him and Leah, I might not look at another person for as long as I lived. Not like that, anyway.
The city version of me would have hated myself, but the guy I was becoming was here for it.
"Hey," Josiah said with a grunt. He stepped over like he wasn't sure if he should turn and walk back out again, or stick around and join in. The fact he was here at all seemed like a big deal to me. I knew it'd be a big deal to Leah.
"Connor has a present for you." Riley held out the mask to Josiah, while putting his own in front of his face. "We all got one."
"Is this Connor's way of saying we're all ugly as shit?" Josiah asked. He took the mask and examined it closely. His fingers tracing a line from the top of it, down to the jaw. Appreciating the texture and subtle design. I suspected he would have given any of the others back, but this one was perfect for him. A dark mask to hide his usual dark mask. What was underneath all those layers? Not someone who'd ever be light-hearted, that was certain. But maybe we'd be able to get him to relax and show the real him to us. And to himself.
"Exactly," Connor said sarcastically. "We're too hideous to be seen."
"Speak for yourself." Riley lowered his mask. "It's almost a crime to cover this face, but I'll do it for Leah."
