Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
“Love your costumes,” Aden says.
“Yours, too,” Lainey says. “Is Harry here?”
“He got called to the restaurant for an emergency. He wasn’t happy. There was a water main break, though. Pretty big deal.”
“Oh, damn,” I say. “They’ll have to close.”
“Do I look horny, baby?” A huge man approaches us from behind, putting an arm around Bash’s shoulders and the other around mine.
His British accent is terrible, but Leo’s costume is on point. He’s Austin Powers, complete with a dark wig, glasses and bell-bottom pants.
Bash laughs heartily as he takes in Leo’s outfit.
“’Bout time you bought a costume,” Leo says, nodding at Bash’s Batsuit. “And damn, Lainey.”
“That’s enough looking at her,” I gripe.
“You better keep her happy, or someone else will.” Leo winks at her.
“Batman and Catwoman!”
Suki approaches us, Carter right beside her. She’s dressed as a long, sizzling piece of bacon, her face poking out through an oval. Carter is a huge, round, fried egg, and he doesn’t look thrilled about it.
“I keep running into doorframes,” he grumbles.
It’s Darling who steals the show, though. He’s dressed as a bunny, with a soft gray covering on his body and a bunny ear headband Velcroed around his head. He wags his tail and smiles up at us, taking the cracker Leo offers him.
“I can’t stand how cute he is,” Mara says as she walks up.
“Oh my God, you look amazing!” Lainey says.
Mara is dressed as the Evil Queen from Snow White, and she makes a damn good one with her fair skin and black hair.
“Did you guys not tell Mara it’s a costume party?” Leo asks.
“Hilarious,” Mara deadpans. “I could say the same for you. Isn’t horny perv your everyday look?”
“Hey, if you need to pick up some extra money, my neighbors are looking for some privacy hedges. You can go stand on their property line and open your legs.”
Carter starts to laugh, then covers it with a cough and his hand.
“You thought of that one months ago, didn’t you?” Mara says. “Been saving it up? Practicing it in front of the mirror?”
“Hey, at least I have mirrors in my house. Wouldn’t you turn to stone if you looked in one?”
“Okay, this is fun,” Suki interjects. “But we should probably mingle. All of us.”
“Have they ever gotten along?” Lainey asks me softly when we are out of everyone else’s hearing range.
“For a little while. She’s never getting over him walking into that bathroom on her.”
Lainey raises a shoulder. “Well, he was way out of line. And instead of apologizing, he made fun of her.”
I pinch my brows together, remembering Leo’s description of what happened between them. “Actually, she made fun of him first.”
“Still. She gets a free pass. He should have apologized and closed the door immediately.”
“Yeah.”
She gives me a warning look. “You better knock on doors before opening them. Don’t barge in on naked women.”
I grin at her. “In Leo’s defense, he did knock. But there was music playing and Mara must not have heard it. And I promise to knock loudly on every closed door for the rest of my life.”
“Thank you.”
I move to stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. She laughs lightly.
“Is that your costume’s codpiece, or are you just happy to see me?” she cracks.
I look down at her face. “My what?”
“Your codpiece. The part of your costume that covers your junk. I’ve been practicing trivia and that was one of my questions the other day.”
I hum in amusement. “It should be called a cockpiece. And I am happy to see you. Ready to sneak off and explore your Catcave anytime.”
She groans. “I can’t decide if that’s just gross or mostly gross with a slight twinge of hot.”
“You liked it.”
“I might’ve.”
I spin her around so she’s facing me, then take her masked face in my hands.
“It’s our first Halloween together. This will probably be easier than our first Thanksgiving together.”
Our mothers are already both insisting we spend the holiday with them. We’re going to have to spend time at both houses and eat ourselves sick, so neither mom has hurt feelings.
“Probably,” she agrees. “I’m still looking forward to it, though.”
“Me too.” I kiss her gently. “I’m looking forward to everything with you.”