by Tijan
Bryce would slowly lower himself down to his knees, his mouth going with him, trailing kisses in a pathway, all the way down between my—”Let’s go!” I burst out, needing to change my thought process.
I pushed past Denton and hurried to my room. After changing, I waited at the front door. Denton and Bryce both showed up not long after that and soon a car pulled up to the front. When the driver got out and opened the back door for us, I almost started laughing.
“What?” Denton paused beside me.
“We can’t go in that.” I gestured to the car.
“Why not?”
“We need to blend. We can’t do that if we have our own driver.”
“Oh.” His eyebrows bunched together as he mulled over what I said. “What do you suggest?”
Bryce circled around us and started to the side of the house. He called over his shoulder, “Follow me.”
“Where’s he going?”
I didn’t answer. I already knew, and as we followed Bryce heading where I knew he was going, a slow smile spread over my face. I wouldn’t be able to wipe it off. He understood, completely. Bryce pulled open the garage door to where Denton kept all his cars. He grabbed a pair of keys and veered toward an SUV.
“Here.” He pounded the front of it. “This is blending in.”
“For real?” Denton asked under his breath.
“Yes.” Bryce grinned at me. “And we’re driving it ourselves.”
I hurried to the passenger door, but when I got there, Bryce shook his head. “No way, Sheldon.” “You’re in the backseat. You’re the one we really don’t want people to see.”
I shrugged, getting into the backseat as Denton trailed over. He got into the front seat, as did Bryce, and then he asked, “What are we going to do? We don’t want anyone to recognize us.”
Bryce flashed him a grin as he started the engine and pulled out from the garage. “Please, Denton. You’ve worked your magic with our disguises. Now it’s my turn.”
“Your turn?”
We were waved through the gate, and Bryce pulled out onto the street. He chuckled as he said, “Yep. It’s my turn. I have just the thing in mind.”
He took us to a costume store and went inside.
Denton looked back at me. “This is for Halloween costumes. What the fuck? I’m not walking around your college campus as a Cookie Monster mascot.”
“Oh.” I winked at him. “But imagine if you were a shirtless Cookie Monster. You know how many cookies would be thrown at you?” I paused and let him sort that out. “Lots and lots of cookies . . .”
He barked out a laugh. “Not the cookies I want, Sheldon, not at all.”
I sobered at that comment. Denton and I talked about Bryce and Corrigan. We had talked about Mena. His love life, his real love life, has never been a topic on the table. I asked now, “Whose cookies are you hoping for?”
“Hmm?” He had turned back, tapping his finger against the door as we waited for Bryce. He met my gaze again in the rearview mirror. “What do you mean?”
“Not the cookies you want, so,” I scooted to the edge of my seat and leaned forward. Bracing my elbow on the back of his seat, I asked, “You say that like you know whose cookies you want. Who is it?” I frowned. “Not mine. I have to pick between Bryce and Corrigan, and to tell the truth, I want to jump both of them. I can’t handle another guy in the mix.”
“Sheldon.” He pretended to groan, holding his hands over his ears. “No more talk about your sex life. I can’t handle hearing your constant rejection.”
I grabbed one of his hands and pulled it down. “Cut it out. Whose cookies?” We both knew our friendship was purely platonic, which felt good. “Please, Denton. Trust me. You’re doing me a favor. I’d love to hear about someone else’s problems. It’ll give me a short reprieve from my own.”
“It’s no one.”
“Come on, Denton. You know all of my problems. Spill, buddy. Give me some dirt.”
He started to shake his head, but I could tell it was there. He wanted to spill. He wanted to gossip about his love life with me. I opened my mouth, ready to deliver another plea when the door opened again, and an object from my own love life woes popped back inside. A secretive grin lingered over his face as he handed me a bag, then started the car back up.
Bryce said, “Open it up. Let me show you my genius.”
I pulled out a masquerade mask. One was black and lacy. A second was pink and glittery. The third was a simple mask that resembled something Zorro would wear. I had no idea what he had planned, but I kept the Zorro one for myself and handed the other two frilly ones forward to Denton.
He took them, and immediately started protesting. “No way. No, man. I’m not wearing this.”
Bryce started laughing. “Chill. It’s not exactly what you’re thinking.” As he turned into the right lane, heading for the freeway that would take us to the college campus, he met my eyes in the mirror briefly. “Corrigan texted me when we were changing to leave. He ran into your friend Carolina.”
I perked up. “Really?”
He nodded, throwing the left blinker on and merging with traffic. “He said the girls want to do something to help so they’re throwing a masquerade ball for you.”
“For me? As in I’d be the guest of honor?”
“No. They have no idea we’re coming, but the whole thing is to celebrate you or roast you. Corrigan’s words, that’s how he explained it.”
“What’s the point of the party?”
“It’s all about Sheldon. You might not realize the extent of it,” he told me, “but you’re both hated and loved on campus. Corrigan said news about the party is already spreading. It’s all over social media. The whole point of the party is to get together to talk about Sheldon.”
“If she’s guilty or not?”
Bryce gave Denton a half-grin. “Yeah, kinda. It’s just a big excuse to get together and drink, but I guess the campus is buzzing about Sheldon so it should be a big turnout. Hopefully, we can blend in and overhear something good.”
“I bet the real killer will be there.”
“Isn’t that what you did before? With the other stalker?” Denton was looking between both of us.
I wasn’t happy. Another party. Another stalker. Another killer, and a masquerade mask was the only way I could go. I wasn’t happy about any of this, but I couldn’t do anything else. “Yes,” I sighed, frowning to myself. “Another fucking party.”
I could feel Bryce watching me in the mirror, but I didn’t say anything.
I muttered under my breath, “We need new material. That’s it.” I announced it, “If I get out of this intact, I know what I’m majoring in.”
“What?”
“Criminal justice.” It was ironic in a way. “I’m going to be a damn cop, then I can figure out other ways to find my own damn stalkers.”
“Well, until then, we keep doing what we know.”
“You’re right.” I clipped my head forward. “Drinking and raising hell. That’s all I know. When does this party start?”
“Soon enough. We’re heading to pick up Corrigan. We’re going to sneak in with his fraternity. They have a plan figured out already.”
“So, they know we’re going?”
“Corrigan went to his fraternity, and they know who he is. Apparently, they refused to let him into the house until he could prove his identity.”
Score one for Denton’s makeup artist.
Bryce added, “And Carolina is the only one who knows you might come tonight, outside of Corrigan’s fraternity. I doubt the stalker is from his house, Sheldon.”
I pressed my lips together. Did I really have to remind him that we had hired Marcus to cater the food for our own party, the one we threw to draw out the stalker? It had worked like a charm, except someone died from that party. I didn’t want the same thing to happen with this one. Then again, it wasn’t my party, I picked up the Zorro mask, and I’d never used masks like this either.
&
nbsp; I guess it was better than nothing, or better than hiding in Denton’s house. As I thought that, my eyes fell to Bryce’s shoulder and how his shirt moved over his muscles as he drove. I let out a silent sigh. Yes. Staying any longer in that house wouldn’t have been good. I would’ve done something I would’ve regretted.
Definitely.
I snuck another look at Bryce’s arms.
*
“Damn, Sheldon.” Michael Reveritt wolf-whistled as he opened the back door for us. He stopped, blocking our entrance, as he looked me up and down. Holding a red cup in one hand and his other arm leaning against the doorframe, Corrigan’s fraternity brother smirked down at me. “You’ve got to be the best-looking serial killer I’ve ever met.”
My eyes went flat, and I shouldered past him, making sure my elbow pressed into his sternum. At his swift intake of breath, I grinned and pressed harder. Then I moved past, smirking back at him, “Oh, Ritt. How I’ve not missed you. At all.”
“Ha-ha.” He stepped back as Bryce and Denton followed me inside. Giving both a wary glance, he rubbed at his sternum and let the door close. Jerking a thumb over his shoulder, he said, “Everyone’s in rare form. We’ve been waiting for you, and I have to warn you guys,” he lingered on Denton, his smirk appearing once more, “everyone’s going as chicks so . . .” He swept an eye up and down both of the guys again before finishing, “guess what you’re going as?”
Denton started laughing.
Bryce scowled. “What? No. No way.”
As Denton kept laughing, Bryce turned to him. “Why aren’t you pissed?”
He got a shrug as a response. “I’m an actor. You do what you have to do.” He gestured to Michael and where we could hear everyone in the living room. “If that’s what we have to do to blend in.” Another shrug. “So be it.”
Michael Reveritt looked at me. A speculative gleam in his eye and I shook my head, holding up the Zorro mask. “No way, buddy. They can be chicks. I’m down with that, but I’m chick enough. I’m going as Zorro so give me a sword.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re never any fun, Jeneve.”
I smirked. “I’ve got half a country and an entire police department that says otherwise. According to them, I’m too much fun.”
“Har-har.” He scowled before he finished his drink and went to the counter for a refill. “I’ve missed that charm. Really.”
“Ha-ha.” I glanced around. Going to the doorway, I saw that he was right. Most of Corrigan’s fraternity brothers were wearing ball gowns, masquerade masks, and wigs. I wrinkled my nose. Half of the wigs were falling off. The other half were in knots. I turned back and surveyed Michael. He looked normal. No dress. No wig. No mask. I asked, “Aren’t you joining in with the festivities?”
“Me? Nope.” He leaned against the counter with his new drink in hand. “I’m hanging back to be the sober cab.”
I gave his drink a pointed look. “Sober cab, huh?”
He flashed me a grin. “Well, you don’t need one now, but later,” he leaned forward, “I’ll be sober then.”
Corrigan came into the room then and the conversation halted. We had to take in the magnificence of him. Gone was his earlier disguise. A strapless, glittering green dress with cleavage that dipped low to line the sides of his nipples had taken its place. If he’d been wearing a dark hair wig instead of a platinum blond one, I would’ve been tempted to call him JLo. As it was, with glitter on his cheeks and his masquerade mask already in place, a silver one with bright and shiny beads, the only thing I could say was, “Well.”
I was struggling not to laugh.
He shot me a dark look, but the corner of his mouth lifted.
“Dude.” Michael nodded once with his approval. He lifted a hand, throwing it up and around to smack Corrigan on the ass. “If you were a girl, I’d want to doggy pound you.”
Denton laughed then, and I glanced over at them. Bryce was trying to hold back his own, too.
“Just wait,” Corrigan warned them, smirking. “You think I look hideous? Guess what we have lined up for you two?”
“What?” Denton stopped laughing.
So did Bryce. “Huh?”
In the end, I was the only one who could laugh. Michael Reveritt had said all the guys were dressing in costume and he was right. Every single guy traipsed past me outside the back door in high heels, wigs, formal ball gowns, and their masquerade masks already in position. Each guy gave me a slight smile as they passed by. The only ones left at the end were Michael, Corrigan, Bryce, and we were waiting for Denton.
“Shut it,” Corrigan started.
Bryce sent back, “You’re the one laughing. You shut up.”
Corrigan laughed, then elbowed Bryce.
He returned the favor hitting Corrigan back on the arm.
They were laughing together, jostling each other, and a slow smile was on my face. I didn’t think I could wipe it off, but I must’ve looked like an idiot.
They were really together again. Finally.
“Ta-da!” Denton made his entrance at that moment, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Corrigan and Bryce. Both straightened, their eyebrows shot up, and they shared another look before laughing.
“What?”
Hearing the irritation from Denton, I pulled my gaze away, then I felt the laughter bubble up myself. His blond wig was swept up into a fancy bun while he was wearing a turquoise dress. It was shimmering with only one sleeve that ended above his elbow. The other side swept underneath the opposite arm. There was no cleavage so it was an A-line dress.
It would’ve looked stunning, no wait, it did. Denton pulled it off. His high cheekbones, cute red lips, and those beautiful movie star eyes were looking back at us underneath the glittery pink mask.
Then Corrigan burst out laughing. “You look like a mermaid.”
Denton scowled, then paused, his eyes narrowed, and he shrugged it off. “I’m a beautiful mermaid then.” He raised his head up, looking down his nose. “Don’t be jealous, fellas. These high cheekbones have made me millions. Remember that.”
BEEP!
Michael snorted, then gestured outside with his cup. “The ladies are waiting. I’d haul ass, if I were you four.”
Denton sniffed and marched out first, like he was walking a catwalk. Bryce sighed and went after him. Corrigan lingered behind, his gaze on Michael’s cup.
“What?” Michael almost growled.
“You’re the sober cab, brother.” He gestured to the cup. “Knock that shit off.”
Michael narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t respond.
The tension in the room suddenly shifted. It’d been there, but I hadn’t realized it. I realized it now and it was simmering from Corrigan’s fraternity brother. I waited. He looked ready to snap back or throw his drink at Corrigan.
But he only moved his hand to the sink and he turned the cup over, spilling the drink down the drain. Then he placed the empty cup on the side and forced a smile. “Better?”
Corrigan rolled his eyes, reached out for my elbow, and started to guide me outside. As he did, his hand grasped tightly onto me, but I had a feeling it had nothing to do with me. He was holding himself back from saying something in return. Once we were outside and the door shut behind us, I asked, “What was that about?”
Corrigan shook his head, just a small movement to me. “He found out I’m not happy with how he’s influencing the other guys, but—”
Bryce shouted from inside the car, “Let’s go!”
Corrigan gave me a reassuring grin. “—it’s house business. I can’t say too much.”
Climbing inside and taking my seat between Bryce and Corrigan, I snuck a look at him as he pulled the door shut and pounded on the wall. “We’re good to go.”
I saw what he hadn’t said. He was worried.
And that worried me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
When we got to Carolina’s sorority house, I saw that I didn’t need to worry about being recognized. The three-stor
y house was packed with people spilling out onto the front porch and their entire yard. The house was lit up with white lights strands. As we got out, I could see that inside the house was dark, but those white lights were everywhere. They lit up the porch, wrapped around the posts, trailing down the sidewalk, and I could see more in the backyard.
Again. This party was huge.
Corrigan grunted into my ear, “Well, I can say we’re the show I was worried we would be.”
“No doubt.” There were guys everywhere in ball gowns. So were girls, who were actually trying to look nice and pretty. There were other guys, as well, who were dressed in black tuxedos and black masks, some similar to mine, and some with only the eyepiece on their face.
No one was going to recognize anyone.
“I think that’s the point.”
“What?” I looked up.
Corrigan was looking down at me. “You said no one’s going to recognize anyone. That’s the point.” His hand came to the small of my back. “They threw this party together last minute so you could come and blend. Carolina did it for you.”
A wave of nostalgia crashed over me. Carolina. I missed her. She’d been the only female friend who hadn’t fucked me over . . . yet. My jaw firmed. I didn’t want to think like that, I couldn’t. I gazed at the house and said, “I’m going to find her.”
Corrigan pulled his phone out, then showed me the screen.
Tell S I’m upstairs.
When I saw Carolina’s name at the top of the text, I nodded again to him. He knew what I had to do, and he stepped back, allowing me to move past him.
Both Bryce and Denton noticed I was leaving, but neither called out to me.
It was just understood among all of us. This party was for me. Like the press conference, I had to do this for myself. Relying on other people, needing them to communicate for me while I sat hiding somewhere else, had me going stir crazy. I had to do something for myself. I had to feel like I was being productive, doing something. Not just sitting. Not just waiting. Not just letting the killer come to me.
Pulling the mask so it completely covered my face, resting on my nose, I shouldered past a group of girls.
“Sheldon!”