Page 3 of Only Be Mine

The name landed between us like something fragile. Like if I said it wrong, it might finally break.

Amy reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Is that what this is about?”

A breath escaped me, half laugh, half ache. “I still remember the day I met him. It was Halloween and we were at that stupid haunted house…”

Chapter 2

Cate

Halloween - Twelve Years Ago

The sky was a deep midnight blue, the kind that made the whole city feel colder than it already was. Snow drifted in slow spirals, melting the second it touched my hair. Typical Colorado Halloween - equal parts magic and misery.

I zipped my coat to my chin. “Remind me why we’re doing this again?”

“Because it’s Halloween,” Amy said, bouncing in place like that could keep her warm. “And haunted houses are fun.”

“Haunted houses are stupid,” I muttered, shoving my hands deeper into my pockets as the line inched forward. “Whoever said you’re supposed to go to one has clearly never stood outside in Colorado in late October.”

Amy shrugged. “That’s probably true. What would you rather be doing?”

“Dancing. Somewhere warm. Preferably while not haunted.”

Amy snorted. “So… the club.”

“Exactly.”

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She knew I meant it.

The wind picked up suddenly and whipped her knit hat clean off her head. She yelped and sprinted after it, disappearing into the parking lot.

I sighed and took another reluctant step forward. The line behind me was somehow even longer than when we’d arrived.

“Amy!” I yelled. “We’re almost up!”

She waved me ahead without slowing down. “Go ahead! I’ll meet you inside!”

Of course she would.

I handed my ticket to the attendant - a man with a Santa belly, a nicotine smile, and zero respect for personal space.

“Watch out for the boogeyman,” he cackled.

“Great,” I muttered, slipping past him and tugging aside the heavy black curtain.

Inside was pitch dark except for a red rope light snaking along the floor. Shadows moved up ahead - screams, laughter, the thud of someone, or something, hitting a wall.

Fantastic.

“Okay, Cate,” I whispered, giving myself a little pep talk. “Just get through it.”

My breath fogged in the cold air as my eyes adjusted. When an older couple suddenly appeared behind me, I stepped off the narrow path to let them pass.

I immediately regretted it.

Something brushed the back of my head.

I jerked around, stumbled, and crashed straight through a thick spiderweb. Sticky threads clung to my hair and face. I screamed, swatting wildly, and staggered backward into a table.