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I caught glimpses of other people—Nigel, who had been my partner in asinine lovelessness until he’d surrendered his heart. He smiled a lot more now that he was with Megan and Landon. Judith, who radiated control, even in a Jessica Rabbit dress. Chloe. Scott.
But I couldn’t tell who Fallyn was.
Why did it matter? Did I really want to see her?
Yeah. Maybe drive home the bet and that I was winning, but more just because I wanted to see if she was having fun. I was in too good a mood to pick a fight.
There was a huge array of sexy costumes, and any one of those could be her. None of the body shapes were quite right, though. Yes, I had a crystal clear image in my mind of where all her curves landed.
She could be in a trench coat, or something bigger and bulkier, like Link was. There were big hats hiding faces. Pony heads. Any of those could be her.
But none of the characters reminded me of the conversations I’d had with Kittie online. Not that I thought I knew everything about her. I could stand to learn a little more…
Why?
Because.
Like that, the impulse to know as much as I could about the woman in my guest wing was overwhelming. I didn’t care for it, but that didn’t stop me from feeling it. I wanted to know her as intimately as I did Link.
As if summoned by my thoughts, his name was announced from the stage as the next singer. I knew before he stepped up to the mic, as soon as the first strains of the song started, what he would be singing.
She’s So Meanby Matchbox Twenty. Except the way they sang it,hewas so mean.
He and Danny were together. It wasn’t the same as watching Plaid Peanut Butter, and I was surprised Reese didn’t insist on joining them, but Danny and Link could have fun on stage—their performance chemistry was amazing.
I had just enough alcohol spilling through my veins that I started to move to the music.
“I know this song.” Fallyn’s familiar voice wove into my thoughts and tugged at my senses. That was better than a straight shot of whisky. “But I was pretty sure it was about a woman.”
“Supposedly, according to them,” I nodded at the stage without looking at her, “the song fits me to a T.”
“Lovely friends.” Her tone was hard to decipher.
I spun to face her, and my smile grew. I never would’ve picked her out of the crowd, but she wore the perfect costume—she was Cloud, from the same game Link and I were from. “Best friends in the world. They always have my back,” I said.
“Even if they see you talking to me?”
Fair point. Until now, only Link and Nigel knew she was staying with me. But her mask hid her face, and I wasn’t sure I cared regardless. “Even if they see me dancing with you.” I tugged her out into the throng of gyrating bodies, despite the teensy voice whimperingbad idea. Alcohol and my good mood were chantingdance with herin much louder voices.
It didn’t take much coaxing to get her to follow me, and by the time Link finished his song, we were closer than our bulky costumes should allow. We stayed locked together through several more songs, and I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.
As the music slowed to something sweeter, and Reese finally got her turn, I wrapped an arm around Fallyn’s waist. I tilted my head near her ear. “Come home with me,” I murmured.
She laughed and mimicked my gesture. “I’m staying with you. I’d be both hurt and fucked if you wanted otherwise.”
“Not like that. Let me make sure you get fucked.”
She pulled away, and her gaze met mine. Her eyes were stunning—so dark brown they were almost black, ringed with dark eyeliner, and peering into my soul from behind her mask. “Maybe,” she said playfully.
“I wasn’t asking.”
The corners of her eyes tugged up. “You were begging?”
“I might. But not for anyone else.” This was fun.
She moved her mouth near my ear again. “I can’t imagine being the person to bring the mighty ET Howard to his knees, but let me pretend for the night, and I’m in.”
Something in her words struck a nerve.
