Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Our goalie, Fender Strode, is chatting up a couple girls in another booth, looking as dashing as ever dressed as Dracula, and as I scan the array of Badgers on the dance floor, my eyes widen when I spot Hadley, looking hot as hell in a Catwoman outfit. A guy in full tactical gear and a skeleton mask is dancing with her.
I shift away from Paxton, heading over to Reese and Blakely, silently getting them to look that way.
My friends gasp, and we turn away so we're not too obvious, knowing Nash would likely lose his shit if he saw Hadley dancing like that with who has to be a Badger, but I'm not sure which one.
We giggle, the action drawing Paxton’s attention. He leans down, noting that Nash and Lawson are in some epic debate about the Roman Empire, and leans down into our little group.
“What are we whispering about?”
“Okay, don't be super obvious about it,” Blakely whispers to him.
“But look at Catwoman at eleven o’clock on the dance floor,” I finish for her.
Paxton looks as casually as he can, his eyes widening with recognition as he turns back to our group. “Holy shit,” he says, eyes flashing to Nash before he returns them to me.
“Do you think she knows who that is?” Paxton asks, and I gape up at him.
“Omigod, you know who it is?” I ask, but I already know from the familiar look in his eyes.
He cringes, remaining silent.
“You have to tell us,” Reese says, practically begging.
“Please!” Blankly adds for emphasis.
He hesitates, a battle raging on his face as his eyes fall to mine. All it takes is for me to flash one silent, pleading look up at him and his shoulders drop as he lets out a sigh.
He mouths one word at our little group. “Baylor.”
“Omigod,” we say at the exact same time, all of our eyes going back to the dance floor, noting the build of the mysterious man in the skeleton mask. Now that we know, it's easy to tell, but can Hadley?
“Do you think she knows?” Paxton asks my thoughts out loud.
From the way Hadley is dancing with him, I don't think she cares. She just looks like she's having a good time.
“She has to, right?” Reese asks.
“She has to know what?” Nash asks, rejoining our group, Lawson on his other side. “Who are we talking about?”
“No one,” all four of us say in unison, and then descend into a fit of laughter when Nash looks at it all suspiciously.
“Don't do that,” Nash says. “I know my birthday is coming up, but you know I hate surprise parties. Please don't do that to me.”
I swear there's a collective sigh of relief among our group, and we assure him we would never do such a thing. Then we spend the entire night ensuring that Nash never spots his baby sister on the dance floor with none other than Baylor freaking Torrington.
It's a group effort, and yet we still find time to celebrate before we all head out late in the evening, our beds practically calling our names.
“I can't wait to get out of this costume,” I say as we head into our bedroom, shedding clothes as we go, sighing in relief as we slip into our pajamas.
“Although you do look hot as hell as Spider-Man,” I continue before he sheds his costume completely, then I tilt my head as he slips into a pair of black sweatpants. “But you look pretty hot in anything,” I amend.
“So do you,” he says, waggling his eyebrows at my bleach-stained T-shirt and sweatpants as I fall into his bed. I laugh, shaking my head.
“Sometimes I don't understand the things you find attractive on me.”
“Why not?” he asks, climbing into bed next to me, spreading his arm out so I can fall into my designated space against his chest. “It's the simplest thing in the world. If you're wearing it, it's attractive.”
I tip my head up so I can meet his eyes. “I love you.” Those three words are still as gratifying and freeing as ever after holding them in for so long.
He shifts down, planting me with a quick kiss before pulling back, the two of us completely exhausted. “I love you too,” he says.
It’s the best thing to hear before falling asleep. And I smile, knowing I’m lucky enough to hear him say that for the rest of my forever.
EPILOGUE
BAYLOR
There's something incredibly freeing about wearing a full facemask, not to mention the tactical gear that covers every inch of my body.
Sure, some people knew I chose to come as Ghost this year for Halloween, but not the majority. Not that I have anything to hide from my teammates or the few regular patrons that frequent this club, but the simple act of not being instantly recognizable is kind of intoxicating.