“What was your costume this year, big bro?” Kris went on. “You promised to send me pics and obviously forgot. Did you go as Conan the Barbarian? Vader? Barney, the dinosaur?”
She giggled at her own joke, and Blake shook his head with a grimace.
“Kris is clearly not the cosplay type,” Blake murmured.
“No, she isn’t.” James thrust a hand through his hair, still rattled at this side of Tori he had no idea about.
Would she know his cosplay character choice? He kept his gaze on her when he answered.
“I was a shapeshifting dragon named Aidan from a comic calledAsh Masters.”
Tori didn’t even react. But she did slide down in the hot tub to submerge underwater. A muffled sound rose.
Was that a scream?
It was hard to tell over the bubbles and the wind.
“Well, I can’t even imagine what that would look like.” Kris rolled her eyes and snorted. “Pics, or it didn’t happen.”
Oh yeah, his sister had crossed over into the tipsy category.
Tori resurfaced and pushed her long, wet hair over her shoulders.
Her body was rigid, and her eyes were slightly wide. If ever there was a deer-in-the-headlights look, Tori had it.
But why?
His heart began to quicken as an inkling of an idea took root.
No way.
He kept his voice as casual as possible. “What did you say you were up to last weekend, Tori?”
It couldn’t be.
“I was with a friend.” She avoided his stare.
Mentally, he threw a dragon mask on her and the Nadia costume.
His pulse raced now. His mind spun.
Tori and the cosplayer seemed about the same height and build.
“Where does this friend live?” He couldn’t let it go.
“Does anyone know what time it is? It’s probably getting late.” She scooted farther away. “I should head out.”
Why won’t she answer the question?
“Can’t let you drive, Tori. You’ve had too much to drink.” Blake shrugged and gave her an apologetic look. “We’ve got an extra bedroom for you to crash here, though.”
Why was she in such a hurry to leave?
You know why.
His heart slammed against his rib cage.
“Fine. Well, then, I’m going to bed.” Tori rose from her seat.