Everyone was laughing, the lights were shining, my heart was beating.
The Phantom was watching.
I made my way to him, leaned over, and gripped the arms of his chair. Glitter fell over both of us as I whispered, “I just think of a happy little thing.”
“Pix,” he grumbled, jaw clenched.
“It’s the same as having wings.”
“Clip your wings, woman. Fall back to the ground where the rest of us are.”
“I don’t need them, Jett. I can already fly.”
His blue eyes held mine as he barked at the crowd, “Tinker Bell wins.” Then he whispered, “Monday, we come back from Neverland, Pix.”
I grinned at him and shook my head of pink locks. “Not a chance, Phantom. We belong here.”
22
Vick
My head poundedas Miranda Lambert belted out her song from my phone.
It was a distinct reminder that I hadn’t followed any part of my health regimen the night before. I’d drunk alcohol, consumed sugary hot apple cider, and ignored all my vitamins and pills.
Again.
The nutritionist my mother hired years ago would have said I was feeding the cancer that lived deep in my bones still. His warning used to haunt me.
Now, I shoved the thought aside along with my sheets to stretch on my bed. I rolled over to grab my phone and silence it, but hit a wall of man.
I recoiled fast.
Oh, no. Jett had looked so good last night. How would I explain myself to everyone? I went home with the boss, I slept with him again, and Steven would … Oh, Jesus. Steven. We were going to be over. He would never talk to me again.
For some reason, the idea came as a sort of relief.
I lifted the sheets to wake up my Phantom and saw green tights.
My stomach dropped.
Green tights traveled up to a green shirt and a symmetrical face with blond hair.
Steven had come home with me.
I glanced down and took inventory. I was still in my costume.
I’d blacked out.
Our first time together wasn’t forgotten because it never happened.
We were still definitely together, and I needed a freaking mind reset.
Jett probably went home with Gloria. I rewound the night. I’d danced for the crowd, won the contest, had more drinks. Brey and Jax left shortly after. Bastian arrived.
Bastian Armanelli—he’d come with Cade and Katie. They’d dressed as grim reapers. If they’d come earlier, I would have crowned them winners; their costumes killed it.
We drank so much. I remember climbing onto a banquet table at one point to bottle feed shots down people’s throats.