She blanched and I felt like a total asshole, but I didn’t know what else to say. Because holy fucking shit, she hardly resembled Harleigh.
My Harleigh.
“Dude.” Kye leaned over from the back seat and smacked me upside the head. “A little much? Have you lost your goddamn mind? She looks hot as—” Zane elbowed him in the ribs, and he yelled. “Ow, fuck face, what the hell was that for?”
“We should go,” I grumbled, stepping on the gas.
Harleigh was quiet, pressing her head against the cool glass, deep in thought.
Things were as awkward as fuck, but when she’d agreed to come tonight, I thought she would choose a safe costume. Something that covered her up and didn’t make her stand out. Something that wouldn’t require me to spend the night keeping guys away from her, guys thinking they could touch what wasn’t theirs to touch.
“I heard that some of the academy kids might show,” Zane said.
“Nah, no way,” I replied. “They don’t have big enough balls. Especially not after how we kicked their asses on the field last month.”
“Only telling you what I heard, man.”
“If they’re stupid enough to wander into our territory, then they’d better be ready to pay the price.” Anger zipped down my spine.
“Hell yeah.” Zane leaned forward, chuckling, and we high-fived through the seats.
Harleigh had dressed up as Harley Quinn complete with pigtails. The three of us had stuck with our plain black hoodies and black jeans, adding LED neon masks.
She peeked over at me again and our gazes collided. Fuck, her eyes. They seemed to draw me in even more than usual. My jaw clenched as I sucked in a sharp breath and turned my attention back on the road.
“Nix, I—”
“Not now, B, yeah?” I said, a little harsher than intended, but I was a fucking mess. “Not now.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Harleigh sink further into her seat. And I hated that I’d made her doubt herself. But shit, if I wasn’t having a real hard time reining in my emotions.
She looked… She looked like a total knockout. Not that I didn’t think she was beautiful all the time, I did. But her costume was enticing to say the least. At least when she was in her normal everyday clothes, I could fight the urge to drag her into my arms and kiss the shit out of her.
But dressed like that, I wasn’t sure I could behave.
Fuck.
I was in trouble.
So much fucking trouble.
Darling Hill Reservoir was the place to be tonight. Surrounded by the dense forest, it was the perfect place for teenagers to cause a little mayhem without upsetting the cops.
And tonight, it was party central. A huge bonfire crackled into the night as people danced and laughed, sipping warm beer and stolen liquor.
“Wilder, about time.” Paul Odell, a senior from school, stalked over to us, fist bumping me then the guys. “Shit, Harleigh, is that you under all—”
“Don’t go there, man,” Kye murmured. “Not unless you want Nix to rip your head off.”
Paul stepped back, smirking as he held up his hands. “I can see why it would be a problem.” He glanced at Harleigh, and then back to me. “Shit, man.” He chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye.
I glowered at him. Back the fuck off, asshole.
Harleigh shrank into herself, and I wanted to reassure her like I usually would, but I couldn’t trust myself to speak.
Before I could figure out what the fuck to say, she cleared her throat and said, “I’m going to get a drink.” She disappeared into the crowd and Kye let out a low whistle.
“I did not see that coming. She looks—”