“No. Don’t do that.” I hated being coddled. “Don’t get all big brother on me. I already have four of them.”
“Each and every one of them are hot too. Please tell me that one day, one of them will swing my way.”
“Not as of yet, but I can’t have you as another overprotective brother-in-law. So you’re going to have to steer your spear not so near.”
He choked on his drink as he laughed. “The fuck are you talking about? I’m not trying to marry anyone.”
“Right. I know. But my sister wasn’t trying to get married either, yet here I am with a brother-in-law.”
“True. True. I think we need shots.” He rubbed his jaw. “And another drink. Damn, Izzy. I was not expecting you to tell me you fucked our boss.”
I groaned. If I was laying it all on the table, I should confess to the rest that was bothering me. “And quite frankly, I can handle that. But I...” I took a breath and said what I needed to. “I can’t handle losing someone else because I lost someone when I was really young.”
Lucas sat up straight, in disbelief, like he was a dog who’d heard a suspicious sound. His ears were perked, ready to attack or protect his best friend. Me.
That’s why I decided to tell him. Why I knew he’d be the one to understand.
So as people danced around in masks and had the time of their lives, I told my best friend everything. And he listened. His jaw may have dropped when I told him about the cabin retreat and about my first love, but he didn’t judge me. He didn’t even wrinkle his nose at me.
And at the end of my story, he leaned in. “Was he at least good?” Lucas whispered close to my ear, and I threw up my hands before dropping my head on the bar.
“You’re a terrible friend, you know that?” I asked without picking up my head.
“I’m your best friend,” he growled before pulling my hair so I would sit up. I glanced at him. “And I ask the questions that matter. Because you know what will happen if he’s good?”
I rested my elbow on the bar and set my chin in my hand to give him the full attention he wanted as he dragged out his point. “What will happen, dear Lucas?”
“You won’t get over him. You’ll find your way back again and again.”
“I told you it was mostly hate fucking.”
“Hate fucking is the best fucking, and we all know it.” He held up a shot of rum and ticked his head at mine. “Cheers to you and the dumpster fire that your life is about to be.”
“I’m not cheers-ing to that.” I had lifted my shot glass but pulled it back.
“Fine. Cheers to me pulling you from the dumpster fire that you’re inevitably about to fall into.”
I rolled my eyes but clinked my glass against his before I downed it. “I hate that you’re probably right.” I took a deep breath. “I already told him we’re going our separate ways.”
“Ri-i-ight.” He dragged out the word. “Cade Armanelli doesn’t let go of something he wants.”
“We don’t know that he wants anything more from me,” I said quietly.
“He does. And I’ve read that the man could have single-handedly managed the hacking of this election, Izzy. He’s a freaking god amongst us, even if we want to pretend he’s not. He won’t let you go.”
I rubbed my eyes and then swore because of the makeup I’d put on. “Get more shots, Lucas. We’re going to need them.”
Our night should have progressedinto a blurry fun mess, but instead, Lucas told me he was going to the bathroom and that I should stay put.
Instead, I decided to wander around and see if I knew anyone. Most of our team hadn’t mentioned coming out to the Halloween party, but I knew people had to let off a little steam.
It was only minutes later that I saw that mask.
It was in the corner of the club, hidden so well that most people just passed by him. But I felt his eyes. His dark stare. My whole stomach clenched in fear, anticipation, and hunger.
Cade Armanelli had shown up in that sameScreammask from our last pre-Halloween event at Stonewood Enterprises.
Not even a second later, the lights cut out in the whole club.