The door’s half open, and Iris is there with her, laughing about something I’m too far away to hear.
I almost keep walking, but then I catch what Layla’s saying, “So come with us! Grant won’t care. He’ll love you as muchas I do once he gets to know you!”
Iris responds, ducking her head, twirling a piece of hair around her finger, and I strain to hear. “I don’t want to third wheel, Layla.”
“Girl, it’s a Halloween party, not a date.”
Halloween party? That don’t sound like Iris’s style.
“Party?” I ask, strolling into the room.
Layla perks up immediately. “Wesley! Tell your girl she needs to put on a sexy costume and come to a party with Grant and me tonight. You can come too! It’ll be like a double date!”
Iris looks at me with wide eyes, practically begging me to save her.
I slide a hand up her back, “You don’t gotta go if you don’t wanna, Darlin’.”
Layla scoffs, “You guys suck,” she complains, “I’m going to find friends that are less in love, more fun.”
She stalks out of her room, her heeled boots clicking loudly down the hall.
Iris looks up at me after watching Layla leave. “It’s not that I don’t want to go with her, I do, it’s just—”
“You don’t want to hang out with Grant?”
That’s gotta be why. Guy’s a dick.
“I don’t think he likes me.” She admits, and I always knew there was something wrong with him, but now I know for sure.
I turn her toward me fully, dropping my hands to her waist. “You know, I had plans. My brother and his kids were supposed to come to my house for trick-or-treating. But they ain’t gonna make it.”
She frowns. “I’m sorry, Nate.”
“So,” I continue, “I was thinking maybe you could come over. We can hand out candy, watch a scary movie or two, make it a date night.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend Halloween with.” I only wish Ben and the kids could be there, too.
Layla comes back into the room with a bag of chips, but Iris is still looking at me, her cheeks flushed the way they always end up when we talk. “Alright,” she says, looking back at me. “I would love that.”
“Good,” relief flows through me, “I can’t wait.”
I want to kiss her real bad right now, but when I lean in, Layla makes a fake gagging noise. “Alright, break it up. You are not fucking in my classroom.”
I smile at her antics, but Iris gasps, horrified, “Layla!”
Hell, maybe she’s on to something.
I’m standing by the door, waiting for Iris, when Alex comes out of his room wearing his signature band tee and too-tight black jeans. “Where you headed?”
He doesn’t have on a costume, and that’s the first red flag of the night. Halloween is his favorite holiday. He loves handing out candy in a scary costume, freaking out the neighborhood kids.
I guess that doesn’t matter either now.
“Out. Party, maybe. I dunno.”
I squint in confusion, “A party? You don’t go to parties.”
