She moved out of Natasha Carpenter’s place earlier this week—though Natasha wasn’t thrilled. I think I heard her mutter something like,“Everyone leaves me when they fall in love,”Which only made Bri teary-eyed.
Natasha’s sweet. A little wild. Runs the local barBrookhaven Brewslike a one-woman army and when she isn’t working, she parties harder than anyone I’ve ever met. Which is probably why letting go of Bri felt like losing her center.
I look around Boone and Rosie’s house, and it’s like Halloween exploded inside. Pumpkin and bat string lights dangle from every available surface, fake cobwebs in the corners, snacks and cider on the counters. The whole crew’s here—the Prescotts, Carpenters, Tremblays. Everyone in costume. Everyone smiling.
And then I seeher. My Soul. She’s got a glowing halo perched on her head and this short, floaty white dress that moves like smoke every time she turns. Her skin is golden, lit from within, radiating the joy she carries everywhere with her, and hergreen eyes shine with laughter as she talks animatedly to Eden Carpenter, hands flailing as she tells a story.
I don’t even think. My body moves on instinct, like gravity pulling me home. I slide up behind her, arms wrapping around her waist, and press my mouth to her ear, her bright red hair tickling my face. It’s like a piece of me reconnects every time we’re together.
“Hi, baby. You look beautiful.”
She turns slightly, grinning up at me. Her hands cover mine, fingers squeezing.
“Oh my God,” she breathes out with a laugh. “You really dressed as a Bat Boy?”
I smirk. “Guilty.”
“This might be the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I laugh. “We’ll enjoy it later tonight.”
Her cheeks flush. “Did Sawyer see you before she left for her sleepover?”
“Yeah, she said I ruined the books for her. Apparently, she’s outgrown my Halloween costumes.”
She laughs harder. I spread my arms wide, letting the sheer black wings fan out behind me with a dramatic flourish.
“Check out this part.”
“Okay, wow. This is even better than I imagined in the books. Though…” She tilts her head, teasing. “I half-expected you to show up wearing the Sloth mask.”
I lean in, lowering my face to her neck and letting my voice drop. “Are you disappointed?”
“Maybe a little,” she whispers. “But you can always put it back on later tonight. In your bedroom. Maybe no prosthetic teeth this time.”
“Didn’t know you liked fucking Sloth so much.”
“It’s a core memory for me.”
“The half-melted face?”
“No. The not knowing who you were and still feeling like I was going to love you someday.”
My stupid little romantic heart that Bri’s uprooted thumps a little in my chest.
“You look beautiful tonight,” I say, cradling the side of her neck, my thumb grazing the soft skin below her ear before I kiss her deep and slow, like I’ve got all night. When we break apart, we’re both slightly breathless—and Rhiannon is suddenly there, grinning like she just walked in on her favorite scene in a movie.
“Okay, you guys are disgusting in the best way,” she laughs. “I swear, Brookhaven’s turning into the epicenter of all my favorite people falling in love.”
I chuckle and step back slightly, keeping Bri tucked into my side.
“The food’s all in the kitchen if you want to take a break from sucking face.”
I look at Bri. “You ready to eat?”
“No, I think I’d like to suck your face more.”
Rhiannon smirks and walks off.
