“It’s okay.” She squeezes my hand. “We’ll stay in line and then we’ll head back the long way which should put you right in his path.”
Nodding, I lean back against the wall. It’s odd but I haven’t been at a party like this. Just me and a friend hanging out, waiting for the bathroom. What else did I miss out on because I chose to hide from the horsemen?
The line moves every few minutes, and Penny and I creep closer to the door. It’s also out of sight from the horsemen. Though I know Jack is watching me. I glance up at the corner and smile slightly at the little camera.
No one would even know it was there with the room as dark as it is. But I know he’s watching me and that gives me courage. The music gets a little louder as a bunch of rowdy people start dancing. Penny and I talk about music and TV shows as we wait.
It’s nice and I really have to wonder why I thought this wouldn’t be worth it. So what if a horseman harassed me because I was fuckable? Maybe I could have gotten a boyfriendbefore any of them were the wiser. Maybe I could have been like Penny and lost my virginity to my high school boyfriend and then tried to hookup with one of the horsemen later.
But then I remember this afternoon in Jack’s bed. The closet with Caden. This morning with Eli and Luke and then Nico in the shower. And last night... A shiver works through me. I could have had parties like this where I wasn’t welcome into their circle. Where none of them even knew who I was.
I still would have been invisible, but only to them. My insides twist.
Jack is right. I wasn’t ready for them and they weren’t ready for me, but now we are. Maybe letting my walls down is a good idea. Maybe letting them in and loving them just a little won’t be a mistake.
“Hey, Harper.” Ethan braces his arm against the wall beside my head as he leans over me.
Penny giggles and I force a smile. “Hey, Ethan.”
“I’ve been waiting to get you to myself.” He glances at Penny like he wants her to disappear. “I can take her from here.”
I give him a little pout. “If the horsemen see her and not me, I’ll be in trouble.”
He chuckles and leans in closer to me. “You don’t have to worry about them for long.”
I swallow down the bile rising from him being so close and the fear his words spark in me. But there’s a part to play and tonight I’m on center stage. And it’s time to start the show.
CHAPTER 10
The Execution
Harper
I tighten my hand on Penny’s and she squeezes mine to reassure me. I can’t do this on my own. If she leaves, I’ll need to abort the mission. “Penny has to stay. I wouldn’t want them to hurt her because of me.”
Ethan lifts his leering gaze from me and takes in Penny. He smirks. “You’re used to doing things with multiple partners. We could make this work.”
She gives him a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, but it doesn’t matter to him. Of course it doesn’t matter. He’s literally after one thing. He’s the one who asked the guys when he could take a turn with me, so fuck him. Everything we do to him he deserves.
The line moves and we move with it.
Bracing myself, I act like I just thought of something. “You know, I bet I could find a bathroom with no line. I’ve been in Caden’s house a lot.”
“There’s a code on the door.” Ethan acts like I’m the idiot here.
“I know the code.” I smile because I need to get him to come with me and do everything I say. That’s the whole point.
“Sounds good.” Penny giggles and pulls me toward the door. I glance up at the camera. I hope they’re watching.
We reach the door with Ethan trailing us. I put the code in carefully, blocking it from both of them. Penny distracts Ethan by asking him about the football game she missed. I don’t need anyone having access to this part of the house even though this is a temporary code set to expire.
When I open the door, we step into the quiet, darkened hallway. My body tenses. This is the part none of my guys liked. Me with just Penny and Ethan. Alone in the house with no way to stop him if he gets aggressive.
I swallow.
“There’s one right down here.” I keep Penny’s hand and lead them down the hallway. I turn the knob and open the door to the huge bathroom. When I step inside, both Penny and I turn to Ethan.
“Do you mind if we freshen up?” Penny asks and glances purposely at the toilet. “I need to powder my nose. We weren’t in line for fun.”
