Who’s watching this? Do people really want a costume contest? I don’t. I scan the room. All my friends are here. It’s a small town, and following the family events held on main street in Lit Creek, there’s always an adult afterparty for us.
On the other side of the barn, Jessa’s sipping water with Kenzie and Avery. Avery’s got a cute Nancy Drew costume paired with her date decked out as a book.
I wonder if Logan would ever do that? I like to read, so if we were together that would make a cute costume. The thought doesn’t even have a chance to settle. Logan Pine wouldn’t be caught dead in that much cardboard. It would cramp his style way too much.
“If I wasn’t a cowboy, I’d definitely go as that book,” Zander whispers in my ear. A tingle dances up and down my spine. He must have caught me staring at them.
“You’re hardly a cowboy.”
“What?” His brows knit together in mock offense as he tips his hat to me. “If I’m not a cowboy, ma’am, you’re not a doctor.”
“Pfft—”
And before I can fully commit to blowing a raspberry in his face, nails dig into my arm. Sloane’s painted nails press firmly into me. Not to hurt, just to command.
“You have to enter. Look at you,” Sloane drawls. Her free hand gestures up and down my body as I work on deciphering her motives here. I’ve always liked Sloane, but she’s acting very strange right now. I thought she was good for Zander, but this nail-digging, voluntolding behavior is making me question her. But I guess she is pretty drunk. Then again, wasn’t she the one who broke up with Zander?
“You look so hot, Evie. Doesn’t she look hot, Zander?” Her eyes flicker to her ex as her wry tone eats away at me. Why is she saying it like that in front of him?
“Ya, she looks really good.” Zander’s fingers that were lightly grazing my waist are now digging into my flesh. This is definitely a more protective touch.
“Thanks,” I mumble, feeling the awkwardness creep around atop my skin. I’m not sure where to look, so I just let my eyes jump between the two of them.
“See? He said you were hot. You need to do the costume contest.” Well, he didn’t sayhot, but she is out of it. So much so that Sloane is looking Zander dead in the eyes for the first half of her declaration. When she finally locks eyes with me, I see a flash of hurt on her face that I don’t fully understand.
“No, I’m good.” I didn’t come here for the attention of just anyone. I came to secure the attention of one man.
“Evie’s in!” Sloane announced loudly to the room.
Zander hears my grumble and whispers into my ear, “You’ve got this, Evie. You do look hot.” Damn, hearing that from him heats me from the inside, but I’m not going to let myself explorethat. That exploration leads to disappointment. He just broke up with his girlfriend, and he’s probably reeling from that. No, this isn’t the time to think about those old feelings I have.
Apparently this costume contest is a thing though because when I scan the room, my friends wink at me and Summer shouts, “My vote is for Evie.”
Sloane’s arms are waving. “Nope. Can’t vote yet. We have to do the runway first.” She’s dragging me to the front of the room where the small stage is set up for the band that’s on break.
“I’m not going on stage—”
“Ladies,” Sloane ignores me and calls to the room. “Sierra, Piper, Kenzie, Emmerson…”
The list goes on as she tears me away from Zander.
“We’ll do this all together,” Jessa says as she rubs her belly. “Just have fun with it.” Her shoulder brushes mine as she climbs up on stage. Well, if the pregnant woman’s doing it, I’m not sitting out.
Ugh. This does not seem fun though. Why did I dress as the sexy doctor again? Why am I giving the town a reason to dreg up old gossip? Forget it. This is not the time to be self-critical.
Feeling the shakes in my leg, I’m standing on the edge of the stage about to either own this stupid thing or make a fool of myself.
Each of my girlfriends is announced and walks across the stage doing a cute little gesture to their SO. Summer flashes an imaginary camera at Eli. Emmerson scribbles an invisible note and blows it to Jack. Sierra takes a sip from her cup and lifts it to Hunter. They’re all so damn cute with their partners.
Thinking of them with their partners reminds me of what Zander said earlier this evening. He thought that Sloane might be the one? When he said that, my body froze. Like ice. And then it was like someone took a hammer to my frozen heart and smashed it.
I mean, I know in my head that one day he’ll marry someone. He’ll make the perfect husband. The type to make breakfast in bed for his wife on her birthday. I can say that with confidence because he’s done it for me, and I’m not even his SO.
Which reminds me, I don’t have an SO here and I’m about to take my turn on this ridiculous stage. Should I find Logan in the crowd?
Then I spot him leaning against the back wall. Too cool for school. Really too cool to be here except he’s in the band and they’re playing tonight. He’s staring at me, running his eyes over my body. That’s what I wanted, right? Yet he makes me nervous. In a good way. I think. Right?
My eyes drift until they find Zander. My happy place.
