Together, we descended the steps of the building’s main entrance, the brisk and blustery Halloween-night air whipping our hair about.
“No,” I admitted, my enormous jack-o’-lantern earrings swaying as I huddled into my matching oversized orange sweater. The early afternoon had been warm enough when I’d arrived that I’d left myjacket in my car. “I already did the costume-party thing. And frankly, ever since then, my October has been scary enough.”
“You could say that again,” said Cleo, straightening her black-and-pink cat-ear headband. “You doing okay after all that?”
It had been just over a week since the elevator incident, or as Cleo had put it, “all that.”
“Glad to be alive,” I admitted, though I couldn’t keep her eye as I said it. “What about you? Headed out to a big party?”
On weeknights, the library closed at nine, and this year, Halloween fell on a Thursday, one of the two weekdays that Cleo and I were scheduled to work. Not that I’d minded. Living in an apartment meant I didn’t get trick-or-treaters. And I’d ditched the dating apps after the epic-fail night with Dale the wandering werewolf, so there weren’t any more spooky-themed romantic escapades to be had, either.
And since I’d had my two brushes with death, I’d been resisting the urge to tempt fate by spending my nights holed up at home with vintage cartoons, movie musicals, and Netflix baking competitions.
Tonight, with the exception of some pumpkin-shaped Reese’s and maybe a glass of wine, would—fingers crossed—be no different.
“I’m meeting Peter at that new witch-themed bar for some spooky drinks,” she answered.
I froze on the last step, my head swinging her way because… what?
“Peter,” I repeated.
Halting, too, Cleo smirked. Biting her bottom lip, she wagged her brows at me. “Winston,” she clarified like I couldn’t already guess. Like there’d been any question regarding who she’d meant. “The archivist?”
Anger, more potent than a swig of Fireball whiskey, bolted through my veins, setting my blood ablaze. Words—salty ones about Peter—dogpiled in my mouth, but I pressed my lips into a line, disallowing a single one to slip past.
Obviously, Cleo didn’t know Peter and I had dated. How could she when he’d insisted that I keep our every move an absolute secret? Seemed Cleo had received no such gag order. She had no clue, either, that Peter had used the excuse of our working together to end things with me. So how could she know how much it stung that he was apparently now seeingher? Someone who worked in the exact same department as me, never mind the same building.
Unless I was overreacting. Unless I had this all wrong—jumping to conclusions and assuming Cleo and Peter were seeing one another when they could just be friends.
Friends could wag eyebrows about friends… right?
“You didn’t hear this from me,” laughed Cleo as she leaped off the bottommost step, “because he doesn’t want anyone to know we’re dating since we work together or whatever, but if you can get him to shut up, that man is one hell of a kisser.”
I scowled, glaring after Cleo. When she turned around, I managed to clear my expression.
“Well,” I hedged, “sounds like you’ve got a spicy night ahead.”
“Won’t be the first,” she said through a grin that befitted her feline makeup, the too-cute whiskers and little pink nose she’d drawn on with greasepaint.
Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask. You don’t want to know, don’t ask.
“How long have you two been an item?”
Cleo shrugged. “We’re more like coworkers with benefits. But we’ve been on and off since July. Currently on.” She winked at me. “Very, very on. Rroow,” she added for effect, pawing at me with one hand before turning the gesture into a wave. “See you tomorrow!”
“I’m off,” I called after her. “It’s my week to work Saturday.”
“Ah, well,” she said, “then bright and early on Monday. Enjoy your Friday.”
Breaking away, she hurried through the parking lot toward her car, a definite skip in her step.
When she was far enough away, I let my smile fall and allowedmy glower to take over again. I wasn’t jealous so much as I was angry.Incensed.
Because what was Peter’s deal? Why lie to break up with me?
And had he beencheatingon me?
I honestlydidn’twant to know.
