Page 73 of Embrace

Scarlett

It’s Halloween, andSierra’s creepy pacing is scaring me more than the horror movie playing on our TV. She’s got on her pajama shorts and an unusually baggy hoodie, though I’d have to be an idiot not to realize it’s Dylan’s. She doesn’t wear much of anything else these days. When I offered to wash it with my laundry last weekend, she refused.

“Do you have your costume?” I ask, hoping to distract her from whatever is causing her to wear a rut in our floor.

She freezes mid-step and slowly pivots toward me. Yeah, she’s freaking me out.

“For what?”

I deadpan, “Your partner’s birthday party? You know, that hockey player you have the hots for?”

She shakes her head on a sigh and continues pacing. “You think he’d want me there?”

“Si, youhaveto stop second-guessing everything. The guy looks like he’s being strangled if he’s not near you. Yes, he wants you there.”

I’ve seen that look. The way he watches her, like he needs her tobreathe. I’d kill for someone to look at me that way. I’ve always been on the sidelines of that kind of love. My mom and dad still act like they just met, and at this point, I don’t think it’s a phase anymore. Then there’s Sierra, glowing and loved, and it fills me up in all the right ways. Except for the one part of me that stays hollow. The part that I’ve always ignored but it keeps fighting to surface these days, still believing maybe someday it’ll be me. That someone will look at me with that same kind of ache.

A loud knock snaps our attention to the door. Since it’s midterm season, it’s wide open, and Kian strolls right in—shirtless; wearing pink wings, matching heart-shaped sunglasses, and a feathery boa; with a bow and arrows in hand.

He fires one straight at Sierra, and she snatches it out of the air before it can touch her. “A little early for that, Ishida.”

Kian grins, and for a second the whole room feels warmer. God, he’s beautiful when he smiles. “Not for you, Ice Princess.”

The wink he throws her way makes her laugh. That’s how easy it is for him. He makes everyone around him light up like it’s nothing. He doesn’t even notice he’s done it.

When he takes the arrow back from her, he puts it in the little holder at his side. “Thanks for not breaking it. Sunny wasn’t so kind this morning.” He shows us an arrow that’s snapped in half.

“Is that your costume?” Sierra asks, glancing at me. “I thought you two were matching.”

When Kian’s attention finally falls on me, it’s like a spotlight. Suddenly, I’m in elementary school and the teacher called on me to answer.

“Nah, this is my morning costume. Dylan decided to be boring this year. Which is why I thought I’d have to do a solo costume.” Kian walks over to me. “Thank you for not making me look stupid alone in my costume, Scar.”

I beam at him, basking in the way his gaze plants its roots in me. “You could never look stupid.”

Kian casually presses his hand to my shoulder, then turns toSierra. “By the way, I’ve got the whole surprise figured out. It’ll be ready when you come to the party.”

Yesterday, Sierra decided she wanted to do something nice for Dylan’s birthday. It took a lot of talking her into it because she thought it was lame. I could tell she really wanted to, so when I ran the idea by Kian, he offered to help.

“Thanks, Kian.” Sierra looks smaller when she says it, not used to getting help. I’ve seen her trying, and that’s the only thing I need to know about how good Dylan is to her.

“But I have one condition.”

Sierra narrows her eyes. “I’m not taking you to Lola’s right now.”

“Not that.” Kian pulls something out of his arrow holder. “This.”

“Scream?”

“Ghostface. It’s your costume. Scar told me you weren’t wearing one, and that’s a cardinal sin at a hockey house Halloween birthday party.”

“Fine. But I’m not wearing a cloak.” Sierra takes it from him and heads to her room.

“Okay, so I lied.” Kian whispers when she’s out of earshot. “I don’t have the surprise handled.”

My eyes bug out. “What?”

“I know, I know. But you texted me about it last night, and I wasn’t sure how to get in his room. Dylan’s super protective of his abode. He barely ever lets me have sleepovers.”