Page 192 of Pleasure & Prey: Vol. 2

“Unfortunately. Would’ve been nice to meet you before I had to play door guard in case anyone heard you two.”

Whoops.

I have the decency to look away, but after another look from Cass, I get the message. “I’m gonna go congratulate Wren and Hazel.”

Larkin turns to me, and for the first time in probably ever, I see a hint of alarm on his features. Some part of me is definitely a little pleased that my friends make him nervous. But only because I know they won’t do anything and Larkin can be too cocky for his own good.

He’ll be fine.

Making my way through the reception room takes a few minutes longer than I expected. Virgil stops me, murmuring a few words about how long it’s been and how good I look. He assures me that Cass is the only one pulling his hair out about my ‘reclaimed hobbies’ and even congratulates me on Larkin.

Even if Virgil does threaten him like I’m his little sister with her first boyfriend. Jed is quieter, though I hug him just as fiercely as I do Wren, and I can’t help but wonder what Es would think if she could see me here. Comfortable in a way I rarely am with anyone but her and Larkin.

Plus, she knows I’m not a hugger.

“Thanks for inviting me,” I tell Wren, turning to watch Hazel as he beams at where she’s standing with a couple of friends. Judging by her hand movements and the way she keeps glancing down, I figure she’s telling them about her dress. “I miss you guys.”

“You could move back,” Wren suggests. “We’d even let you bring him.” He glances over to where Cass is still having a hopefully friendly conversation with Larkin, who have now both emerged from the private bathroom’s alcove, and his smile grows. “Look at him. Acting so much like your big brother over there. He frets over you.” The groom rolls his eyes at that, then adds, “But seriously. We’d love to have you back.”

The offer is kind and unexpected. Something that usually stays cold and tight in my chest unfurls, and I find myself just staring at him stupidly. “I’ll think about it,” I offer finally. I’m not sure I would move. Washington is where I’m from, and Seattle is where I’ve made my home.

But do I really have anything out there? Except for my best friend and boyfriend, I could live anywhere.

If he won’t leave, then I certainly won’t. And I’m not sure Larkin has any desire to live in the Midwest.

“And go get food,” Wren urges. “Otherwise you’re insulting Jed, who spent an actual month planning the grazing tables.”

I lift my hands in surrender and walk away, heading toward the grazing tables in the far corner.

As usual, Jed has outdone himself. While it’s been years since I’ve tasted his food, I can’t help but get a plate full of the tiny sandwiches, pastries, and every other small snack that looks even remotely appetizing. By the time I’m at a table, Larkin is apparently done being harassed and sits down beside me with a huff before sneaking out a hand to grab a mini sandwich.

“He threaten to kill you?” I ask mildly, watching the small group of kids present twirling around the dance floor. Hazel seems to gravitate towards them, and I remember belatedly that she’s apparently a camp counselor. Or was when Wren met her.

Correction—hunted her. Not that she’s complaining about it.

“Worse,” he makes a face, but then immediately makes a happily surprised one as he chews a bite. “This is so good. And I don’t even like cucumber,” he mumbles around the tiny sandwich.

“Jed’s amazing. Everything he makes is delicious.” I tilt my head at him, part of me wanting to scoot in closer to my boyfriend like so many other couples here are doing.

But PDA isn’t something I usually initiate beyond holding his hand out in public. Yet somehow, Larkin must sense what I want. He pulls me in beside him with an arm hooked around my waist. “Is that the cannibal? Because your friend threatened to kill me and let him butcher me before serving me to his girlfriend’s shitty mom.”

I snort at that, a smile growing on my lips. I’ve heard my fair share of stories about Winnie’s mom, and from what I understand, she would absolutely deserve it. “Ex cannibal,” I correct. “But yeah. And they would, you know.”

I almost tell him right then about Wren’s suggestion. But I let it go, instead turning to shove a small pastry between his lips before Larkin can say anything else. “Shut up and eat the food. Otherwise we’ll look ungrateful, and Jed really might kill you. Not me, of course. But I’d have to sacrifice you to go free.”

Larkin rolls his eyes, but he lets me put the food in his mouth. He chews and swallows before swooping in for another chaste kiss, his arm tight around me like he’s holding me here, in case I might float away.

With my eyes half-lidded, all I can see is the flash of street-lights at set intervals. They flicker against my eyelids, momentarily blinding me, until I close my eyes completely with a sigh.

“Wren told me I should move back. Or think about it.” When my words fall into the soft, near-silence of the car, Larkin immediately reaches out to turn down the music completely.

For a few moments, he doesn’t speak. And I’m certainly not about to follow that up with something else.

“Do you want to?”

I’m a little surprised that’s the first thing he says.

My fingers tap against the cool glass I have my cheek pressed to, and I open my eyes to stare into the darkness outside. “I don’t love Seattle,” I admit quietly. “You know I met Cass years ago, when they sent me out here to live and to, you know, be locked up in the loony bin.”