Page 30 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

I couldn’t help but stare, her beautiful eyes gazing intently into mine. She looked away for a moment, biting her lip, before glancing back up at me. What was she thinking?

“High Jynx,” she said, then shook her head with a smile. “Wait. What’s your real name?”

Fuck. I can’t tell her, not now, not like this. But suddenly, another scream filled the room, and Ivy Jade gasped and jumped, throwing her body onto mine. I wrapped my arms around her, rubbing her back gently, calming her. She fit so perfectly in my arms.

“Let's get out of here,” she said with a hesitant laugh, letting go.

I turned, beginning to lead the way out, but her shoulder brushed against me as she casually slid her hand into mine, as if she had done it a hundred times.

Fuck. I could get used to this.

But that small voice kept repeating in the back of my mind—this can’t last.

CHAPTER 12

Ivy Jade

What the hell was wrong with me? Genuinely. I wanted to know what kind of worm crawled its way into my brain undetected.

This entire morning was spent in the worst way, thinking of… High Jynx. And I shouldn’t have been thinking about him, because I should’ve been thinking about the freaking rings I lost! LOST! Yesterday was unsuccessful in that sense. Ugh. I had to head back there again tonight. At least I’d have this stupid necklace with me. While it was embarrassing to wear, at least the monsters couldn’t scare me.

When Tallulah asked if I could put a few wedding favors together for her, I volunteered so fast! I hoped it’d allow my brain to stop thinking about how kind High Jynx was to me last night. Sure, he was a little sarcastic, but he was also strangely sweet… sweet in a way that I wasn’t used to. There was definitely something about him, something that lingered over me like a sleeping pill. It made me fuzzy and weak, and for some reason, keenly aware of the spots on my body where he touched me. I could still feel his hand wrapped around my waist when he pulled me into his chest.

It forced me to think about his stupid face.

That stupid, painted face.

Blue eyes and a wicked smile.

And he was sorta handsome. Right? I think that was okay for me to say. I mean, I’d never been drawn to anyone like him before: tatted, a performer, someone closer to my age, and sensitive. And it was kinda cute the way he was very protective of me last night, checking in on me, making sure I was doing okay. It warmed my chest just thinking about it.

“What’s eating you, Ivy Jade?” Tallulah asked. Her, Hollie, and Jasmine had also been helping with the wedding favors. I kind of forgot they were here. I’d been in my own little bubble.

I shook my head. “Nothing.”

“Ivy Jade… with nothing to say? That’s so unlike you,” Tallulah snapped shut one of the completed boxes of wedding favors.

Hollie squinted in my direction. “You know, now that you mention it… It is weird that you’re so quiet. Did the Scare Park catch your tongue?” she laughed, as did the other girls.

I blushed bright pink and put together my part of the favors faster, so I could leave. Tallulah insisted on keeping these wedding favors so we girlies could chat. Most of the girls from the bridal party were off doing their own thing, hanging with the groomsmen, or whatever else. “I promise there’s nothing. I just have nothing to say.”

“You must be on your period,” Tallulah said. “That’s it.”

“Don’t analyze me. I’m just existing,” I huffed an annoyed breath.

“Ooooh, so unlike Ivy Jade. Whatever shall we do?” Jasmine added sarcastically with her annoying, squeaky voice.

I rolled my eyes at her. I hardly knew Jasmine, even though we were on the cheer squad together. Now she cosplayed as Tallulah’s wedding coordinator because it was her newest business venture. Whatever. She irked me far too much. Hollie, though, I liked her. She was sweet, and anyone sweet to me stayed in my good graces.

“Whatever happened at the Scare Park, anyway? You didn’t tell us the full story of how you got all bruised up,” Hollie brought up.

I tied the string on the baggie tightly. “It’s nothing. I just fell in, and one of the clown performers helped me up. That’s all,” I said.

“Clown? Don’t you hate clowns?” Tallulah said. “I bet you were even more jumpy and horrified.”

“Something like that,” I let out.

“Wait, I thought you said a nurse helped you?” Hollie asked. Good memory, that girl.