Page 45 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

My heart sped, and the urge to kiss her was more overwhelming than ever. I suddenly felt so content and happy, like I'd start laughing abruptly from excitement.

“You two are cute,” Pennywise unknowingly interrupted the moment. “How long you guys been together?”

I cleared my throat nervously. I had no idea how to answer, but I was flattered he thought we were a couple.

“Two years on Halloween!” Ivy Jade responded effortlessly, playing along. “Can you believe how time flies?” She looked back up at me and winked.

“Congrats!” Pennywise exclaimed. “Well, hey. I'd better get my makeup on and get out there. Have a good night, and nice meeting you, Ivy Jade.”

We waved goodbye, and then we continued walking slowly in silence. I kept my arm around her shoulders, and she kept hers around my waist.

This was honestly the happiest I’d been in my entire life.

“Time really does fly,” I said. “The last two years have felt like what? Three days?”

She laughed and flipped her hair with her free hand, her eyes roaming the space again. “Totally,” she played along. “Honestly… in a way, it feels like I’ve known you much longer. I mean, you’re surprisingly easy to talk to, and you make me feel comfortable… which is the weirdest thing I’ve ever said, considering I’m standing next to a giant clown.”

Fuck. She dropped that so casually, so easily. She was pulling at my heartstrings; Ivy Jade was so much different from what I thought, and in all the right ways.

I slipped my arm from her shoulders and took her hand as I stopped in front of the booth where I got ready every night.

“I feel the same,” I confessed, dropping my chin and lowering my voice as I stepped close to her. "The part about feeling comfortable with you. Not the clown part."

"Ha-ha-ha, very funny..." she mocked, rolling her eyes a little bit.

Her arms snaked around me, and her eyes softened as she stared at my lips. My gaze dropped to her full lips, then back up at her gorgeous dark eyes.

“I’m really glad I met you,” she whispered.

I almost choked up. I had to tell her who I was. She deserved to know.

Just not yet. I wanted this to last just a little longer.

“I’m really glad I met you, too, Princess.”

CHAPTER 18

Romeo

The night before felt like a literal dream. A dream surrounded by people pretending to be psychotic clowns and ax-murderers, but also with Ivy Jade right next to me, holding my hand as we lazily walked around the park and looked for her rings. Kind of. Barely.

I hadn’t been getting much sleep. Staying at the Scare Park each night until after eleven, then driving back to the chateau, then being so wired that I couldn’t close my eyes, then waking up early for the wedding festivities—it was a lot. But so fucking worth it because I got to see her.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes as I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water pour down my skin. My hands pressed against the tile, and I glanced down at the tattoos that covered my arms. Ivy Jade had seen these on High Jynx, but not Ro. If I rolled up my sleeves at all during the day, she’d know. I hated that I had to hide parts of myself from her because it was basically lying to her.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how deep this was going and how much I was keeping from her. I was lying about who I was, and, worse, making her come to the park each night to look for rings I already had. Would she hate me once she found out the truth? If I couldn’t even be honest about this, how could she ever trust me again?

I was getting to know a side of Ivy Jade I never knew existed, and maybe she’d be sympathetic to the way I felt. She treated Ro like shit at first, but she gave High Jynx a chance. Maybe she could give Ro a second chance, too.

Maybe I’ll just tell her now before this goes even further.

Fuck. No. I can’t.

I pulled on my black jeans, hoodie, and Vans after running my hands through my hair to make it look presentable. I couldn’t remember what the wedding activity of the day was, but honestly, I’d go spend the day listening to nails on a chalkboard if it meant being next to Ivy Jade.

I found my way downstairs, wandering the vast chateau grounds. I never thought I’d be in a place like this, let alone stay at said place, so I was trying to take it all in. The walls were filled with Renaissance art, and the hallway was lined with long, fancy Persian rugs. The little brochure in the room stated the place also had a swimming pool, bar, gym, garden, and library.

The library was the only thing that really piqued my interest, and since I seemed to be the only person in the wedding party who was on time, I continued past the foyer in search of it.