Page 49 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

“Am not!”

“Yes, you are! It’s okay to try things with someone who looks ‘unconventional.’ The man makes money from what I hear. I’m surprised that he and his girlfriend broke up. She’s crazy to let him go. That reminds me… where have you been these last few nights?”

Drastic subject change. My heart dropped out of my stomach.

“Nowhere. I’ve been nowhere.”

“As if. You have been running out early from the nightly activities.”

“I thought I was relieved from them. Remember?” I pulled back my long sleeve and showed her my healing pink scrapes and bruises along my arm.

“Okay, you’re right! I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d really be ditching out. After all, you chickened out of the haunted house; you didn’t finish it!”

“Don't be such a bitch,” I said, then clasped my mouth with my hands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it⁠—”

“I like this new Ivy Jade,” Tallulah remarked. “She’s feisty… in a good way.”

I let out a small gasp. “As opposed to…”

She smiled. “Let’s meet with everyone outside for lunch. The caterers are here, and they have a lot of food. Let’s not make them wait!” She hooked her arm into mine as we made our way through the crowds of groups.

“Have you noticed the best man hasn’t been hanging around with us at night? I bet that’s upsetting for Gustav. Leo was saying he may be coming back,” I overheard one of the men say as we walked by to get outside.

I hadn’t talked to Gustav about the wedding much. What was Romeo up to? He seemed to get along well with everyone. Was he hiding out in the library?

CHAPTER 20

Romeo

The entire wedding party sat outside the chateau where the caterers had set up lunch. I had to hand it to Tallulah and Gustav—they had some really cool decor for the meal: long tables were covered in black tablecloths, candelabras were spread in the middle, and skulls and black roses were peppered throughout. We each sat in what felt like Gothic thrones, and we drank out of huge goblets that could hold an entire bottle of wine.

But I didn’t drink—I couldn’t. I had to get to the Scare Park by 6 p.m., and I hoped Ivy Jade would be there at some point. I talked with a friend about setting up a little surprise, and I wanted to show it to her.

We had spent the afternoon stealing glances at each other. She would sneak a look over her shoulder, and I’d tune out whoever I was talking to, locking my eyes with hers. At one point, we’d stared at each other for so long that I felt like marching over to her, cradling her neck in my hand and leaning down to hungrily press my lips to hers.

Would she have liked that? Maybe not in public, but if I had done it in the library, I felt like maybe something like that could’ve happened. I mean… she was into me, wasn’t she? There was no doubt we were flirting in the library, and I was desperate to somehow get her back in there.

By the time lunch ended, everyone was either tipsy and heading to their rooms to nap or getting ready for the nighttime festivities. Gustav knew I had my nighttime gig, and he didn’t question what it was or where I was going, so I waved goodbye as he and Tallulah happily mingled with their friends.

I had spent a few hours skidding and running across the park, scaring the shit out of people, when I saw her.

Ivy Jade was dressed casually again in her jeans, sweater, and cute little sneakers. Even outside of her designer dresses and six-inch heels, she was beautiful. Although I was sure she’d look beautiful in a potato sack.

She was sitting on one of the park benches, waiting for me. She smiled and waved as I walked over to her, trying my best to be casual when really I was so fucking glad to see her.

“Hey,” I said, then sat down next to her, still catching my breath from one of my scares.

“Hey, clown.” She tilted her head as she looked over at me. “Successful night so far?”

“Oh yeah,” I said boastfully, though not quite seriously. “I’ve scared hundreds of people tonight.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Your job is totally weird… but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t growing on me.”

It was probably the sweetest thing I ever heard her say, but it made me a little uncomfortable whenever she brought up jobs or money. I knew she didn’t mean it in any bad way, but I guess I was just projecting my insecurities about it.

“I’m guessing there’s no news on the rings, right?” she asked. She used to sound nervous when asking me that question, but now she was calm and accepting.

“Nothing in the lost and found bin, and the workers sealed up the ditch today. They checked it twice and didn't see anything. I'm confident they're still hiding somewhere in this park.”