Page 68 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

The long-awaited pumpkin carving activity was finally here, and nobody was more excited than Tallulah herself. She shrieked as she went around hugging everyone, showing them where the pumpkin barrels were. I loved that she was such a spritely goth. The cheerleader in her hadn’t fully left.

Her team of coordinators had been putting up each event every day, and today’s festivities were just as spectacular as the last. They put out the same table they had for the wine tasting, except this time it was decorated with brass carving tools and skulls. Everything was handmade, stretched along the massive table, decorated with bright orange flowers and crystalline pitchers of spiked apple cider.

I spotted Ro near Gustav. The two of them seemed to be having a good time. However, not as good a time as he and I had just a few short hours ago. Romeo literally blew my mind. I woke up with a melted brain this morning. So fresh, relaxed, and like I had conquered the whole world. My entire body felt so damn good. The only thing that didn’t feel so great was the guilt that overcame me.

High Jynx and Romeo in the same night? Technically, I had them on different nights. I’d prefer to think of it that way. Both men were incredible, but the kitchen sex with Romeo was different. Yes, it was top tier, but it was also… more meaningful. It was surreal to admit, and it stayed with me throughout the morning and to this very moment. My entrance warmed just thinking about how incredible his tongue was as he licked me.

Romeo finally looked my way as I walked toward him, and he flashed me a spectacular smile. My heart couldn’t take how sexy, hot, and confident he was.

“There she is!” my brother said as I approached them.

I pursed my lips, looking at Romeo before I answered Gustav. “I’m right here. You and Tal having a great time?” I said with my hand on my hip.

Gustav looked between Romeo and me, and when I looked at Romeo, his eyes were glued to mine.

“Ivy Jade,” Romeo said with this air of sincerity, but also like he’d been just as happy about what we did as I was. “It’s good to see you… again.”

It was quiet for a few seconds, and between those seconds of gazing into one another, nobody else existed until my brother opened his big dumb mouth.

“Is this like a thing now?” Gustav pointed between us, ignoring what I said earlier.

I shook my head. “No, no, of course not. I can tolerate him now. That’s all.” I smiled at Ro. “Are you ready to carve a pumpkin, best man?” I bit the corner of my lip.

Romeo chuckled, threading his fingers through his hair.

“Okay, I’m outta here; you two are weird!” Gustav yelled as he left and met up with Tallulah at the table.

“Don’t mind him,” I said. “He’s just being Gustav.”

“I remember your dynamic very well,” he said.

“And I remember our dynamic…” I winked at him. I loved this new version of ourselves, this barrier broken down between us. After all those years of crushing on him, then hating him, I never thought we would be here together, wishing he’d take me once again.

Romeo always looked good; he didn’t even have to try. His thick waves were slicked back, and he wore black jeans and a black denim pullover with a black shirt peeking out underneath. I drew closer to him, trying not to be obvious, discreetly hooking my pinky with his. I didn’t want wandering eyes shooting our way, but I also wanted to savor this moment, to feel like we were a couple.

“You look sensational in this dress,” Ro said, leaning in. “And you smell fantastic.”

“I was just thinking how great you look.” I batted my eyes at him.

He looked down at his checkered black and white Vans. “This? You like my outfit?”

“It’s growing on me, dork,” I said, teasing. “But surprisingly, yes. It’s actually really cute.”

“Ivy Jade, calling my outfit cute? You must be sleep-deprived.”

“A small price to pay for something better than dreams.” I leaned in and whispered right in his ear, “And though I think it's cute, I'd much rather see you without any of it.”

“Don’t tempt me, Ivy Jade…” he said, his tone blending from a taunt to something more seductive. “You keep joking like that, and we’re going to have a bigger mess than these pumpkins.”

“A mess? Hmmm. I’m starting to learn that I don’t mind a little bit of filth…”

“I fucking knew it…” He held a tight-lipped smile, our pinkies squeezing together like two little crabs on a beach.

Oh my god, were we cute together? I’d read ‘Unmasking My Bright Knight’ plenty of times, and all the signs of romance were around us. Kissing. Passion. Coded language and lingering glances. Maybe this was it! I didn’t need a Roman Knight. What I needed all along was a Romeo Scott.

I felt like some lovestruck idiot, following by his side as we looked through the various barrels with pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors. We finally decided on a very traditional fat pumpkin with a big round face to carve. This time around, instead of sitting opposite the bride and groom, we decided to sit together at the table.

“I like what I’m seeing!” Tallulah said, laughing and leaning over to look at us. I checked over my shoulder and saw her and my brother egging us on, all excited.