Page 90 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

She shook her head quickly. “Not yet. But I don’t care. I will never make her happy, no matter what I do. I need to prioritize myself, Romeo, and I want to be with you.”

Fuck. My heart swelled, and I pushed back the lump in my throat, trying not to let my emotions take over.

“And Antonio?”

She shrugged. “I think he'll be happy to know that Mami will no longer be his mother-in-law.”

Who wouldn’t be? I thought.

Just then, another scare actor sat next to my booth, right where Ivy Jade and I were having the most important conversation of my life. He huffed out a sigh while pulling out his phone. I turned to grab my suit jacket and shrugged it on.

“Let’s go outside.” I took Ivy Jade’s hand and led her out into the cool Halloween night, the laughter and screams echoing in the distance.

Carefully, I led us back to where I had my breakdown the night before, the leaves crunching under our feet while the noise from the outside world quieted.

I reached my hand around her waist and pulled her close to me again, needing to feel her warmth against me, needing to know this was real and not some cruel dream that would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Out from the trees, we could see a group of clowns marching through the street, bloodied in tuxedos. Ivy Jade rested her head on my chest and smiled at them.

“I love that you do this,” she said lovingly, sounding amazed. “I love that you found something you’re passionate about and that you chased your dream.”

“That’s good to hear… I think most women would just see me as a clown running around and scaring people for a living.”

“So what? At least you have an impact on the world around you… And honestly, that’s who I fell in love with first. The man in the mask following his ambitions. But that’s not all you are. You’re so smart, and sensitive, and sweet, and protective. You make me feel safe and loved. You bring out the best in me.”

I squeezed her tighter, bringing a hand to her cheek and brushing a strand of hair from her face. Ivy Jade made me feel the same way, and her validation meant everything. It wasn’t because she was a rich girl who saw my worth, but because she was a woman whose opinion I valued more than anything in the world. How she saw me through her eyes was all that mattered. It gave me more meaning than any dream could.

“And to think I’d ever want to have sex with a clown…” Ivy Jade tsked sarcastically, still watching the tail end of the tuxedoed clowns leave our view. “You made quite the impression on me, High Jynx.”

“I still don’t feel good about hiding that…” I cringed.

Ivy Jade lifted her chin, looking off into the distance. “I mean, it’s very morally questionable.” She smirked, laughing to herself. “But if there’s anything I’ve learned from reading ‘Unmasking My Bright Knight,’ it’s that a pinch of bad behavior does wonders for the sex.”

I laughed. She was being too gracious. “Well, the sex is pretty fucking amazing,” I added.

Ivy Jade snapped my suspenders. “Seriously. Don’t feel bad. I’m the one who wanted to fuck the Scare Park entertainer and Romeo Scott on the same night. Come to think of it, you both felt the same.”

I pressed my hips closer to hers, feeling her heat. “A part of me feels horrible. But truthfully, I don’t think I could stop myself if I had to do it all over again. I had to take what was mine, Princess.”

Ivy Jade smiled at that—her contagious, megawatt smile—then wrapped both arms around me under my jacket, her fingertips gently grazing along my back. Her face pressed against my chest, and I kissed the top of her hair, closing my eyes, feeling peace for the first time since… maybe ever.

“You know I’ll always accept you. Whatever you want to do in life, I’ll support it,” Ivy Jade whispered.

“All I’ve ever wanted was to feel accepted and to be loved for who I am.” I looked down at her, cherishing the sight of her dark, gorgeous eyes. “The same goes for you. You’re free now, Ivy Jade. You can do whatever you want…”

“I guess I never had to think of it until now,” she giggled nervously, like the weight of the possibilities was surrounding her in real time. They were endless and vast, just like her potential. From this angle, her face was lit by the bright full moon high in the sky. It was poetic and surreal, and I couldn’t help but think of the perfect quote from Bram Stoker.

"There are darknesses in life, and there are lights; you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.”

She raised her brows. “Dracula?”

I chuckled, surprised. She really was more secretive than I thought.

“I thought you didn’t like horror?”

She tilted her head and smiled. “Turns out I do. I’ve been spending a little more time in that library than you’ve realized.”

“You do love to read…” I leaned down, cupping her face with my hands. She was absolutely obsessed with reading. I saw the book bag she carried around twenty-four seven. I paused and thought of it more carefully. “Maybe there’s something there for you.”