Page 92 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

She stared out the window for a moment, then turned her head, giving me a warm smile.

“I like that you call me that.”

I gave her hand a small squeeze, returning the smile. Truth be told, I was nervous as hell. Meeting her family again—this time as a couple—changed the dynamic of my whole relationship with the Castellanos. I wanted to play it cool for Ivy Jade. She needed some support right now.

By the time we made it back to the chateau, the reception was in full swing. We had to have been at least two hours late. Music blasted from the speakers, and hundreds of people in costumes roamed the Gothic, Halloween-themed space, goblets in their hands, laughter spilling in every direction.

I led Ivy Jade up to where the wedding party’s tables were, and where Tallulah and Gustav’s names were lit up in neon letters above a black-ribboned arch. Some of the party sat at their tables, fully dressed as vampires, Wednesday Addams, witches, and demons.

I couldn’t imagine the heart attack Mrs. Castellanos must have had seeing all of this.

“Romeo, that you, man?” Gustav’s voice called out, and I turned to find him in his black suit, along with a top hat and skeleton makeup.

I gave him a pat on the shoulder as he approached us.

“Congratulations, Gusty,” I said, giving him a small side hug.

“Thanks, man! Glad you made it.” He turned to Ivy Jade, then looked down at mine and his sister’s hands that were interlaced together.

“Followed my advice?” he asked her with a knowing grin. “You’re wise to listen to your much smarter older brother.”

She snorted a laugh and then raised her free hand in the air.

“How did you know it was Ro?!” she asked her brother. “Am I really that oblivious?”

Gustav looked between us. “Huh?”

“I’ll explain it later, man. Where’s the wife?”

“Tallulah!” Ivy Jade exclaimed, waving her hand in the other direction behind us.

She caught Tallulah’s attention, and the bride came towards us, shocked but with delight clear across her face.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry I missed the ceremony,” Ivy Jade said, letting go of my hand to wrap her arms around her.

“Oh, babe, it’s okay!” she responded, kissing her cheek.

“And congratulations to Mrs. Gustav Phillium Castellanos!” Ivy Jade squealed.

Tallulah’s eyes creased as her laughter hit. Gustav was beet red. “Phillium?” she said.

“Ivy-fucking-Jade!” Gustav said. “I can’t believe you⁠—”

And Tallulah interrupted his scolding with a smack of a kiss. “Shut up. I love you.”

Honestly, so much had gone down tonight, it was hard to keep up with.

They pulled away from each other, and Ivy Jade turned back to me.

“This was the hot clown I was talking about,” she proudly announced.

I ran a hand through my hair, unable to conceal the stupid grin that crossed my face. Getting compliments from Ivy Jade was going to take some getting used to.

Tallulah’s mouth dropped open as she gasped. “Romeo?! Romeo was your hot clown?!”

Ivy Jade turned to me, once again shocked that someone could possibly recognize me like this.

“He was my hot clown all along,” she finally responded, as if that explanation was enough, not taking her eyes off me.