Page 207 of Sorrow & Strangers

“Our demon baby is an idiot,” Alice says, looking at me over her shoulder.

“The masquerade,” I remind him as I check on my deep-red lipstick.

“Oh, that’s tonight?”

Holy fuck, was sex with Red so good that it turned his brain to mush?

Alice jumps up and smacks him on the back of the head. “Moron.”

“Don’t you want to see your fiery redhead?” I ask.

“How do you know she’ll be there?” Rafe frowns, but I notice how he stands a bit straighter, his interest piqued.

“Because she’s alive and probably likes fun,” Alice says, smacking his head again. “Unlike you.”

Rafe looks between us, and I can see his desire to see her. “You swear she’ll be there?”

“Holy shit, Rafe. What did she say when she left your sex-a-thon?” I ask.

“W-what?” he asks, flushing scarlet.

I roll my eyes and sigh. “What was the plan for tonight?”

“Plan?” Rafe asks, his cheeks still burning.

“To see Red?” I ask slowly.

Alice shakes her head and spins him around, pushing him into his room. “Get dressed before you make me cry with your stupidity.”

“Wait,” I say, stopping Alice from closing his door. “Rafe, in all seriousness, were you not wanting to see her tonight?”

“What? Of course I do! I just figured I’d run into her again?”

Typical male.

“Just by chance? In your bedroom?” I say, rubbing my temples and mumbling curses under my breath. “You should have asked Connor for lessons before he died.”

Alice has lost patience and is now fully inside Rafe’s room, rifling through his closet.

“Lessons?” he asks, casting a wary eye toward Alice.

“In the art of seduction.”

Rafe scrunches his nose. “From Con?” he asks, and then yelps when Alice yanks down his sweats, stripping him to his boxers. Before he has a chance to protest further, she wraps the most modest loincloth she brought around his waist. It’s tartan, and I believe it’s supposed to be a kilt, but slutty.

Rafe’s eyes are wide, like he isn’t quite sure what is happening. “Is this really necessary?” he asks.

“Shut up,” Alice replies, lifting his arms to strap a breastplate over his chest.

“Can we go?” I ask as Alice puts the final touches on his outfit and slips a mask over his eyes. “You’re not the only person meeting someone, Rafael,” I say, touching up my lipstick nervously.

“Right, your stranger,” he says and rolls his eyes, checking himself in the mirror, but then Alice is ushering us all out of the room. I hurry ahead, and I am standing at the elevator before they are halfway down the corridor. Smoothing my hands over my outfit, I check myself in the reflective doors. I’m wearing my highest heels, and I know he’s still going to tower over me.

Alice chuckles as I push repeatedly at the button. “Can’t stand between Summer and her stranger.”

I flip her off over my shoulder and press the button again. Damn, this elevator is slow.

“We’ve barely seen her since we got here,” Alice chides as the elevator doors open and we step inside.