Page 64 of Your Masked Haunting

In another universe, I would be an incredible businesswoman. I look hot, just weird. Brett and Peyton both tried to convince me to be myself, but I shut that shit down immediately because no. I’ll sprinkle my real self in over time, so it’s less of a culture shock for the powerful Ridleys.

My phone vibrates on the counter in front of me, and my heart flutters because there’s only one person it could be. My stomach flips like I’m a teenager talking to a cute boy for the first time. I want to vomit for being so pathetically obsessed with him and swoon, knowing that I have him.

Casper: You’re not in your room. Where’d you go? Should I stalk through the cameras and track you down? ;)

I want to see his reaction and not have it happen behind the cameras.

I’ll meet you up there! Stay there! On my way!

Casper: That’s a lot of exclamation points for you. Must be excited to see me

Always

This is usually the part where I’d throw up in my mouth if I were watching this from an outside point of view. But I’m not, and it’s true.

Casper: Sounds good. I’m hanging with baby girl

Pressing my lips together, I fight my smile from physically straining my cheeks. He called Penelope baby girl, like Derek does in Criminal Minds. I need to ask him if he's watched it all on repeat a thousand times like I have or if he’s seen the clips and put it together.

“Oh, he’s so in love with you.” Brett’s giddy voice tickles my ear as he looks down over my shoulder at my phone. “But one question: Where is your room?”

Shit.

I should lie. One hundred percent. But … Peyton and Brett are my friends, and if I trust anyone to have this secret, it’s them. Spinning in the chair, I face them both. But I steal a look around the room to make sure no one’s close enough to hear.

“I’ve been living in a hidden room on the third floor since I started working here.” Lay it out there—that’s the best method.

“I’m sorry. What?” Peyton scoffs in disbelief, and my heart sinks. I prepare for disappointment and the heartbreak that usually follows when I get close to people. “There’s a hidden room in here?”

“Oh my God. Show us!” Brett demands, excitement in his eyes. “I want a hidden room.”

“Wait.” I take a breath. “You guys aren’t going to tell Clara or anything? You’re not freaked out that I’ve been living here?”

Both of their faces frown.

Peyton responds, “Are you kidding? No, we’d never do that to you. Besides, what’s Clara going to do—tell her boss, who’s your soon-to-be sister-in-law?”

I chuckle, feeling light as a feather. In a way, she’s got a point. Casper would protect me however and whenever, but I don’t want him to ever think I’m using him for position or money.

“Come on.” Brett grabs my hand and helps me up, my legs a little wobbly in the kitten heels I’m borrowing. Honestly, if Peyton and I had more similar style, I would be robbing her closet all the time because we share the same size in everything. “To the third floor we go.”

A nervous giggle leaves me. “You guys are coming up?”

Peyton hooks her arm in mine. “Of course we are. Someone has to threaten him about hurting you.”

“Oh, trust me, even if I hurt him, he would love it.” I laugh as Brett’s arm finds my other one.

They continue to gush about Casper, me, and me and Casper all the way up to the third floor. At the top of the staircase, I pull us left toward my room.

Brett tries stopping at the door on the left, trying the locked doorknob with no success.

“No, that’s not my room.” I laugh, dropping their arms and walking over to the sconce, pressing the button. My door pops out of the lock, and they gasp in unison. “This is ... ”

I shift the door open another inch. “Warning,” I announce. “I brought … friends.”

Peyton and Brett are practically vibrating behind me as I push the door open, letting all three of us slip inside before shutting the door.

When my eyes land on him, I suddenly wish I hadn’t brought them up here because this moment with just Casper and me would’ve been magical. But maybe learning to share the favorite parts of our lives with others is the whole point. Making connections, opening yourself up—while terrifying, it makes life, life. The broken friendships and shattered hearts that led me here was all worth it.