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Mona: You’re evil.
Max: I never said otherwise.
* * *
Grace flipsher blonde waves behind her shoulder and gives me a blinding smile when I open my door the next morning.
“Hey Max! Hope I’m not here too early.”
“Hi Grace, not at all. Thanks so much for doing this.”
“How could I say no? You just have to promise to tell me how she reacts. A surprise overnight trip to the beach…Wait, you’re not planning on murdering her, are you? Because I know where you live now.”
I laugh as she hands a tote bag over to me. “No murdering. Unless she murders me for not telling her about the trip ahead of time.”
“Nah, she’ll love it. It’s so romantic!” She beams at me like I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to Mona.
I smile back. If she knew what I actually had planned for the weekend, she wouldn’t think so highly of me. “Did she suspect anything?”
“No way. I had free rein in her bedroom while I pretended to be shy about showing her my costume. Meds, toiletries, cute clothes, and some other special fun stuff are all in there.”
“Perfect, thank you again. Can I get you some coffee or something before you go?” I hover in my doorway, silently hoping she’ll say no. Nothing against Grace. I’m just shit at small talk.
“Oh, you’re too sweet. I have to get to the office, as much as I’d love to spill all of Mona’s juicy secrets.”
“How about one secret before you head out?”
Grace laughs and her eyes sparkle with amusement. “I like you, Max. Hmm, a secret about Mona…oh! She’s kinkier than she looks. Not that she’d ever admit it. Just some food for thought.”
I wonder if she has any clue how accurate her statement is. My eyes widen in fake surprise. “Really?”
She winks at me and waves as she heads to her car. “Have fun!”
I smile and wave back before going back inside. I’m not sure she’d approve of the kind of fun I’m interested in getting up to with Mona this weekend. Lying to Grace about the trip feels bad, but telling her my actual plans was out of the question. Even I think it’s crazy. I’m terrified and exhilarated. I can only hope Mona feels the same way when the time comes to bring her fantasy to life.
24
“Ineed your help.”
“I thought that’s what I’m doing.” Blair gestures to the shiny fabric she’s stitching together with my ancient sewing machine, pausing so she can hear me without the mechanical whir. She agreed to help get started on Grace’s costume tonight without hesitation. I’m not sure if it’s because she enjoys my company or she wants to help Grace, but either way, I’m grateful for her help and company. Especially with the thoughts racing through my mind that have nothing to do with costumes.
It’s been less than a day since Max stopped texting, and I can’t stop wondering what’s in store for me tomorrow night. I know in my gut that I can trust him, but that doesn’t stop me from being more than a bit scared. My gut isn’t always right. Hence why I need Blair’s help. “No, I mean with Max.”
Blair narrows her eyes at me from across my kitchen table. Paired with the precise wing of her eyeliner, her glare makes me swallow hard.
“Not a fan of him, I take it,” I say with a nervous laugh, trying to make light of her intensity.
“I neither like nor dislike him.” Blair’s mouth downturns ever so slightly, which is practically her version of yelling she’s lying.
“Riiight. Care to explain your neutrality on Max?”
Blair sighs and pushes her chair away from the table, leaning back and crossing her arms. “That night we went to The Vault—you said that he withheld information from you.”
I’m unable to hold back my scoff. “You weren’t completely honest with me, either. He’s told me everything since then. You were there when he did.”
“Yes, but…” Blair’s stiletto nails dig into the flesh of her arms, like she’s trying to fight off an emotional reaction. I hold her gaze, unwilling to let the subject go. “I don’t want you to get hurt or to make the same mistakes I did. People tell on themselves through their actions. If he lied to you once, what’s to say that he isn’t still keeping things from you? Hiding is part of his job, and he’s a witch, so it would be easy for him to do it.”
She’s putting words to what the little voice in the back of my mind’s been telling me and a pang of dread clenches my stomach. Everything about Max seems perfect so far. A man like him wanting me with such intensity still creates cognitive dissonance, no matter what I try to tell myself about my worthiness. He might be using me for sex, but is that so bad when that’s what I asked him to do?
