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“You—um, you don’t have to. I don’t want to… I mean, I wasn’t planning on starting with that.”
“Best to get everything out in the open,” I say.
Aaron chuckles. “Hey, I’m happy to knock Colton down a peg. Is he your ex or something?”
“Something like that,” Haven says. “You’re okay with this? You don’t want to, like, hang out a bit first?”
Aaron shrugs. “We can do that. You seem cool. A couple of us were gonna head to the basement. There’s a pool table and some other games down there. Wanna join?”
Haven brightens at the idea. Makes sense—she’s never struck me as the type of person who fucks random strangers often, even if her plans tonight say otherwise.
“That sounds great.” Haven turns to Athelia. “You wanna join?”
“Yeah, sur—”
“Actually,” I say, “I have something I think you’ll wanna see. It’s upstairs. Off limits to most, but we can make an exception.”
Athelia narrows her eyes. “Where upstairs?”
“The turret. It’s my room.”
“So youarethe hosts,” she says quietly, almost like she doesn’t mean for anyone to hear.
I smile behind my mask. After we threw Colton and his friends out, it only makes sense that she’d at least suspect that we’re the masterminds behind the party.
Athelia turns to Aaron and asks, “You know him?”
Aaron nods. “Yeah. He’s not gonna kill you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
My hand returns to Athelia’s waist, sliding around her until it rests on the small of her back. Her eyes flutter closed at the simple touch, and I take it as the go-ahead to tug her closer to me.
“Just to… look at things?” Athelia asks.
“Yeah. Like Aaron said, I’m not gonna kill you.”
I’ll just make you wish I would.
“Okay,” she says. I don’t think she even realizes that she’s leaning into me again. “But Haven, you’re still dr—”
“I know what I’m doing,” Haven says. “Colton fucking deserves it, and so do I.”
Athelia looks worried, but Aaron is already tugging her back toward the house. She watches Haven until she’s out of sight before turning to me. “You wanted to show me something?”
Sliding my hand in hers, I say, “Follow my lead.”
Athelia’s steps are hesitant as I pull her into the house again. As we walk through the hallway to the stairs, she ducks her head so no one can see her face. That sends a wave of giddiness through me. What does she think we’re going to do that she needs to hide?
At least she’s got the right idea.
Athelia grips the dark banister as we head upstairs. At the top of the steps, Barrett steps to the side to let us through. It sounds stupid to guard up here, but we like our privacy, and people get curious.
“Text the others,” I tell him as we pass by, satisfied by his silent nod.
Now that we’re away from the party, Athelia lifts her head. She hasn’t said a word since we entered the house, but now she lets out an appreciative sound. Her gaze travels across the ornate wallpaper and the art we’ve hung up.
“Oh, what’s this?” She tugs me to a stop in front of a tall, black bookshelf. Most of it’s full of what you’d expect—books. But there are oddities and trinkets scattered across the shelves.
“What does it look like,ma belle?”
