Page 167 of Brazen Mistakes

“Of course. What kind of asshole do you think I am?”

I stifle my laugh. “I take it there’s a meeting?”

“Yeah. We have to pick out the jewelry. For that red dress we got, too.”

“I wonder what it looks like.”

“Summer said it washerdress, whatever that means. But it’s apparently inappropriate for tonight. I still don’t know why I bought it.”

“To spoil her?”

He grunts, staring at his shoes. “A meeting about jewelry.”

“If you told people the meeting’s in here, I’m sitting on the only chair.”

“No. I was checking in. The meeting’s in the attic. It’s the only room with enough chairs that isn’t the living room, and I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

The idiot likes Clara too damn much, but ever since he shared his past with her, they’ve both been careful around each other. Like one wrong step will have them catapulted into the flames of hell. Not for the first time, I consider digging into the Westerhouse family. With Clara going to their home turf tonight, I finally have a good enough reason for it.

“Duty done. Let’s head up,” I say.

Not five minutes later, the four of us meet in the main sitting area, Walker taking drink orders, Trips asking for a beer that he spins in his fingers rather than drink. Jansen is the last one up, a stack of books in his arms. He lays them all out on the coffee table, fiddling with the unlocking mechanisms and pulling out the collection of earrings, bangles, and watches he snatched the other night.

“Can I take photos of them to start the search before we give them to Clara?” I ask, happy for another occasion to use my skills for good.

“Snap away,” Trips says, like it’s his job to give me the okay.

I do what I said I would as the drinks are sorted, my Mountain Dew poured into a martini glass. I give Walker a look, but he grins. “Be a little bit extra for once, RJ.”

Shaking my head, I sit next to Jansen, a neon lime-green martini glass’ tiny stem in my fingers.

The rest of the guys debate the jewels, Jansen ducking out of the argument long before Walker and Trips come to a conclusion. He sits cross-legged beside me, his head tilted all the way back, the ceiling still decked out in black and gold, Christmas lights scattered throughout. A reminder that New Year’s was only a few days ago. And that things have been so chaotic that the room is still unchanged.

He leaps up as the conversation winds down, bolting to one side of the room, only returning with the mask Walker made for me in his hands. “Your mask,” he says, handing it to me.

What he thinks I’m going to do with it is anyone’s guess. “Thanks.”

“We should all wear our masks some night. Take some pictures.”

I never know what’s going to come out of this guy’s mouth. “Like, a roommate photoshoot? That’s a little weird, Jay.”

“Not a sexy photoshoot. Get your mind out of the gutter, RJ.” He smacks my arm, then squints. “Although now that you mention it, that could be a lot of fun.” He seems to shake the thought away. “No, I was just thinking we could record a memory. All of us, decked out in these cool masks, like we should have been on Tuesday night. We can get matching Clara kisses, too, not just Walker and me. What do you think?”

He looks so hopeful, and it’s obvious that he hasn’t been feeling right since Chicago. Less urgent than Clara’s swiftdecline, but still there. Still concerning. “You know what, sure. I’m in.”

“Cool. Next week, before we clean up the room.”

Walker’s smug smile says he’s game. “A commemoration of you all wearing my art? I’ll be there.”

Trips grumbles, but nods. “Fine. But I’m not staying for more than fifteen minutes. Know what you want before you start, Jay.”

I look over the jewelry selections, that clench in my chest back full force. What am I missing? Something about photos seems important, but I can’t figure it out.

Trips stands up. “I’m getting ready. We’ll head out soon. And be back as early as we’re allowed on Sunday.”

“You sound like a kid asking for permission from his mom to go out,” Walker teases. “I’m not your mom.”

Trips rolls his eyes and leaves the room.

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