Page 26 of The Fallen Ones

“You’re so odd,” she said with a laugh, grabbing her jacket off a hook by the door and stepping out to greet me. I smiled at her and took notice how close her body was to mine. I nearly broke and reached for her, but I snapped out of it and took a step away to put distance between us.

“So, costume shop and dinner?” I asked as she fell in step with me. I knew this was the plan since I’d texted her to see what she was up to today. I knew I had to get Damien’s devil costume request in and since I knew she still hadn’t gotten a costume, this seemed like the best way to do it. Unfortunately, it also reminded me of the last time I’d gone into a costume shop with her and how close I’d been to sealing the deal.

We hadn’t spoken of it since. Not even a hint of it. It was like it had never happened at all.

I found that troubling for reasons I really didn’t want to explore.

“Yes.”

We made it out to my car, and I opened the door for her. She slid onto the seat of my Buick, and I closed her in and went to my side and got in.

I started the engine and glanced at her. “Any ideas on what you want to be for Halloween?”

“Invisible?” She let out a nervous laugh and twisted her fingers into her lap as I pulled into the street.

“Why invisible?”

She shrugged and looked out her window. “I don’t know, Caleb. I’m sort of back and forth on this party thing. Shouldn’t losing your virginity be special? Shouldn’t it be with someone you love or at least like a little bit? This whole idea just seems dumb, especially when I couple it with the fact I’ve sworn off those feelings?”

“Have you though, Lil bit?” I asked gently, glancing at her again. She looked so sad as she sat in her seat, her fingers tugging at a loose string on her sweater.

She frowned at my question before staring out the window again. We drove in silence for a long time before she finally decided to answer my question.

“I-I don’t know. I want to be normal, but then I see this ugly memory on repeat in my head of my mom whenever I think I’m coming around to falling for someone.” She sighed. “I guess I don’t know. Maybe this party will help.” She gave me meek look. “Or it’ll be another awful experience to add to my list.”

“This experience is going to rock your world,” I said fiercely as I put the car into park at the store. “I know it will.”

A smile teased her plump lips. “Why are you so positive?”

“Because. I’ve had sex many times just to do it. It’s a great feeling, especially when you know there’s no strings attached.” I came up with my answer quickly, really hoping I didn’t fuck up by saying no strings attached. All I wanted to do was bind Lily in as many strings as I could and keep her at my side for eternity.

“I just hope I don’t suck,” she said with a weak laugh.

I took her hand in mine and stared into her pretty eyes. “Lily, you’re perfect. You were made to love and be loved. I wish you could understand that.”

She stared back at me for a moment before we both instinctively leaned closer to one another.

“Promise?” she whispered, her warm breath feathering across my lips.

“With everything I am.”

Fuck it. Just kiss her. Make your move. Do it. Fucking do it…

A horn blared out from behind us, making her jerk away from me. I let out a soft curse, my pulse thundering in my ears. Slowly, I eased away and let out a breath. Staring out the window, I sat there for a moment trying to collect myself before Lily’s soft voice broke through my tormented thoughts of her.

“We should go,” she said, clearing her throat.

“Right.” I opened my door and got out. She was already out of the car by the time I tried to round it to open her door for her.

She offered me a quick smile, her cheeks flushed. “Do you want to grab some pizza after? Or Chinese?”

“Either is fine,” I answered, hoping I sounded normal as I opened the door to the shop. She followed me in and quickly went to a costume rack.

“I don’t think being a sandwich is the way to go,” I said, smirking as she touched a costume which looked like a slice of bread with peanut butter on it.

“You’re right. It’s a couples’ costume.” She moved past it and went to look at bodysuits for cat costumes.

I watched her touch various costumes for a long time before I grabbed a red body con slip dress with cutouts along the sides. The dress left very little to the imagination, which was perfectly fine by me. Quickly, I grabbed a sparkly red mask along with a devil’s tail and horns headband with thigh high red high heel boots and approached her. If I could get her to wear this, Damien might not be such a prick the next time I saw him.

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