Page 19 of Beneath the Sapphire Sky

Max Jameson’s Halloween party was tonight. She’d been looking forward to the opportunity for a little cosplay for months. It was one of the highlights of her year. The Spotted Cow would be packed to overflowing, locals and tourists getting in on the action. No one was permitted through the doors unless they were in full costume.

Belle nodded and heaved her bag onto the bed. Dante set his down next to it.

“What costume did you end up going with?”

She loved seeing what he came up with each year. She loved it even more if it was tight.

He unzipped the bag and pulled out a plastic hanging bag, tags still showing. Belle laughed and shook her head.

“You haven’t even looked to see if it fits, have you?”

Dante grinned and shrugged. “It’ll be right.” He peered over her shoulder as she pulled her own costume out.

Belle held up the glittering, bright purple PVC suit. “What do you think?”

Dante’s eyes widened. “I think that’s awesome.”

Belle held it against herself and nodded. “I’ve tried it on, unlike some people. But I will need you to zip it up for me. The zip is at the back and I can’t quite get it. You have to hold the sides together then zip.”

Dante nodded and turned it around. The bright overhead lights caught the glint of the glitter embedded throughout the whole catsuit. A long tail swung from the base of the zip.

He shook his head, laughing. “You even have a tail. That’s insane.”

Belle pulled a matching pair of cat ears in the same colour and material from her bag. “Don’t forget ears. I have ears, too. And a mask.”

Belle reached for Dante’s costume. He’d been incredibly cagey about what he’d chosen. She unzipped the clothing bag.

“Ooooh!”

“Cool, hey?”

Belle laughed and took the costume out carefully. She held it up in front of him. “Aquaman? The Batman-Superman movie, yeah?”

Dante nodded, pleased she’d picked it. “Coolest costume ever.”

Indeed. She glanced over his body, currently covered by jeans and a loose T-shirt. While not quite as tall as the actor who’d played Aquaman, and not as muscular, Dante would certainly fill the costume out nicely.

A little too nicely for her own comfort.

She squinted and pretended to think about it. “I don’t know. You’re a bit too scrawny to be—”

Dante tackled her to the bed. She squealed and laughed. “Take that back. Scrawny, my ass.”

Belle couldn’t stop laughing at the affront on his face. “That was far too easy, Dan. You wind up so easy.”

He shoved up off her and grabbed his costume. He pointed at her. “Just for that, I’m not helping you into that plastic straight jacket of yours.”

Belle pushed up on her elbows, her legs hanging over the end of the bed, still chuckling. “Oh, come on. It wasn’tthatupsetting.Ithought it was funny.”

He didn’t try to hide his smile. “Shut up. I’m using the bathroom first.”

Belle grabbed the baby powder from her open suitcase and her costume and bolted for the bathroom. She slammed the door shut and locked it just as Dante hit the door with his fist.

“Ladies first.”

A muffledharrumph, and mumbled words she couldn’t catch made her grin wider.

“Don’t make me come back out there.”

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