Page 75 of Playing Flirty

With those words, he washed his hands and then prepared Shaun’s cup of tea.

With syrup.

Round 25

Without thinking, I followed William out to the balcony and silently watched him deliver Shaun’s tea while willing the blood in my body to return to my brain. William had left me dumbfounded and useless in a way I’d never experienced before, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever recover.

“Dad RSVPed no, by the way,” Shaun told William. “My mom said he’s got some medical conference.”

William nodded; the joy I had seen in his eyes a moment ago was replaced by pain and then almost immediately with relief. “Well, great.”

Shaun attempted a smile. “Yeah, guess so.” Changing the subject, he turned his attention to me. “Have you decided what you’re wearing to the office party?”

I searched into the depths of my being for a coherent thought. The year-end party meant nothing to me right now when all I wanted was to join a cult dedicated to William’s mouth.

“I don’t know,” I eventually managed as I sat down next to Neema, afraid if I sat next to William I would implode.

“You’re the only reason we have office parties. Plus it’s where I first met Neema, thanks to you.” He looked at Neema with all the love in his eyes I’d come to expect.

“I haven’t had time to get a costume. And I RSVP’d with a plus-one, and I don’t want to go alone because…” I didn’t have to finish my sentence. Shaun knew exactly how I felt around Mr. Markham. He also knew that Patrick had always been my plus-one.

And despite my mother’s warning, Patrick had not reached out. I checked all my social media accounts and my three email addresses. He hadn’t called or texted. Nothing.

“Take William,” Neema said, pulling me out of my thoughts. Her eyes met mine in a way that had me questioning her motives.

Maybe I was imagining it or being paranoid.

“I know for a fact he has a Batman costume.” She laughed. “One day he wore it around the house for no reason.”

“It was expensive, and I was having a bad day.” William laughed and turned to me. “Would be nice to put it to use. I haven’t cosplayed in a while, and you won’t be alone.”

He said “alone” knowingly—protectively—and I let out a breath, still recovering from what he’d done to me, for me, moments ago.

“Plus we could easily throw together a Catwoman costume for you,” Neema said. “I’m sure you have a black turtleneck and boots, and I know you have leather pants. We can make a mask—she wears, like, an eye mask, right?”

“And the cat ears!” Shaun added.

“I have cat ears, of course,” I said.

“I’m more interested in the leather pants.” William grinned, flashing his dimple.

“They were for aGrease-themed party.” My cheeks reddened at the way he looked at me. Like he hadn’t had enough. Like he may never have enough. I stood and walked over to the railing, creating more distance between us.

William laughed again. “Of course they were.”

“Oh, you’re one to talk,” Shaun teased, leaning back and wrapping an arm around Neema. “You have, what? Four or five costumes at the back of your closet?”

“I bet Rose has more,” William said, his eyes playing with me.

“Oh my goodness. She’s got one closet entirely dedicated to costumes, and a good percentage of her day-to-day clothing is costume-inspired.” Neema pointed at my outfit. “Like this dress.”

I leaned against the railing. “Why am I being roasted?”

“We both dressed up as Captain Hook for the Fun at Sea–themed party,” Shaun said. “Although hers was far more authentic than mine.”

I rolled my eyes.

“What else?” Shaun bit on his lips while thinking. “I remember a few superheroes…”

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