Page 40 of The Game

The old school buzzer cuts through the poppy Halloween playlist I’ve got blasting as I dance around, tugging the skirt up over my hips. It’s snugger than my usual flowy skirts and comfy pants. I dance over to the speaker box and hit the button.

“Hey, Coffee Girl. It’s your boyfriend.” At least that’s what I think he’s saying through the crackly speaker. The boyfriend word has my cheeks heating. It’s not even real. Rein it in there.

“I’ll be a few more minutes. You can come up if you want.” I buzz him up, unlocking the door and hurrying back to grab my top before he gets here. My hot pink bra is cute, but not for the eyes of a fake boyfriend. It gives me a bit of a thrill, though, to think of what those rich, dark eyes of his would look like if they caught sight of me this way. Not happening. That would be a poor life decision. Right? Because I don’t need to lose myself in another man.

I haven’t even put all the pieces back together that Darryl tore apart. Some of them might be lost forever. I’m not the same person I was before him. My life has been split into two segments, and I need to move forward and figure out who I am now before I even think about letting another man in. No matter how delicious his arms are.

Shirt in place, I grab the crowning glory of my homemade costume. The magenta wig I carefully styled into a stiff long swoosh. I’m sure I’ll pay the price later when there are dozens, maybe hundreds of bodies packed into their house dancing the night away, but until then I’m going to enjoy it.

There’s a series of quick knocks on the door. Three short, two long and one more quick one.

“It’s open,” I call out, spinning around to face… a giant snuggly looking Charizard standing in my doorway.

The laughter shaking my shoulders probably ruins the bad ass pout I had going on to fit my character.

His eyes widen then drag down my body in a slow sweep, taking in every inch of my costume, but lingering on the bare strips of skin at my midriff and thighs. It’s not a particularlyrevealing costume compared to some of the ones I’ve seen worn around campus over the years. But it definitely reveals more skin than I do most days of the year. Especially around here in the fall and winter months.

“Wow.”

Pretty sure that’s a good wow.

“I’m both turned on and terrified by you.”

“Terrified?” My wig weighs down my head when I tilt it to the side.

“Obviously. Jessie is not nice to her Pokémon, you know, and hello.” He sweeps a clawed hand up and down his body.

Good point. Jessie of Team Rocket is not one of the good guys. Part of the fun of a Halloween costume. You get to be the villain for a day. But it’s only pretend.

“Don’t worry, Charizard. I won’t hurt you. I smirk at him.

He walks over until he’s mere inches away, the heat from his body causing that flush to return.

He reaches a hand up, and my eyes drift half closed as his finger runs along my temple. I’m almost panting at this innocent touch. It has been too long since I’ve been with a man. Way too long.

After tucking a stray strand of hair under my wig, he backs away, and I kind of wish he wouldn’t.

“Anything else you need to grab before we go?”

“Oh, yeah. Follow me.”

I put a bit more wiggle in my steps as I walk to the kitchen, knowing the tight white material is clinging to it. If I’m going to have to suffer through this unfulfilled lust, then you bet I’mgoing to make him suffer a little too, if it’s possible. If he’s even interested in me in that way.

There are two overflowing plastic bins in the kitchen.

“You’re bringing all of that with you?” Even as he questions me, he’s bending over to scoop up the bins, testing one, then the other before choosing the heaviest one to carry. “I know you said you were going to bring some stuff for the party, but I was not expecting this.”

Did I overstep? “I’m sorry. That one is decorations, and that one is food. It’s not my party. You guys have probably got it covered. I didn’t mean to…” My tongue can’t keep up with my brain, and I’m tripping over my words to get them out. I shake my head, dropping a hand to his forearm. “We don’t have to bring it.”

He straightens his back, looking at me from under the dark lock of hair that’s fallen in front of his eyes. His head tilts to the side. “It’s fine, Jazz. Of course I’ll bring your stuff. I just meant you didn’t have to. We’ve got some food and a pumpkin. I think Dev put up some lights. But I’m sure whatever is in these boxes is a thousand times better.”

It’s like he read my distress, and he’s going out of his way to reassure me. I jumped immediately to apologizing and backing down. Just like I would have if I slipped up and upset Darryl. But this is Cole. They’re not the same. Not even in the same sport, much less league.

“Oh, okay. Good.” My smile turns from a small one to a full-on grin again. Halloween vibes back on. “Because thatsounds lame. Halloween is the best time of the year. If I’m going to be stuck at the hockey house, I may as well make it perfect.”

“So, you’re stuck at the hockey house now. I would have taken you out if you wanted. If it’s such a hardship.” One side of his mouth is quirked up enough to let me know he’s teasing.

The fifty pounds of product I had to spray on the wig to make it perfect drags my head down as I shake it at him. “You know I was kidding. I’m actually so happy I can come over to your place to decorate. It’s one of my favorite things about my favorite holiday.” I grab the lighter bin that holds my decorations. I only put a few things up around my apartment, because it’s just not the same when you’ve got no one to share it with.

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