Page 3 of Huge

Even dressed as a twisted horror character, he looks gorgeous. The black robe clings to his chest and shoulders, and he looks so damn tall, too.

“You’re never going to pull in that,” I say, knowing it’ll annoy the shit out of him.

“Course, I will. If I see someone I like, I’ll just ditch the mask. Girls can’t resist a man in costume.”

“Oh yeah,” I say, inwardly chuckling a crazy horror cackle. He has no idea what’s coming his way.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” Harrison says, looking me over. I’ve dressed in a little black tube dress and heels, so I look like I’m heading out somewhere myself.

“Yeah, have a great night,” I say, bending over to do the strap on my shoe. Harrison clears his throat, and when I look up at him, he looks almost guilty for something. “What?” I ask, wondering what I’ve missed.

“Nothing,” he replies quickly. “I’m out, okay. Going to get a ride with Luka.” He disappears through my bedroom door before I can answer.

When I hear the front door bang and Harrison’s feet plodding down the sidewalk towards Luka’s house, I throw open my closet and grab my outfit. My hands are shaking as I pull upthe fishnet stockings and strap up my four-inch heels. The dress is so tight it gives me the most amazing cleavage. My white face make-up looks ghoulish but not unpleasant, teamed with red lips and smoky eyes. As I slip on the wig, put in the contacts, and tie on the mask, my transformation is complete. There is absolutely no way Harrison is going to recognize me.

I call a cab and wait for it to arrive, pacing up and down in my room. Dad and Lacey have gone to one of dad’s work socials, so I have the house to myself, which is perfect because there’s no way I want anyone to witness me leaving dressed like this.

The cab is late but not by much, and I’m confident that Harrison would have already arrived at Jacob’s and be a few drinks into his evening. That’s pretty key. There’s one part of me I’ll struggle to change and that’s my voice, but if he’s a little drunk, my attempts at a sexy, husky modification might seem more believable.

On the journey, my hands are trembling. I never go to parties alone. Girls like to hang in packs or with a boyfriend. Lone females might as well have a neon arrow over their head saying ‘easy target,’ and I guess that’s the look I’m going for tonight.

I want to turn heads.

I want to be mysterious.

I want the speculation, and I want Harrison’s eyes on me. Maybe I’m crazy. I keep thinking I’m crazy. Part of me wants to tell the shady-looking cab driver to turn around so I can spend the rest of the evening trying to get myself out of my disguise. The other part of me, the desperately hot, clenching bit, wants to strut into that party, take my stepbrother by the hand andlead him up the stairs. My mind slides over to its new favorite image, the thing that hangs so spectacularly between Harrison’s thighs. I feel breathless thinking about it, frantic and dazed. I’m a massive bag of hormones craving a cock that could only be described as huge, attached to a man that is totally infuriating and off-limits, but that I know has a heart of gold.

This has to be the most insane thing I’d ever done.

I ask to pull over a few houses away from Jacob’s, so I won’t be getting out directly in front. There are other people arriving, all in crazy Halloween costumes. The music is loud enough to be heard outside; something upbeat with a deep base. Jacob has obviously gone all out with the organization because colored flashing lights can be seen illuminating the inside of the house through the windows.

I pay the cab driver through the window, then make my way slowly along the sidewalk. Just as I’m about to walk up to the front door, another cab drops a group of other partygoers outside. I stall, looking into my clutch, pausing to wait for them to pay, and walk past me. I follow, using their arrival to lessen the impact of mine. I’m confident people won’t recognize me, but I don’t want to do anything to draw extra speculation. A man I don’t know opens the door, but he looks a bit like Jacob, so I assume he’s family. A cousin maybe. “Come on in, and go and get wasted,” he shouts, pointing through to the kitchen area. I’ve been to Jacob’s house a few times before. He dated Bethany, one of my besties, for a few months last year. The pool in his backyard is enormous, and he knows how to grill too.

I shuffle in with the others, who are all dressed in tacky Halloween costumes. I’m glad not to be the only one who’s ignored the ‘horror movie’ theme. The music is loud, the floorpulsing under my feet, and it’s dark too, with only fairy lights and pumpkins casting a dim glow in the corridor. In the kitchen, it’s brighter, but I don’t recognize anyone yet. I find a bottle of vodka and pour myself half a cup, then top it up with warm coke. It tastes like shit, but I need the warm feeling as it spills into my stomach. I need the fuzziness that I know it will wrap around my mind. I need guts to do what I’m going to do.

I take my half-finished drink and wander into the spacious den. There are people lounging on couches, talking, and drinking, which looks really strange because they are all in full costume. Others are dancing by the doors to the backyard. I scan the room quickly to find Harrison and see him sitting on the edge of a coffee table, chatting to some girls that are seated on the floor. One is dressed like a slutty zombie schoolgirl and the other like a sexy witch. He’s laughing hard, and they’re giggling, and I’m filled with poisonous boiling jealousy that makes me want to hiss. One of Harrison’s friends taps him on the shoulder and makes a ‘drink’ gesture. Harrison nods and then swallows what’s left in his cup and passes it over. If I knowHarrison,he’ll be sticking to beer. He gets terrible hangovers on the hard stuff.

I hang against the wall, pretending to look at the books and photographs on the shelves, glancing at Harrison out of the corner of my eye. Jacob’s mom has an interesting collection of novels. I wonder if her son has noticed the smutty books she likes to read and keeps on display. I sip my drink slowly. It’s a prop now, giving me something to do, so that I look less conspicuous. The next time I glance at Harrison, the girls are getting up and walking away, chatting. They head towards the stairs, probably looking for the bathroom. Harrison glances around for someone familiar, although how he’d recognize who is under the latex masks most people are in, I’ve no idea. I’m just about to move in his direction when I feel a hand on my waistand a gust of breath against my ear. “Nice costume,” a deep voice murmurs. “Looking for some company?”

I don’t recognize the man behind me from his tone. His hand is so big his fingers almost reach my navel, and he’s tall, stooping down to talk to me. I was hoping my costume was going to attract attention, but not from strangers.

I turn and catch sight of Freddie Krueger’s rubbery representation standing behind me. Seduction with the mask of a killer somehow doesn’t come across very well.

“It’s a costume party,” I say dismissively, looking back at Harrison. He’s still there, looking at his phone, his Pinhead mask illuminated by the screen. He looks strange and otherworldly, and I just want to shrug off the pest behind me and get over there before another one of these bimbos gets there first.

“And you carry it off so well,” the stranger says, his other hand moving to stroke my neck.

“Hey,” I spin around, definitely not up for the kind of attention he seems to want to give. Freddie raises his hands in surrender. “I wasn’t doing anything,” he says and takes a step back before I have a chance to reply. I see movement out of the corner of my eye and find Harrison walking towards me. “Everything okay?” he asks and for a moment I panic, thinking he’s recognized me, but then I realize that this is typical Harrison behavior. He has a powerful sense of right and wrong. And, despite being a terrible flirt, he’s always very respectful.

I take the opportunity to move closer to him as if I’m seeking protection. I feel bad for Freddie because he was just flirting, and my actions are making him look like a sexualpredator. He doesn’t seem concerned, though, walking away and disappearing into the crowd by the doors to the deck.

“Thanks,” I whisper, and I see Harrison’s eyes, behind his mask, flick to mine.

I wait for a sign that he recognizes me, but I don’t see one. What I do see is the narrowing of his eyes as he smiles at me beneath his terrifying mask.

“You know that you’re asking for trouble coming to a party full of horny men wearing an outfit like that?”

I look down at my costume as though I’m surprised by what he’s saying, but inside I’m dancing. He noticed.

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