Page 104 of Scattered Glitter

And maybe they could help me find it.

Kati claps her hands together, clearly pleased. “All right. You can change back, and I’ll make sure everything gets sorted out for you.”

Levi and Koen walk with her to the counter, chattinganimatedly, and I step behind the curtain again, taking out my phone.

I look at myself in the mirror one last time, then raise the phone, snapping a picture from my cleavage down, making sure the burn scar isn’t in the frame. Just the dress.

I want to look at it a thousand times until I can put it back on tomorrow.

The dress slips off easily, and I change back into my sweats. As I’m pulling on my hoodie, my phone buzzes on the chair next to me. Glancing down, I see it’s a message from Captain Bossy.

Did you guys find a dress?

A grin spreads across my face and without hesitation, I send him the photo I took.

There’s no immediate response, so I wait, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My face looks different, softer somehow, the edges of my usual guarded expression smoothed out, and it’s as if Rosalee is looking back at me.

Would she like the dress?

“I hate wearing all black,” Rosalee pouts, tugging at the leather jacket I wear daily.

It’s weird seeing her without the usual glitter and shimmer that defines her. Instead, she’s draped in my clothes, dark and edgy.

“Yeah, well, you make me wear all the sparkles every damn year.” I gesture to her glittery jacket on my shoulders. I roll my eyes but can’t help the small smile that forms on my lips. “You’re gonna survive one night in leather, Rosie.”

She sighs dramatically, a teasing smile breaking through her pout. “Next year, we need real costumes.”

I laugh, nudging her. “Sure,Nova.”

We push our way into the packed garage, brushing past kids from school and strangers alike, all dressed in whatever Halloween costumes they could pull together. The smell of alcohol and cheap perfume permeates the air, and sweat glistens on everyone’s skin under the dim, flickering lights. Loud music shakes the walls, vibrating through the ground. Fake cobwebs hang low from the ceiling, grazing our heads as we make our way farther in. It’s chaotic and messy, but it’s perfect. Exactly where I want to be.

There’s an itch under my skin, the kind that tells mehe’sclose by, so I eagerly scan the crowd. Then, like I knew he would, Ace appears, cutting through the people in his ridiculous magician outfit.

Black suit, cape, a top hat that looks a little too perfect for this kind of party, and a wand in his hand. He walks with that cocky swagger that only he can pull off as his eyes sweep over the room until they land on Rosalee.

“Hey, Trouble, too cool for a costume?” He steps up to her with a grin, showing no hesitation as he wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her close, leaning in for a kiss.

“Ew!” Rosalee pushes him away, her face scrunching up in disgust. “What the hell?”

Ace blinks, confusion flashing across his face. “What—”

That’s when I lose it, a loud laugh bursting from me, and I double over, clutching my sides. “Oh my God, Ace, are you serious?” I manage between fits of giggles.

Rosalee shoots him a glare, crossing her arms. “You seriously can’t tell us apart?”

Ace looks from her to me, realization dawning as he rubs his neck, and a sheepish grin spreads across his face. “There is no fucking way anybody could tell you two apart,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I normally know because Glitter is… glittery.”

Rosalee raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Not good enough, asshole.”

Ace finally turns to me, his eyes narrowing as he strides over and attempts his earlier action again by wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me against him. “All right,” he whispers as his lips brush against mine. “You got me.”

My laughter fades as Ace’s hand settles on my hip, the familiar warmth soothing. He kisses me then, and I can’t help but smile as my fingers curl into the fabric of his magician’s coat to pull him closer.

“You look like such a good boy tonight,” I tease, pulling back only enough to meet his gaze. “The suit, the hat… very good-boy energy.”

Ace’s lips curve into a smirk. “Hey, I wanna be good. Life’s not letting me.” He leans in again, kissing me deeper and longer this time, his hand sliding up to tangle in my hair.

When he pulls back, his eyes search my face, taking in the glittery eyeshadow and the shimmering jacket before he cringes. “This feels fucking wrong.” His fingers brush over my cheekbone. “You look weird.”

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