Page 190 of The Baby Bargain
Venice switches from boardwalk debauchery to suburban chillness as soon as you cross Main Street.
But tonight, Holden's party is spilling onto the street. I scan the crowd for my brothers, but I don't see any cops or Spider-Men. Spider-Mans?
Of course, Holden could put on a mask and I'd have no idea it's him. But, uh…
Maybe I should have picked a costume with a mask. Or a wig. Anything less obvious than my namesake.
Goose bumps spread over my skin. It's a cold night. Or maybe that's my outfit. Most of my skin is exposed, including my toes.
We should move Halloween to the middle of summer. Or I should move to Hawaii. There's no other place in the US where Halloween is actually warm. Even here, in Southern California, the perfect weather capital of the world, late October nights are chilly.
Chase nods to a friend. He moves to me. Takes my hand.
The warmth of his touch fills me with butterflies. I'm not being smart. I'm not pulling back. But I don't care.
The last two weeks were torture. Taking that test, staring at the single pink line, holding my phone, wishing I could tell him, that I could tell anyone—
The simple act of holding his hand fills that emptiness. It fills me in spots that have been empty for far too long.
I loved Phillip. But it was different. More steady and easy. Safer somehow.
With Phillip, it was like we both looked at a pool and decided to take the stairs into it.
With Chase, it's like I'm at the top of the high dive, staring down at the deep reservoir of turquoise.
It's the same water, but it's a hell of a lot more thrilling.
He brings his lips to my ear. "I passed Forest and Holden."
"Inside?"
He nodsyeah. "Holden's teasing Forest about Skye's outfit."
"Right?" I doubt any of the guys know, but Skye is insecure about her curvy figure. She's beautiful and sexy as hell, but she's also larger than the average Southern California woman. "Do you think it's going to work?"
"Worked for you."
"Now I have to think about whether or not Forest is a boob guy." My nose scrunches in distaste. Gross.
"I'm gonna break something to you, princess."
My chest warms at the pet name. How can it be so sexy and sweet at the same time? It defies reason. "Yeah?"
"All guys are boob guys."
"What about guys who like guys?"
"All guys who like women—all people who like women, like boobs."
I nod. It's probably true. I mean—"It's hard not to like them. They're so soft and comfy."
Chase raises a brow. He's not wearing his mask. It turns his costume intorandom all black outfit, but it means I can look in his eyes.
God, he has such pretty eyes. So blue and deep and full of love.
Does he realize that? There's this well of love in his heart. He's been holding it back for so long. He's afraid it's a tsunami.
Maybe it is.
