Page 190 of The Hookup Situation
“Yes.” Blaire smirks. “When it’s right, it’s easy. And if, by some chance, he screws this up, we’ll slash his tires before we leave. I’ll even ask Autumn to help me make some glitter glue.”
A startled laugh bursts out of me. “Glitter glue?”
“Yep. Nothing ruins a man’s ego more than driving around with a glitteryYOU SUCKwritten across his hood. When it’s washed off, it just so happens to peel paint.”
“Damn,” I mutter. “But thanks for having my back.”
She grins. “Honestly, he’s yours, Jules. I have zero doubt about that, especially after talking to his brother.”
“You talked to Asher?” I ask.
“Yeah, at Zane’s birthday party, I did recon. I asked a lot of questions about Nick and learned a ton.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
“Yep. No way I was going to approve of this relationship without learning as much as I could. Basically, he’s a green flag who has it bad for you,” she confirms.
“Thank you,” I say, taking her words to heart.
“Don’t be nervous. If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
When we arrive at Hollow Manor, there are handfuls of cars parked on the manicured lawn.
As soon as I see Nick’s Range Rover, my heart races. He’s been on my mind since this morning. It’s the first time I haven’t woken up next to him since he started staying with me. We haven’t even texted one another today. It’s been radio silence.
“Calm down,” Blaire mutters.
“I’m trying,” I admit.
“Your leg is shaking,” she tells me as she unbuckles. “You havenothingto worry about. Now, let’s go find your man.”
“Okay,” I say, trying to stop this spiral.
We get out of the Jeep, and Blaire grabs my hand, leading me up the sidewalk that’s full of our pumpkins. Groups of people are huddled outside on the grass where the haunted houses are fully constructed. There’s also an outdoor bar and a DJ. Later, a band will take the stage. The house is pumped full of low-lying fog and glowing lights.
“Do you see him?” I ask Blaire over the music.
“Not yet,” she says, weaving around people.
My heart races as I wonder where he is.
As I scan the crowd, my heart hammers in my chest. Costumes blur together—pirates, witches, a giant inflatable dinosaur.
When I slide into the downstairs library, I search for him.
In the corner, standing near the bar, is Nick.
My breath catches when I see him.
For a moment, I stare at how gorgeous he is in a deep purplevest that’s open. His ab muscles are on full display, and the light-brown pants sit low on his hips. A gold sash is wrapped around his waist, catching the light every time he moves.
Aladdin. My Aladdin.
Every bit of doubt I carried here, every nightmare about him walking away, burns to ash the second I see him smirking at me.
When his eyes find mine, the entire party falls away. His mouth curves into that cocky, slow smile that always undoes me, and the unease in my chest disappears. He didn’t leave Cozy Creek. He’s here. He’s mine. And he’s looking at me like I’m the only person in this haunted mansion.
The only thing that breaks our connection is Blaire nudging me. “See? Whole new world.”
