Page 12 of All Hallows' Maze
“Do we have time to stop at that bathroom?” I needed to breathe in a space he wasn’t in.
“Of course,” he said, but I pulled out of his hold and let him follow behind me. He stopped by the brick wall as I walked inside.
At the sink, I turned on cold water and watched myself in the mirror. My face was hot, too hot, as my cheeks bloomed patchy crimson. I pressed puddles of cold water against my cheeks, forcing myself to calm down. Cowardice hadn’t totally been on his side of the line, and at that point I reasoned with myself to tell him the truth. After it was aired out, we could move forward or redefine boundaries as we needed.
“It’s okay,” I whispered to myself, collecting more water. “It’s okay.”
Pulling paper towels out, I dried my skin and wiped at small black streaks of mascara. With one last breath, I stepped out and found Dakota in the same spot looking at his phone. Only, a woman had joined him and was chatting off his ear. His eyes flicked up, taking in my shoes before he looked right at me. He beamed and pushed off the brick wall to come by my side. The woman made frustrated noises before stomping off.
“Did you know her?” I asked, looking between him and her.
“Who?” He wiped his thumb under my eye. “Your mascara’s running. Are you upset?” His fingers trailed over my cheek before he pushed strands of hair behind my ear.
“N-no, I washed off my face.” He held me now, drawing closer. I needed to do what I promised myself I would, but his eyes were softened as he watched me.
“Mmm,” was his noncommittal response. I felt the heat radiating from him as he pressed in.
“Dakota,” I started, placing my hand on his chest. His heart thundered beneath my palm.
“Yeah?” He hadn’t been dissuaded as he moved closer. The slightest stumble would’ve connected us. My breaths came faster.
Say it, tell him.
“Your perfume smells really good.” Words swirled in my mind, no longer forming an articulate confession. Instead, they were jumbled, incoherent thoughts that started to fade.
“Thank you.” His eyes dropped to my mouth and his jaw ticked.
“It’s almost time, we need to hurry,” he said, leaving me with a chill as he backed away and pulled me behind him.
CHAPTER5
Dakota
Oh,my fuck. Oh, my fuck.
I’d nearly lost all my senses. Since preparing this elaborate night giving my feelings the green light to exist proudly, I’d all but thrown myself on her prematurely. The way her eyes widened when she looked up at me almost put me on my knees. I couldn’t afford anymore stolen glances before we reached the maze.
There was no doubt that she knew and planned to fuck with me wearing the skirtandbunny ears. As stupid as it seemed, it unexplainably stirred something deep inside me. Having her in my arms dancing the way we had before heightened it.
A sign labeled for the Maze of Terror caught my attention and I pulled her down the side avenue. I smiled at the lack of a line, all like we had planned.
“It’s…closed?” she asked, looking around and raising an eyebrow at the mischief on my face.
“Not quite,” a familiar voice answered. Everett walked to the front of the ticket booth from the back room.
“Ev?” Vera was thoroughly confused as she looked between the two of us.
“What’s up, V?”
“I shouldn’t be surprised considering it’s your literal job, but what are you doing here?”
Everett chuckled and reached into his pocket before tossing a set of keys over the counter. I caught them as he stepped out of the booth. Eyeing Vera, he slid his hands into his pocket.
“Returning a favor,” he said, cryptically. Walking off, he called over his shoulder, “Don’t get me fired, Wilder.” I caught the edge of his smile before he disappeared down the avenue.
“Dakota.” She turned to me, frantic and hyper. “Why would Everett get fired?”
Instead of answering her question, I pulled her into the maze and closed the gate behind us as I locked it and pocketed the key.
