Page 43 of All Yours

“If you have signed up for the costume contest, please report to the side of the stage,” Adrian said into the microphone.

Thank heavens. I reached over and retrieved the ornate black and gold cigarette holder.

“What’s that?” Jonah asked.

“Cigarette holder… completes the ensembles, darling,” I said, holding it up between my fingers and grabbing my drink with the other hand. “I know it’s empty, but I don’t smoke.”

Jonah turned and asked the guy next to him a question. Within seconds, he turned back, holding a cigarette.

“Here, let me see the end of that thing.” He pressed the cigarette into the end of the holder.

I turned in my seat, crossing my legs, and propping my elbow on the back of the seat, holding up the cigarette and with my drink in the other hand. “How do I look? Like Zelda Fitzgerald?”

“Amazing,” Jonah said, a heated expression crossed his face that reminded me of that morning.

“Come on,” Lauren called from behind me.

“The contestants,” Adrian said, “will come onto the stage for the judges. Everyone, make sure you make noise for your favorites.”

The crowd cheered. I slid from my seat and made my way behind Lauren and Eden to stand in line for our turn. We were not scary at all, but we were three women in sparkly dresses with boobs hoisted up under our chins. The sad fact that most of mine were fake. I didn’t have enough chest to fill out the costume dress, so Lauren stuck me in a super padded push-up bra. My boobs were on top, then from the halfway point down, the rest of it was padding.

There were whistles and cheers as we walked onto the stage. On one hand I wished that I’d had another drink, but on the other things were already fuzzy and I wasn’t skilled at walking in heels as is. My unsteadiness had to be noticeable. I plastered a fake smile across my face as Lauren and Eden laughed, and we shook the fringe on our dresses to the whoops of the crowd. Something about this wasn’t right, and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Exiting the stage, the room blurred, and I worked to put one foot in front of the other and follow Lauren. My stomach lurched. This wasn’t good.

“Are you alright?” It was Jonah, and his arms were around me. Where did he come from?

“I think the result of too many vampire kisses is wooziness,” I stuttered.

“How many of those did you have?”

“Like four… five… six. I’ve lost count.” I stumbled a little, everything around me fuzzy.

“Let’s get you some water and food to soak up that alcohol.”

Food? No food. I wanted to protest, but I found myself at a table in the dining room near the buffet with a glass of ice water handed to me. I took a sip, the cold water absorbing into my dry mouth. After taking a few more sips, I closed my eyes.

“Here you go.” I opened my eyes at Jonah’s voice. A plate of white goop appeared in front of me. “Chicken a la Scream. I assume it’s just Chicken a la King.”

“Ugh. I don’t know about that.” I squirmed in the chair at the thought of food.

“Take a few bites. It has rice in it.” Jonah handed me a fork. “I’m going to get myself something. Be right back.”

“There you are.” Lauren pulled a seat out at the table and dropped beside me. “Wondering where you went.”

“The vodka snuck up on me and hit me hard. Jonah’s making me drink water and eat.”

“See told ya. He takes care of you.”

“I never said he didn’t,” I said, pushing the chicken and rice mixture around the plate. She was referring to a conversation we’d had earlier. Lauren insisted Jonah had a crush on me. “I disagree that he views me romantically.”

“Are you kidding me? He was flirting with you.”

“He’s only having fun. Flirting is fun.”

Lauren leaned forward. “Don’t be stupid. Eat, sober up, and make your move. You should have seen his face when he saw that guy talking to you at the bar. Jonah gave that guy back off vibes.”

“He wasn’t,” I shot back.

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