Page 44 of Every Thought Taken

“Me too, North.” And it is all because of you.

CHAPTER25

HELENA

“What the hell are you wearing?” I stare at Lessa as she slips on the skimpiest Halloween costume I have ever seen.Does it actually cover anything?

She picks the package up from the bed and holds it in my direction. “Aphrodite.” Tossing it back on the bed, she walks over to the full-length mirror in the corner of her room and finagles the thin, barely there fabric. “I think I look hot.”

My eyes roam the costume and take it in with fresh eyes. Without question, Lessa looks good. Hot. That’s nothing new. Out of the three of us, Lessa is queen extrovert and the most comfortable in her skin. And as I stare at her, she adjusts her boobs in the bust of the dress, lifts them and exposes more cleavage.

“You do,” I say after a beat of silence. “It’s a great costume.”

She spins around, a bright, wide smile on her lips. “Thanks, Lena.” Crossing the room, her eyes examine my costume. “And you’ll catch a few stares in this freaky nurse outfit.”

I drop my chin and scan the body-hugging candy striper dress. Intentional slashes in the fabric expose parts of my ribs and lower belly. The skirt stops inches below my butt and the bust shows off more than I feel comfortable showing. Fake blood splatters the dress. A thigh garter snug on my skin just below the skirt holds a fake knife slicked with more fake blood.

Typically, I wouldn’t choose such a gory or provocative costume, but Anderson wanted to have similarly themed outfits. Me, the crazed candy striper, him the psycho surgeon.

The idea is brilliant. Gross but still brilliant.

“I’m not looking for attention.”

All I want is to spend a night out with my boyfriend without it being weird. A night out in the world, just the two of us, without questions or strange looks. I want normal with him.

We agreed to keep our relationship a secret, and I still think it is for the best, but the longer we are together, the more I want everyone to know he is mine as much as I am his. I want to hold his hand in the open without worrying who is nearby. I want to kiss him in front of others without hearing gasps or snide commentary.

One day.

“Either way, you look hot too.”

“Thanks.” I clasp my hands at my waist and squeeze until my knuckles burn. “Should we head over to see Mags first?” I ask in the hopes of shifting the attention elsewhere.

“Yeah.” She steps back up to the mirror and does some final touches to her makeup. “Sucks she won’t be out with us, but I understand why.”

Not a year has passed since we lost Mrs. Bishop. Holidays were her favorite, and now they feel less without her. Mags and Mr. Bishop stick together more often than not now. They make each day and holiday count more than ever. Mags still spends time with us, but it isn’t like before. Can’t say I blame her.

“Same.” I slip on the short heels that go with my costume. “I’ll go see if Ander is ready.”

She twists in the mirror, looks at her outfit from various angles, then starts futzing with her hair. “I’ll be out in a few.”

Perfect.

I exit her room and head to the next door in the hall. Twisting the knob, I step into Anderson’s room and shut the door. A few minutes alone isn’t enough, but I know we will get more time later when Lessa finds guys from the party to distract her.

Anderson is sprawled out on his bed, book in hand, as he lounges in his bloody and slashed blue scrubs. And for a beat, I wordlessly take him in. His darker blond locks purposely messy with product and splashes of fake blood. One of his long legs is stretched out before him while the other is bent at the knee.

I study his face, his neck, the hollow spot at the base of his throat. In the past year, the contours of his face have sharpened some. Become more defined. His cheekbones, the angle of his jaw, the bow and plumpness of his lips. Lips he slowly kicks up into a smirk as I regard him.

“Whatcha doing, North?”

I swallow, take a deep breath, and cross the room to his bed. Sit on the edge of the mattress as he marks his page and sets the book aside. Toy with the bottom hem of his scrub top, watching the small action as his gaze heats my face.

“Checking to see if you’re ready.” I lift my eyes to meet his. “Lessa needs a few more minutes.”

He sits up, bringing his chest and face and lips within inches of mine. I suck in a sharp breath but don’t move. With his breath hot on my lips, my pulse whooshes in my ears as my own breath comes faster.

“Been waiting for you.” He leans forward, closing the breath of space between us, and presses his lips to mine. “Not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands to myself tonight,” he says when he breaks the kiss. “You look…” He shakes his head. “Damn.”

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