Page 80 of The Hallows Queen

Nodding, I turn my knees to the side so he can pass in front of me, then I watch as he takes the stairs and heads out of the theater. My body fills with butterflies. I feel freed from the confines that hold us throughout the week, but there’s so much risk to tonight that I can’t help being anxious about getting caught.

My mind starts to come up with scenarios, and I mindlessly eat the popcorn in a panic. It isn’t until my fingers are touching the bottom of the bag that I snap back into reality. The lights have dimmed, the theater has filled about halfway, and the opening credits are starting. I look around for Hayden, hoping he makes it back in time for the beginning of the movie.

I feel a lot better now that the theater is pitch black and everyone around me is unrecognizable. Settling into my seat, I blow out a breath and get comfortable, letting myself relax. It feels as if I was freaking out for no reason now. Even though the risk is very real, the chance of someone seeing us is small.

Grabbing a box of gummy bears, I rip the cardboard edge and pull the packet out, opening and pouring some into my hand.

I’m mindlessly chewing and watching the movie, when I spot someone jogging up the stairs and heading for me, then Hayden is standing at my side and grabbing my hand. “We need to go.”

“What?” I whisper, looking up at him. “Why?”

He ducks down, sitting into the seat to my right, then points at the group of shadows finding seats at the front of the theater. My heart races. “What’s going on?”

“They go to Luxington,” he whispers, watching as the shadows all settle into seats. “We need to go.”

My throat turns thick, and nausea rolls through me as he grabs my hand and lifts from his seat, pulling me after him and sending my candy falling to the floor.

He keeps his hand in mine, holding me close to his back as he leads me through the darkness, then light washes over us as he pushes out into the hall. I shake his hand off, scared someone will be out here too, and he turns to face me. “Are you okay?”

“I feel like I’m going to throw up.” I laugh, putting my hand on my head. “Did anyone see us?”

“Why are you laughing?” he asks, falling against the wall as he puts his hands on his knees. “I’m having a heart attack.”

I laugh harder, wiping under my eyes with shaky hands. “I have no idea.”

A voice rings out in the distance, like someone’s going to come around the corner, and Hayden grabs my hand and starts running toward the exit, pulling me behind him.

He mimics my laughter as we race through the lobby and out the front doors into the rain. We run until we can’t anymore, ignoring the fact that we’re parked in the lot behind the theater, and then we both latch onto each other in the shadows under a tree.

“My heart is racing!” I yell through the noise of the rain, brushing my hair from my forehead. “Are you okay?”

He slams his lips to mine, threading his fingers into the wet strands at the sides of my head, and walks me backwards until I’m against the trunk of the tree. Rain pours down over us, thunder booming over our heads as we kiss and touch and breathe each other in.

His chest presses against mine, making my back rub against the tree, and I squeeze his waist. When he pulls back, we breathe against each other’s mouths, and he brushes the rain from my face. His mouth opens like he’s going to say something, but then he presses it closed and hesitation passes over his features.

“What is it?” I ask, feeling nervous.

“I think I love you,” he breathes, holding my face in his palms.

I smile, looking up into his dark eyes. Water hangs on his eyelashes, sprinkling over his face as he blinks, and I kiss him again.

He squeezes my face between his hands, and I pull back. “I think I might just love you too, H.”

A smile spreads across his face, and he kisses me once more softly before he pulls away. “I’ve never said that to anyone before.”

I brush the rain from his face. “I know, and I’m selfishly happy about that.”

Chapter23

Penelope

Two Months Later

Beingwith Hayden Monroe is like hanging over the edge of a cliff, waiting for someone to come along and shove you off, but then you realize there’s a trampoline at the bottom and you bounce back up for another go. He’s impulsive, exciting, and crazy. His world moves in fast forward – it’s one extreme or the next with him.

And the worst part is how much I fucking love it.

I love screaming at him, with him, into him. I love the risk that comes with being him. He’s my worst nightmare and favorite dream come to life.

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