I looked around the table to see him better since he was sitting.
“Don’t look,” he grumbled.
“Are you wearing tights?” Luke laughed.
Reid flipped him the bird without answering, which had all of us cracking up. Claire moved onto his lap, awkwardly trying not to stab him with the points of her wings. He tried to keep up the annoyed face, but when he gazed at Claire, his whole face glowed.
“You two don’t know how to have any fun.” Seb came around the table from behind us, another pitcher of beer for the group. “Ladies, you look lovely, as always. Love the Tink getup.” He winked at Claire before turning to me and Luke. “Fred doesn’t know how lucky he is, Daphne.”
Luke’s arm came around my middle, holding me close to him. “Oh, he knows.”
“That tracksuit sure is something,” I said. The blue-and-purple polyester was perfect ’80s wear. He had the jacket half unzipped, his chest tattoos completely contrasting the neon vibe of the outfit.
The sea of people around us parted as Wes navigated his way through the crowd to get to us, a drink already in hand.
“This is ridiculous,” he grumbled as he sidled up to the table next to Luke. “If it wasn’t for Ronnie, I’d still be waiting for my drink.”
“You’re not even wearing a costume,” Claire complained. She was right—all of us were dressed for Halloween, except for him. In a pair of dark jeans, a gray flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a black leather vest, he looked like he strolled in here accidentally, not expecting it to be a costume party.
“Sure I am. I’m a member of a motorcycle club.” His subtle smirk widened into a full grin as he looked from Luke to Reid in their full-blown getups.
“Don’t even start.” Luke glared at Wes like he was getting ready to throw down, not that Wes looked like he cared.
“I thought Fred was a blond,” he said. Luke’s gaze found mine from the corner of his eye, and I nearly lost it.
My skin prickled with the sensation of being watched. I glanced around the space but didn’t see anyone specific. My gaze caught a couple of guys wearing full face masks, standing by the back wall. A shiver ran down my neck, and I hurried to turn away. Something about them unsettled me, but they weren’t causing any trouble or really even socializing.
When I scanned the room again, I found a familiar face inthe massive crowd.
Daisy was dressed in a bunny costume, but not one of those sexy ones with a bunny ear headband and little cotton tail. No, she was in a zip-up, one-piece pajama outfit with a bunny hood, black whiskers, and a little pink nose painted on her face. She bounded up to our table with the energy of five Red Bulls and wrapped me in a hug.
“Scarlett! You. Are. Awesome. Have I told you that?” She pulled back, and I could smell the liquor on her breath. She was well on her way to being drunk off her ass. “You guys, you guys,” she yelled to the group. “This lady is the best.”
Everyone around the table sent up their agreement as they placated her drunk love fest.
“Thanks, Daisy,” I said. “You look like you’re having a good time.”
“I am. My friends are here. Where are my friends?” Someone dressed like a tub of popcorn had come up to the table and was standing right beside her.
“Um, I think you have a friend right here,” I said.
She turned her hand and sucked in a surprised breath. “I do. Christa, this is Claire. She’s the best.”
“I heard,” she replied with a smile before leading Daisy back to the rest of their group.
Sebastian took off a little while later. His new female friend seemed keen on making conversation with him someplace quieter. He rapped his knuckles on the table as he passed, his arm thrown around her bare shoulders.
The noise level was higher than ever, making it hard to hear each other, even sitting three feet apart. Maeve and Wyatt had the right idea, staying home this year with their girls. After a couple of hours of screaming to be heard and constantlyrepeating ourselves, I was beat and ready to get out of there.
I turned to check Luke’s thoughts about taking off when a scream sounded near the bathrooms. I caught Luke’s eye, but it didn’t seem like anyone else was concerned. Or maybe they didn’t hear the faint yell through the music and conversations. It could just be someone getting scared by their friend, but it struck a chord in my gut that I didn’t like.
Luke must have thought the same because he was up in an instant.
“You hear that?” Wes said.
“Yeah, I’m going to check it out.”
Wes nodded, unfolding himself from the barstool. “I’m coming with you.”
