Cars already line the block when Novy pulls up at Sully’s house a little after 8:00 p.m. The birthday party is in full swing. We’re fashionably late, of course. Lukas Novikov doesn’t know any other way to be.
After our morning spent shooting spots for the Humane Society, we all went out to lunch and then to the beach. The guys played a little sand volleyball, but I just watched. No way am I torquing this knee again.
“Hey man, you want me to drop you at the end of the driveway?” he calls from the front seat.
“I can walk just fine, asshole,” I shout back over the loud music.
He parallel parks half a block down and we all get out. Morrow and I coordinated our costumes. I smirk as I watch him walk in front of me, joining up with Novy on the sidewalk. We’re all in jeans and white T-shirts wearing SOA black leather motorcycle cuts.
Am I playing fair dressing up as Jax Teller? Hell, no. Fuck fair. I want Tess, and I want her to want me. If giving her a little taste of her favorite fantasy earns me any points, I’ll never take this damn costume off.
“Jesus,” Morrow cries, nearly jumping on top of me. “Dude, what the fuck?”
Novy and I both look to see a grim reaper wandering across the dark front lawn.
“Who the fuck is that?” Morrow shouts, clearly rattled. “Who are you?”
“Dude, chill,” comes a deep, muffled voice. “It’s me.” Davidson pulls his hood back, revealing his face. “Pretty cool, huh?” he says, gesturing to himself.
“It’s not a haunted house, asshole,” Morrow snaps. “It’s a birthday party.”
“Yeah, but this was left over from Halloween,” he explains. “I wasn’t going shopping for a new costume just for this party.”
“Whatever, man,” Morrow replies. “Scare me like that again, and I’ll knock out all your jibs. Fucking shadow of death creeping on me in the darkness,” he says, crossing himself.
“Come on,” says Novy. “Let’s go.”
We all make it to the front door and let ourselves in. The house is packed, dance music playing over the speakers. The first people we see are J-Lo and Lauren. He’s wearing long black robes like a toga, and his hair is hidden under a crazy blue wig.
“Whoa, cool costume, J,” says Novy, taking them both in. “Hades, right?”
“And his darling wife, Persephone,” says Lauren, already tipsy as she throws an arm around J-Lo’s shoulder. She went all out in this crazy floral headdress and a pink flower gown.
“You both look great,” I add, giving them a smile. Then I snort as I see Teddy the PT intern saunter past with both his fists full of beers. “Who are you supposed to be?” I call after him.
He spins around, totally drunk. He’s wearing a blue bathrobe and a long white beard. “I’m Merlin, duh,” he slurs. “Aw, damn. Where’s my hat? It makes more sense with the hat.”
Novy slips a beer out of his grip, handing it to me. Then he takes one for himself before Teddy goes stumbling off. “This party is gonna get messy,” Novy says, taking a swig of his pilfered beer.
We move towards the kitchen, in search of the party hosts, Novy and Morrow walking ahead of me. I run right into their backs when they both suddenly stop. “Guys—what?”
I glance between their shoulders to see a wide-eyed Poppy. She’s looking up at them, holding tight to her red Solo cup. I don’t know what her costume is. She’s wearing some kind of prairie dress and a bonnet thing with her hair done up in curls around her face.
Novy glares at her. “You said you weren’t coming.”
Squaring her shoulders at him, she juts out her chin. “Well, obviously I changed my mind.”
Novy is so tense, it’s making me tense. “But you said—”
“Cool it,” Morrow says, placing a hand on Novy’s arm. “Not here.”
I glance between them. Something is definitely going on. They were all so irritable at the pet adoption thing. I know Novy drives Poppy crazy, but today felt different. “Guys, what’s up?” I say from behind them.
Novy and Morrow immediately split, turning their bodies to reveal me to Poppy.
Her eyes go wide again. “Oh—hi, Ryan,” she says sweetly. “Nice costumes.” She hides her forced smile behind her Solo cup, taking a sip of her fruity drink.
“Hey, Poppy,” I reply, still trying to puzzle out what has them all acting so weird. “Who are you supposed to be?”
She sighs. “Honestly, I should have just made a sign and worn it around my neck. I’m Elizabeth Bennett,” she adds, gesturing at herself with a flourish.
The three of us share a glance.
“Elizabeth Bennett?” she huffs, one hand on her hip. “Only one of the greatest romantic heroines of all time? From Pride & Prejudice?”
“That’s…a movie?” Morrow asks with a raised brow.
“This is why you boys only attract the likes of puck bunnies,” she cries. “‘Cause any woman of class, taste, and sense knows to steer clear!” With tears in her eyes, she pushes between us, stomping away.
“Ignore her,” Novy mutters. “She’s just upset because she couldn’t adopt that cat.” He keeps walking in the direction of the kitchen.
Morrow lingers, his gaze still locked on where Poppy just disappeared.
“You okay, man?” I say, putting my hand on his shoulder.
He glances down at my hand, then up to my face. “No.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
He holds my gaze and, for a moment, I really think he’s about to say yes.
“Guys, I found Shelbs,” Novy calls.
Morrow blinks, his expression shuttering. He shifts out from under my hold. “Come on. Let’s go see the birthday girl.”
“Novy!” A very tipsy Shelby cries, raising her wine glass in the air. “Josh, baby, look. More boys are here!” She takes in our costumes. “Wow, you guys look hot. Like, capital H-O-T.”
We all laugh.
“Happy Birthday, Shelby,” says Novy, giving her a quick hug.
“Hey, Shelbs. Happy Birthday,” adds Morrow.
I’m in her arms when Sully comes up and slaps my shoulder. “Hey, watch those hands, man.”
I jerk back and he laughs, slinging his arm around her shoulders.
“Who are you guys supposed to be?” says Novy, taking in her weird combo of button up shirt, bowtie, and long librarian-looking skirt. Meanwhile, Sully has his hair slicked back and he’s wearing khakis, a white shirt, and these leather suspenders with a gun holster.
“Hey,” I say with a grin. “You’re Rick and Evy. From The Mummy.”
“Yes!” Shelby squeals, launching forward to give me another hug and kiss my cheek. “I knew you were my favorite for a reason.”
“Hey, I thought I was your favorite,” Sully pouts.
“Mmm, you know you’re my main macho man,” she purrs, spinning around to wrap herself up in his arms.
“Okay, gross,” says Morrow, shielding his gaze. “It feels like watching my parents make out.”
“Parents fuck too, Cole,” she teases.
“And on that note, I’m gonna go get drunk.” He wanders off and Novy follows, leaving me with the O’Sullivans.
“Food is set up over in the dining room,” Sully explains, pointing that way. “All the soda and beer are in coolers outside.”
“Thanks,” I reply, glancing around the room. “Hey, are the Prices here yet?”
I assume wherever Rachel is, Tess will probably be nearby. I haven’t seen her all day. I sent her a couple voice memos, but she didn’t respond. I want her. And not just because I want to see her reaction to my costume. I just…want her.
“Yeah, they’re all here somewhere,” Sully replies, glancing over his shoulder. “Maybe check outside. Or we’ve got some games going upstairs.”
I slip past them with promises to Shelby that I’ll try the Southwest egg rolls. I’m blocked from reaching the dining room by a gaggle of rookies, including Flash, who is very disappointingly dressed as Superman, and Patty, who is dressed as a gladiator.
It’s only as he turns that I take in the full picture. A girl presses herself back against his chest. She’s dressed in a sexy Cleopatra costume with dramatic makeup, plunging cleavage on full display. Patty has his hands all over her. One is actually slipped inside her costume, stroking her boob.
“Ohmygosh, you look so hot,” she says at me, taking me in from head to toe.
“Thanks,” I say. “‘Scuse me.”
“You look just like Jax Teller,” she goes on, touching my arm as I try to move past.
“Yeah, well, that was the idea,” I reply, shifting away.
“You’re a starter, aren’t you?” she says, sizing me up again.
I nod, which means Patty may as well have just morphed into a potted plant. He glares at me like it’s my fault his date is pawing at me. I glare right back. I’m not above putting a rookie in his place. If he can’t keep this girl’s attention, that’s not my fault.
“Can you guess who I am?” his date asks, showing off her glittery costume.
I take a sip of my beer. “I thought the party theme was fictional characters.”
“Yeah, I’m Cleopatra,” she replies, brushing her hands down her sides.
Patty snakes his arm around her, pulling her against his chest. Over her head, he keeps glaring at me.
“Hence my confusion,” I reply at her.
She blinks up at me. “What?”
“Cleopatra was a real person. She’s not fictional. Neither was Caesar,” I add at Patty with a smirk.
“She’s not real,” his date replies with a laugh. “It’s from that HBO show.”
“Wow.” I glance up at Patty. “You two will have very beautiful children.”
Before he can respond, I spin around and move back the other way. Nothing is worth spending another second trapped in Rookie Wasteland, not when I know Tess is here. I step outside and nearly walk right into Mars.
“Whoa, sorry man,” I say, putting a hand on his shoulder to steady myself.
He glances over his shoulder at me, taking me in, his body stiff under my hand.
I do the same. “What the fuck are you wearing? Who are you supposed to be?”
“No idea,” he replies with an indifferent shrug.
He’s wearing a red beanie with a pompom, a blue and white striped shirt, and these bright aqua board shorts. “I don’t—” That’s when I see the rest of them. Standing not ten feet away over by the coolers are Doc, Jake, and Sanny. And then I’m laughing. “Dude, they made you Smee?”
Mars just glares at me.
Rachel is dressed in a flirty Tinker Bell costume, her hair up in her usual bun. Sanny stands with his arm around her dressed as Peter Pan. Jake is living it up in a ridiculous Captain Hook costume, complete with shiny hook. Even the dog is here. Poseidon darts past in a crocodile costume, chasing after Sully’s dog.
“You must really love them,” I tease Mars, feasting my eyes on this vision of him in that stupid hat.
“Something like that.”
We stand there, watching the other party guests laugh and chat. He was so cool this morning, taking the card and quietly reading it while I held the kitten. He didn’t ask any questions, just handed me the card and walked off.
“So…are you gonna ask me about it?” I say, taking a sip of my beer.
“Ask you about what?”
I huff, turning to face him. “You know what, man. You can ask if you want,” I offer. “I trust you to know. You won’t say anything.”
Weirdly, I almost want him to ask. More than that, I want to tell him. I want to trust him. I know I’ll feel better letting someone in on this secret with me. It’s such a heavy fucking burden to bear. I do my best in the day to day, but sometimes I’m tired, sometimes I slip up, sometimes I get dragged into filming pet adoption promo spots.
On all my past teams, I had someone who knew, someone who could help me out. Everything has been so crazy since joining the Rays that I haven’t really settled into a groove yet. Aside from management like Vicki, I haven’t felt ready to trust any of the guys and open up.
Mars glances my way, brows narrowed. “Does anyone on the team know?”
I shake my head, taking another swig of this crappy IPA.
“Why not?”
“I figured you of all people would get it,” I reply. “We don’t all want our private lives out in the open.”
“But you want me to know,” he intuits. “You want someone to confide in.”
Slowly, I nod. “Yeah, I think I do.”
“And Tess? Does she know?”
My heart drops out at the very idea. “Hell no. No way.”
He sighs. “Don’t be childish, Langley.”
I bristle. “Childish?”
“I’m not blind. I see how badly you want her. If you mean to keep her, you must tell her all your truths, even the difficult ones—especially the difficult ones.”
We’re saved the awkwardness of a deeper conversation when Tess herself comes sweeping around the corner. She’s walking arm-in-arm with Shelby. Since when did these two become friends? She throws her head back, laughing at something Shelby says.
My heart fucking stops. I can’t breathe. Can’t move. My Tess is dressed like a sexy devil, with a red leather skirt, fishnet stockings, and a lacy red corset that makes her breasts look immaculate. A pair of little black horns peek out the top of her auburn curls.
Forget Mars and secrets. Forget everything. Forget my own damn name. This woman is the only thing that matters.
