Aaron mumbled something unintelligible under his breath.
I chuckled. “Oh, I wouldn’t mind that. Not at all.”
Lucas shifted somewhere to my right, and when I looked at him, he was frowning. “Who is that? This… Sebastian Spoon?”
Lina waved a hand in front of her. “Sebastian S-tan. And he’s only the funniest, cutest, most charming actor in Hollywood? Totally underrated.”
Nodding my head, I added, “He’s been spotted in New York enough for Lina to believe that one day we’ll cross paths with him.”
Lucas shrugged. “Well, I hope Sebastian Stong doesn’t mind bumping into stalkers.”
Aaron snorted, which earned him a glare from his wife.
“Stop butchering his name, Lucas,” she said before patting Aaron’s chest. “And you don’t have any reason to be jealous, amor. I want to meet Seb, but just so Rosie can keep him.”
Aaron threw an arm around her wife’s shoulders, fusing her to his side.
I looked over at Lucas, finding his gaze on me. I thought he’d say something else about the topic, or butcher Sebastian’s name again, but he only winked at me. Smug, as if he knew how good he looked, winking in that costume and that mask. And dammit, all thoughts of maybe spotting Seb or any other celebrity vanished from my mind with a puff.
I stepped forward to Lina and Aaron’s side and Lina untangled herself from her husband with a kiss on his cheek, linking our arms and walking into the party, leaving the two men behind.
After crossing the more dimly lit dance floor, we made it to the opposite end of the venue and took a spot at the bar, where the guys rejoined us.
“I think we might be a little early,” Lina said, looking around us and pointing at the few and scattered groups of people that had gathered. “What time did it say on the invitation, Aaron?”
His arm came around her waist, his palm settling on her stomach. “Eight. People will come. Don’t worry. This is one of the most popular events of the year. Only the bachelor auction beats it.”
“Oh, I definitely remember that one.”
“I do, too.” Aaron’s head inched even lower and he pressed his lips to her shoulder, turning my best friend into a Lina-shaped puddle of blue goo.
My face must have been showcasing every single one of my emotions—happiness, longing, that pang of good-hearted but sharp jealousy—because one of my curls was tugged by the man that was learning to read me like an open book.
I turned, finding Lucas a little closer to my side than he was a minute ago. “I’d love to have a drink,” he said, looking down at me. “What about you, Lady Rosalyn? Would you care for a beverage?” He flashed me his prosthetic fangs. “Perhaps some O-Negative?”
I could not help but laugh, so I did. “With pleasure, Good Sir. But make it blood-free.” I wrinkled my nose. “Only the thought is making me dizzy.”
Lucas’s lips twitched and he nudged my shoulder with his, his expression brightening his eyes.
After that, we ordered those drinks and hung out in our little circle, chatting animatedly while the place filled with more and more people.
And with every minute that ticked away and every newcomer arriving to the party, my side inched closer and closer to Lucas. So much that without knowing how, I was leaning my shoulder on his. And it felt good. The easy chatter, the way his arm felt against mine, our inside jokes, the times I’d see his gaze dipping down to meet mine, or the way he’d ask me if I was having fun. It all felt so goddamn good.
It felt exactly as if we were on a double date with my best friend and her husband.
Comfortable. Exciting. Real.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lucas
Aaron had been right, this was a popular event.
It was hard to take a step without bumping against someone. The place was bursting with people. People, I assumed, who moved in social circles I knew nothing about. People who attended masquerade balls in impressive halls of hotels I’d never consider booking a night in. Not because I couldn’t but because it wasn’t my choice.
I wasn’t used to being in crowds like this one. Or any crowds, unless we counted the folks attending a tournament or a competition. But I had to admit that I wasn’t as uncomfortable as I’d anticipated. And sure, it had to do with tonight being Halloween. But it also had a lot to do with the girl pressing her shoulder against my arm. I was here for her.
And if it was up to me, I’d have her tucked into my side, much like Aaron had Lina. Not because I wanted to—which, don’t get me wrong, I did—but because the free space around us was starting to run out. And the crowd was starting to get tipsy, and therefore, careless.