“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.”