Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
I call a cab and wait for it to arrive, pacing up and down in my room. Dad and Lacey have gone to one of dad’s work socials, so I have the house to myself, which is perfect because there’s no way I want anyone to witness me leaving dressed like this.
The cab is late but not by much, and I’m confident that Harrison would have already arrived at Jacob’s and be a few drinks into his evening. That’s pretty key. There’s one part of me I’ll struggle to change and that’s my voice, but if he’s a little drunk, my attempts at a sexy, husky modification might seem more believable.
On the journey, my hands are trembling. I never go to parties alone. Girls like to hang in packs or with a boyfriend. Lone females might as well have a neon arrow over their head saying ‘easy target,’ and I guess that’s the look I’m going for tonight.
I want to turn heads.
I want to be mysterious.
I want the speculation, and I want Harrison’s eyes on me. Maybe I’m crazy. I keep thinking I’m crazy. Part of me wants to tell the shady-looking cab driver to turn around so I can spend the rest of the evening trying to get myself out of my disguise. The other part of me, the desperately hot, clenching bit, wants to strut into that party, take my stepbrother by the hand and lead him up the stairs. My mind slides over to its new favorite image, the thing that hangs so spectacularly between Harrison’s thighs. I feel breathless thinking about it, frantic and dazed. I’m a massive bag of hormones craving a cock that could only be described as huge, attached to a man that is totally infuriating and off-limits, but that I know has a heart of gold.
This has to be the most insane thing I’d ever done.
I ask to pull over a few houses away from Jacob’s, so I won’t be getting out directly in front. There are other people arriving, all in crazy Halloween costumes. The music is loud enough to be heard outside; something upbeat with a deep base. Jacob has obviously gone all out with the organization because colored flashing lights can be seen illuminating the inside of the house through the windows.
I pay the cab driver through the window, then make my way slowly along the sidewalk. Just as I’m about to walk up to the front door, another cab drops a group of other partygoers outside. I stall, looking into my clutch, pausing to wait for them to pay, and walk past me. I follow, using their arrival to lessen the impact of mine. I’m confident people won’t recognize me, but I don’t want to do anything to draw extra speculation. A man I don’t know opens the door, but he looks a bit like Jacob, so I assume he’s family. A cousin maybe. “Come on in, and go and get wasted,” he shouts, pointing through to the kitchen area. I’ve been to Jacob’s house a few times before. He dated Bethany, one of my besties, for a few months last year. The pool in his backyard is enormous, and he knows how to grill too.
I shuffle in with the others, who are all dressed in tacky Halloween costumes. I’m glad not to be the only one who’s ignored the ‘horror movie’ theme. The music is loud, the floor pulsing under my feet, and it’s dark too, with only fairy lights and pumpkins casting a dim glow in the corridor. In the kitchen, it’s brighter, but I don’t recognize anyone yet. I find a bottle of vodka and pour myself half a cup, then top it up with warm coke. It tastes like shit, but I need the warm feeling as it spills into my stomach. I need the fuzziness that I know it will wrap around my mind. I need guts to do what I’m going to do.
I take my half-finished drink and wander into the spacious den. There are people lounging on couches, talking, and drinking, which looks really strange because they are all in full costume. Others are dancing by the doors to the backyard. I scan the room quickly to find Harrison and see him sitting on the edge of a coffee table, chatting to some girls that are seated on the floor. One is dressed like a slutty zombie schoolgirl and the other like a sexy witch. He’s laughing hard, and they’re giggling, and I’m filled with poisonous boiling jealousy that makes me want to hiss. One of Harrison’s friends taps him on the shoulder and makes a ‘drink’ gesture. Harrison nods and then swallows what’s left in his cup and passes it over. If I know Harrison, he’ll be sticking to beer. He gets terrible hangovers on the hard stuff.