Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 86515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Birdie exits my truck on the passenger side and I meet her at the front.
“Ready to do this, Neo?” she asks.
I take in her Catwoman suit, which hugs her like a second skin, shiny black latex with haphazard stitching to make it look pieced together by an amateur. She doesn’t have the full hood but rather a headband with cat ears and a black mask. I’m not loving the thigh-high black boots with stiletto heels, which take her costume from fun to super sexy—a look that no brother wants on his sister.
“Ready for this?” I glance toward the house. “Not even a little.”
Evan and Juno arrived earlier to do a walk-through for filming—camera placement, lighting and flow. She had texted me that Cherry was beyond excited to have them there and was hounding her to know if she’d be interviewed.
Birdie and I head up the front walk together. I have to remember I have nothing to hide, but once people see the costumes, it will be obvious Juno and I dressed as a couple. Now, whether people will conclude we’re romantically involved or maybe did this as a fun friends thing remains to be seen.
Cherry and Miller are posted at the door like they’re hosting a red-carpet event. Miller looks as I would expect in his Flynn Rider vest, white shirt, and boots. He even has the smolder. He’s on theme, understated, and clearly dragged along for the ride. Cherry, on the other hand, has taken Rapunzel and turned her into a thesis on sex appeal.
The purple dress is corseted tight enough to lift and frame her breasts. The plunging neckline exposes cleavage for days and her skirt is slit high on both legs. She’s wearing a blond wig with a long braid hanging down the back and she looks like a Disney princess who took a detour to Vegas.
Cherry’s eyes land on me as we walk up the steps and her smile widens. “Well,” she says, dragging her gaze over my long black coat and sunglasses. “Neo from The Matrix. Very cool.”
I nod at Miller, then look back to Cherry, whose brow is now furrowing deep until it clicks. She glances back through the entryway into the belly of her home and posits, “That’s weird.” I already know what’s coming. “Juno’s Trinity,” she says slowly. “What are the chances?”
“Not a coincidence,” I say evenly. “We planned that.”
Her mouth drops open and there’s a beat of silence—long enough to register surprise and finally recalculation. Her eyebrows start to lift as understanding creeps in—
And then Birdie steps forward.
“Cherry,” she says pleasantly. “It’s nice to see you again. Congratulations on the marriage. Your house is very… on brand.”
Cherry snaps her attention to Birdie, eyes narrowing a touch before she pastes the smile back on. “Birdie. Wow.” Her gaze flicks down, up. “That Catwoman suit doesn’t leave much room to breathe, but you did a good job getting into it.”
Birdie tilts her head, considering her. She’s never liked Cherry and never tried to hide that fact from her. She smiles sweetly. “Thanks,” she says. “And good job on making Rapunzel look slutty.”
The air goes still and Cherry’s smile freezes, then cracks. “Excuse me?”
Miller’s arm comes around her waist immediately, subtle but firm. “Hey,” he murmurs. “Party. Remember?”
“Let’s go,” I drawl, catching Birdie by the elbow and steering her inside before Cherry can regroup.
I offer Miller a semi-apologetic smile as we pass and once we’re out of earshot, I whisper to my sister, “Please behave.”
Birdie snickers. “Where was the lie in what I said? Besides… I was polite.”
“You were a bitch,” I reply, but I can’t help smirking as I remember the stricken look on Cherry’s face.
She grins. “You loved it and you know it.”
The house is exactly what you’d expect—open concept, high ceilings, polished concrete floors softened by expensive rugs. A staircase with a glass railing curves up along one wall. The living room has been cleared for mingling, furniture pushed back, a bar set up along the kitchen island with catered trays arranged with great precision.
Costumes everywhere and the party is in full swing, laughter abounding.
Arch towers near the bar as Thor, hammer resting against his shoulder. He’s talking to someone dressed as Deadpool but no clue who that is because of the mask. Rome Davies is a pirate—convincing, and Boss went classic horror as Jason Vorhees, his hockey murder mask propped on top of his head.
A few players chose the lazy route with no costume, but most everyone went all out.
And then I see her.
Juno stands near the far end of the room, black leather coat hugging her frame, boots solid and purposeful. Trinity, unmistakably. She even sleeked her hair back into a tight bun at the nape of her neck, but her sunglasses are pushed up on top of her head as she laughs at whatever Evan just said.