Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I frown. “See what? Are you saying I should watch gay porn?” I balk at his suggestion despite knowing that’s exactly what I’ll do as soon as I’m alone.
Aaron meets my gaze as he takes a sip of espresso. “No, I’m saying you should go on a date with a guy. No one has to know.”
My joints freeze and my frown deepens. I don’t want other guys. But I’m also unsure if I want Cass that way. I’m confused enough when I try to analyze my relationship with Emily.
I force myself to get up. “No. I have a better idea.”
Aaron spreads his arms, wordlessly saying that he just got here. But some things can’t wait.
“What kind of idea?” he asks, unable to stop his curiosity.
But I’m in a world of my own. I wave at him and leave with my head on fire.
When I reach the costume shop down the street, my heart is pounding as if I just ran a marathon. I know exactly what to do and it’s either the best idea in my life, or the worst.
Chapter 7
My heart is pumping wildly, but when I set my mind to something, I follow through.
So there I am, in a troll-slash-barbarian costume that obscures my figure with fake muscles and massive pauldrons adorned with plastic spikes. I have a rubber helmet on, and a tight fitting mask underneath that covers most of my face but not my mouth. With the armor only reaching my midriff, I dare say, I’m quite a sexy troll.
A very nervous troll too, because after days of ruminating on it, I am now about to go through with my plan at a large Halloween party. It’s at one of the frat houses, and lots of people are already milling about in costume. Green light illuminates the facade of the building, giving everything an eerie glow, and that adds to the warped reality I’m about to step into.
There’s no way around it. I need to test if I want to kiss Cassian, or if I just hate Logan’s guts.
“I didn’t recognize you!” Aaron’s voice takes me out of my thoughts, but when I glance his way, my mind comes to a halt because he has purple balloons attached to his torso and big frowning brows drawn on his forehead.
He looks like a very annoyed blackberry.
“I don’t get it. What are you?”
Aaron clears his throat, then lets out a screech, folding in two so abruptly, one of the balloons bursts. Several people stare our way, alarmed, but I just stand there, still unsure what I’m supposed to see.
He huffs in frustration. “I’m Grapes of Wrath!”
I vaguely recall the title and nod with a smile. “Ooh, I get it. Grapes. And wrath.” I need Aaron on my side tonight if my plan is to work.
“Yes,” he says dryly.
“I even have these platform boots under the leather,” I lift the fake fur covering the lower part of my legs. “So I’m not Matt’s height.”
“Okay, we’re talking about Matt in third person. Sure. Why not? Have I mentioned this is a terrible idea?”
“Many times, but it’s actually a great idea, so chill. It’s gonna work out,” I hear myself say even though on the inside, I’m less convinced with every step I take toward the crowded frat house booming with loud music.
What’s the worst that can happen? If Cass ends up recognizing me, I can always lie that the girl I was meant to be with tonight stood me up.
“He can’t recognize you though.” Aaron shakes his head, and all the balloon grapes tremble as he moves. “Test your troll voice on me.”
I take a deep breath. “Toll!” I exclaim in a low raspy tone that’s nothing like mine.
Aaron places a finger on his chin and nods in approval. “Not bad.”
I puff my chest out despite not feeling confident about this at all. Am I really about to steal a kiss from my best friend? Am I a dumbass, or a genius? The jury is still out on this one.
When we enter the house, the party is in full swing. I smell beer someone must have spilled on the wall that sports a large damp spot, but I didn’t come here for fun. This is a serious undertaking, and I’m intent on treating it as such, no matter how nauseated it makes me.
“You’re sure this is the place Logan told you they’d be at?” I shout into Aaron’s ear so he can hear me over the music.
“Definitely. It’s not a LGBT party, but it’s gay-friendly,” he says, dead serious. The angry eyebrows only make him appear more determined.
A girl in a generic cat girl costume pats Aaron on the shoulder. “Oh, my God! Are you wine?”
I see emptiness and pain in Aaron’s eyes, so I step in.
“No, he’s Grapes of Wrath. You know, like the book.”