Page 30 of Unmasked
I nod. “I’m grateful I don’t have siblings. I used to wish I did, thinking I’d have someone to commiserate with. But I wouldn’t want another person to be as miserable as me. Or, if my sibling followed in my parent’s footsteps, I’d be ostracized even more.”
“Yeah, that’s a tough call. You never know.” She pastes a smile on her face. “At least we have one another.”
“You’re right. Instead of stressing over what I don’t have, Ishould appreciate what I do.” I hug her, feeling grateful for her friendship.
“There’s a party tonight at the Sigma Pi Betas. Why don’t we go check it out? Might do us both some good to mingle and dance.”
I let the idea simmer before nodding. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
CHAPTER 22
Mallory
“Holy shit, Mallory. You look fucking amazing.” Mandy’s eyes widen as I pivot just inside the front door of my apartment. My hair is curled, and I’m wearing make-up as if attending one of my parent’s black-tie events.
Since the temperature plummeted twenty degrees this evening, I dug inside my closet for a long-sleeved, low-cut top. Tight designer jeans hug my curves, and heeled booties complete the look.
My gaze roams over Mandy, taking in her jeans, boots, and low-cut top. “You look pretty damn amazing, too.”
Mandy blushes, giggling as she gives me a little curtsy.
We exit my apartment and head toward the elevator. I can’t help admiring the way her long, straight hair gleams beneath the lights in the hallway.
“Got everything you need?” Mandy asks as we wait for the elevator.
I pat the front pocket of my jeans containing my ID, some cash, and a tube of lipstick. Then I do the same to my back pocket where my phone is. “I’m good. You?”
She does the same and nods. “Yup. We’re gonna have so much fun tonight.”
I try to match her energy, but my smile is forced. “Indeed.”
Mandy keeps up a steady stream of conversation. As the elevator descends, I nod politely, feigning interest in the conversation.
When we exit the apartment building and begin our walk across campus to the party, I wait to feel the hair standing up on the back of my neck from being watched. But there’s nothing.
The leaves on the large maple tree shake and sway above me, drawing my attention. I inhale the crisp, clean mountain air as my gaze lifts to the dark sky above. Shimmering stars litter the sky, but it’s the moon I’m searching for.
When I find it, I release the breath I’d been holding. The light it emits is calming and peaceful, a beacon guiding me in the dark.
I love the moon’s scarred perfection. Its beauty is perfectly imperfect, like a mysterious lover who wears a creepy mask and has a beautiful body.
My thoughts suck the breath from my lungs.I just unlocked my reasons behind the mask kink I recently discovered.
Even as pissed as I am, I admit my masked man is perfectly imperfect.
Ten minutes later,we’re heading to the front door of Hollow Ridge, a massive stone house with gargoyles near the entrance. The bass from the music playing inside fills the air, and trepidation swirls inside me as I head inside.
No. Tonight is about having fun. Forget about everything else, including the masked man.
Mandy leads me to the drinks, and I grab a beer, eventhough I’m not a fan. But I don’t trust the big bowl of punch that has God only knows what in it.
As we move toward the makeshift dance floor, a girl from Mandy’s class comes up, grabbing her arm and chatting animatedly in her ear. The music is too loud to make out what she’s saying, so I gaze around the room while sipping my beer, feeling awkward.
I spot my former tutor, Adam, going to the kitchen. I raise my arm, yelling his name. His last meeting with me was brief and strange. I saw the bruises and lacerations on his face, but he wouldn’t comment on them.
“What happened?” I rush over to him, grabbing his arm.
He jerks it away, his eyes narrowing on me. “As if you don’t know.”