Escaping the Friendzone (Monsters of Moonvale #1.75)
Chapter 1
1
T he alarm on my phone repeats its annoying song as I slam the dryer closed with a little too much force, almost toppling over the laundry basket sitting on top of it. I hit the button to start the drying cycle and scramble into my living room to turn the blasted thing off. It’s been going off for at least three minutes, and I could’ve turned it off sooner, but without the incessant reminder I would’ve gotten sucked into another task instead of heading out the door.
I look down at the baggy sweatshirt that I’m wearing for the second day in a row, then do a quick pit check. Eh, smells fine . My pajama pants aren’t suitable for leaving the house in, so I tug them off, heading to my dresser.
Shit. All my panties are currently in the dryer, and I did a purge of all the ancient ones with elastic so worn out that they don’t stay up, so those aren’t even an option. Guess I’m going commando. I pull on a pair of black leggings and frown down at the hole that’s opened up in the inner thigh. This happens with all of my leggings—my thighs are too powerful to be contained. One more outing in them should be okay. I doubt anyone will be looking between my thighs in a dark escape room.
I swish some mouthwash and shove my frizzy faded pink hair up into a bun, mentally putting re-dyeing it on my endless list of tasks. It’ll be weeks before I get to it. Life has been a whirlwind of working non-stop, while trying to keep my head above water with chores and basic self-care. The extreme business is a good thing in theory—my shop has never been more in demand since one of my hoodie designs went viral. But I’m starting to fall apart at the seams, just like my leggings.
If I worried about going out into public looking like an unwashed goblin, I’d never leave the house. I don’t have time to be cute. My friends won’t care what I look like, just that I show up. Kelly’s been bugging me for weeks to get together, and wouldn’t take no for an answer anymore. Plus, Doug will be there, and I know he’ll give me shit if I bail on another plan with him. Why the hell my brother wants to hang out with me instead of his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day is beyond me. Maybe things in his love life aren’t going well. Damn, now I definitely can’t bail in case he needs to talk.
I don’t even bother to check how I look in the hall mirror as I sling my purse over my shoulder and head out the door. Doug will probably call out the dark circles under my eyes that make me look like a sickly Victorian child. He’s been on my ass about taking time to rest ever since he joined his monster support group. One of their tenants, which he quotes to me all the time, is “rest is crucial to success”. Though, for him, it’s more about success at not going into a wolfy rage when something makes him upset.
I’m glad he found the group, even if he drives me a bit crazy with his non-stop proselytizing about self-care. When Doug was accidentally bitten by a werewolf a few years ago, he went to a really dark place. Neither of us knew that monsters existed, and in one night his whole life was turned upside down. I’ve done my best to support him, and in the process have found myself as one of the rare non-paranormals who has more monster friends than human ones.
Tonight, we’re meeting up at a fae-owned escape room that Doug heard about through his support group. Once we’re in the room, paranormals can let down any glamors or shift to their monster forms. Even better, the rooms are charmed, so magic can’t be used to force through the puzzles.
I pull into the parking lot with only one minute to spare, snagging a spot right by the entrance as someone is leaving. Of course I see him standing right by the entrance, arms crossed, his absurd biceps straining the fabric of his button-down’s sleeves as he stares down at his phone.
Wesley . My brother’s minotaur best friend, who I’ve been harboring a ridiculous crush on since the moment we met, even though he’s so far out of my league he might as well be on another planet. His glamor is in place, so right now he looks like a very attractive, fit human—if a little bit douchey with his too-tight pants and enormous gold watch gleaming against his dark brown skin in a way that screams “I have expensive taste”. Honestly, in his work clothes, he’s not really my type. Far too polished, shoving in my face the fact that he’s so much more put together than I’ll ever be. I much prefer him sweaty and mussed, like he is when he and Doug hang out post-workout. And the rare times I’ve seen him without his glamor, in his natural minotaur form… I start to get overheated just thinking about it.
He looks up and gives me a wave and a gleaming white smile as I approach, his gold nose ring glinting in the setting sunlight. God, why does he only ever see me when I look like a mess? My hand reflexively attempts to smooth down any flyaways, but they’re the least of my worries. There’s no hiding how bedraggled I am.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. Not that I can’t deduce the answer. Doug invited him. Ugh, now I’m going to have to spend an hour locked in a room with Wesley. A whole hour of him teasing me and treating me like an annoying little sister. Sure, I’m 30 to his 41, but we’re both adults. I guess he’ll always see me through that lens because of his friendship with Doug.
“Hello, Ariana. Nice to see you too,” he says wryly, his stupid perfect mouth quirking as he looks at me.
I roll my eyes. “I just didn’t expect you to be here. Shouldn’t you be out with some babe? It’s Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh, you know. I figured hanging out with Doug’s rude little sister would be so much more fun than getting laid,” he says, his deep voice dripping with sarcasm. “Doug invited me and I was worried that something had happened with Margaret and…”
“You didn’t want him to be alone,” I finish. I might not be happy Wesley is here, but I can’t argue that he’s not a wonderful, supportive friend to my brother. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough. Is he inside?”
“Nah, I’m the first one here. I haven’t seen Kelly either.” His phone vibrates, and he glances back down at it. “Great,” he says with a sigh .
“What?”
“Doug’s not coming. Margaret showed up at his place in some fancy lingerie and?—”
“Eww, gross, please don’t finish that sentence.” I don’t need to know what kind of freaky sex my brother is getting up to right now. “Okay, well, Kelly should still be here soon so?—”
My phone rings, cutting me off. “It’s Kelly.” I take a few steps away from Wesley before I pick up.
“Heeeey,” she says when I answer. Shit, that sounds like her apology “hey”.
“Hey! Where are you?” I ask, dreading her answer.
“Uh, so, I was about to leave work to head over and…you’re never going to believe this, but Susan showed up at my office with a bunch of roses.”
“Susan, the hot bitch from sales?!” Kelly’s been obsessed with her harpy crush for over a year. “Oh my god, that’s amazing! What happened?”
“She asked me out tonight. I told her I had plans but?—”
“Screw plans! You’re going out with her!” There’s no way I’m letting her miss that opportunity with Susan.
“Are you sure?” Kelly asks. “I feel so bad. I’m the one who bugged you to come tonight, and I hate bailing.”
I laugh. “It’s a nice change for you to be the one canceling this time. Seriously, it’s not a problem. Go have fun! Just promise to tell me all the juicy details tomorrow.”
“I will!” Kelly says, letting out a little squeal of delight before we say goodbye and hang up.
I grin down at my phone, feeling elated that Kelly’s romantic fantasies are finally about to come true, and at the fact that I can retreat to my gremlin lair and maybe get some more chores done.
“Well?” Wesley asks when I rejoin him.
“She’s not going to make it. You’re saved from being trapped with me. Have a good night with whoever you can convince to come over for a last minute V-day hookup.” I turn to head back to my car, but a heavy hand clamps onto my shoulder.
“Where are you going?”
“Uh, home?” I say, trying not to freak out at the weight of Wesley’s hand on me. I don’t think he’s ever intentionally touched me before and it’s making me feel hot and cold all over, which is silly because it’s my damn shoulder, not my tit. Crap, now I’m thinking about what it’d feel like to have him touch my boob.
“Why?” He furrows his brow and narrows his deep brown eyes at me with the same confusion that I’m currently feeling.
“What do you mean, why? Doug and Kelly aren’t coming. Which means there’s no reason to stay.”
Wesley pulls his hand back with a huff. “Wow, harsh.”
Why is he acting butthurt about my answer? I’m giving him an easy out for the night! “I didn’t mean it like that! I just figured you’d rather not spend your Valentine’s Day doing a four-person escape room with me.”
“Ariana ‘I love a challenge’ Sawyer is backing out of an escape room because we don’t have the optimal number of people?” He shakes his head with a laugh, obviously goading me.
I wish I could figure out why. Maybe it’ll be fun for him to tease me when I inevitably get frustrated at the puzzles? Still, he’s right. I can’t back down from a direct challenge.
“No! I could do it by myself if I wanted to,” I snap back at him.
Wesley grins at me like I just walked into a trap. Dammit, he’s definitely planning to tease the shit out of me. What an ass.
“Then let’s do it. Come on, before they get mad at us for arriving late.” He places a huge palm on my back, guiding me inside before my brain can catch up enough to think of another excuse .
I’m about to be locked in a room for an hour, alone, with the hottest, most unattainable person I’ve ever met. A person who seems to get off on teasing me—and not in a fun, sexy way. Please god, goddess, or whoever is out there, help me get through this torture without completely embarrassing myself.