29. Presley #2
If I acknowledge her existence right now, I'm going to commit homicide in a Halloween store.
Instead, I stare at Hades. “So you're willing to commit to the role?”
His eyes don't leave mine. “Completely.”
Oh.
Fuck me.
I clear my throat. “Fine.”
Gracie claps. Penny barks while Walter sneezes.
“On one condition.”
Everyone looks at me.
I point at Hades. “No mustache.”
His eyebrows raise. “It's part of the costume.”
“No.”
“Seems important.”
“It looks like something you'd find stuck underneath a couch.”
Hades stares at me for two seconds. Then he laughs again.
And something inside my chest goes warm.
I like making him laugh. A lot.
“Well, have fun shopping.” Gracie waves, then wheels Penny and Walter away.
Hades and I exchange a look before we follow.
His hand finds mine again.
“Meddling Gracie.”
Hades smirks. “And the sidekicks.”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Yeah. Walter and Penny were clearly on her side.”
As we walk, my eyes trail over the various costumes and masks.
When my gaze lands on the wall, I freeze.
Every bit of warmth drains out of me.
A white, weathered, skeletal mask hangs from a hook.
The same one that my masked stalker uses.
My hand tightens around Hades's.
He notices immediately. “What?”
I stare at the mask.
He reaches over and grabs it. “You want me to wear this—”
“Don't.” The word comes out sharper than I intend.
He stares at me.
I swallow. “Just... don't.”
Hades studies the mask, then me. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Presley.”
I shake my head. “It's just creepy.”
He looks at it again.
For one horrible second, I'm back upstairs at The Crooked Spine. Blindfolded. The Masked Man’s hand around my wrist. That distorted voice in my ear saying, “Good girl.”
No. Stop it.
He’s not here.
You’re with Hades.
My gaze jerks toward Hades. Smoky-gray eyes meet mine before dropping to the mask. He turns it over in his hands. “Cheap.”
I blink. “What?”
“Cheap plastic.”
Then he puts it back. “Come on.”
His hand settles at the small of my back, warm and solid. Real.
I let him guide me away.
And somehow, by the time we're arguing over whether my Morticia dress needs a plunging neckline, I manage to convince myself I'm being ridiculous again.
Two hours later, I'm walking through downtown Hollow Creek dressed like Morticia Addams with Hades beside me in a black pinstriped suit. His hair is slicked back, but he’s not wearing a mustache.
I won.
Which turned out to be unfortunate for me because apparently Hades needed another way to become hotter.
Smoky eyes turn to mine. “You're staring.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I was looking at your costume.”
“Which you've been looking at for twenty minutes.”
“I'm thorough.”
His fingers wrap around mine. “Apparently.”
We reach the square. It’s packed with people. Orange lights are strung between buildings. Music plays around us. Kids race past us carrying glowing pumpkin buckets while adults cluster around food stands and carnival games. The air smells like fried dough, apples, smoke, and cold autumn air.
For the first time in days, I don't feel like checking the shadows. I don't look toward the woods. I don't wonder whether someone is watching me.
I'm just... happy.
Hades buys me cider.
I steal a bite of his funnel cake.
He informs me that stealing food on a first date is a serious character flaw.
I tell him stalking my cider while I'm drinking it is worse.
He almost chokes. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Stalking cider?”
“It’s original.”
He grins at me, sending my heart racing.
“Just like you.” He wipes powdered sugar from the corner of my mouth with his thumb.
My words disappear.
His thumb lingers, as does his gaze.
The noise around us seems to fade.
Then someone screams nearby.
I jump.
Hades's entire body goes tense.
We both turn. A teenager is laughing beside one of the haunted attractions.
I press a hand to my chest. “Jesus.”
Hades relaxes. “You okay?”
“Fantastic. Only lost three years of my life.”
His hand settles against my back protectively.
I look up at him.
This is nice. Dangerously nice.
An hour later, I'm carrying a ridiculous stuffed bat Hades won after spending entirely too much money trying to knock bottles off a platform.
“You know you could have bought me one for less.”
“That's not the point.”
“What was the point?”
“Winning.”
“Male ego.”
“Exactly.”
I laugh. At least he's self-aware.
We stop near the edge of the square where the crowd is thinner.
Hades turns toward me. “Having fun?”
I hug the bat against my chest and give him a coy smile. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“I don't want you getting arrogant.”
“Too late.”
I laugh.
And for a few seconds, everything feels normal.
A first date.
A Halloween festival.
A ridiculously attractive man dressed as Gomez Addams who looks at me like I'm the only woman here.
Then something over his shoulder catches my attention.
My laughter dies.
No.
Across the square, between clusters of people, stands a tall man dressed entirely in black. Black hoodie. Black jeans.
And that mask.
That fucking mask.
He's staring directly at me.
The stuffed bat slips from my fingers.
Hades catches it before it hits the ground. “Presley?”
I can't breathe.
He's here.
Masked Man is here.
He’s in the middle of Hollow Creek, surrounded by hundreds of people.
“Presley.” Hades steps in front of me. “What happened?”
I grab his arm. My fingers dig into his sleeve. “Him.”
“Who?”
“The—”
My voice breaks.
I point. “The masked man.”
Hades turns.
The man hasn't moved.
He's still there. Watching.
Hades goes completely still.
Then his head turns slightly toward me. “That's him?”
“Yes.”
His jaw tightens.
And that's when it hits me.
My heart pounds for an entirely different reason.
Oh my God.
They're both here.
Hades is standing right in front of me. I’m touching him.
And the Masked Man is across the fucking square.
The suspicion I've been trying not to acknowledge shatters.
Good girl.
The scent.
The strange familiarity.
It’s all just been a coincidence.
Hades isn't him. He can't be. He’s here with me.
“Stay here.”
“What?”
He hands me the stuffed bat, then he runs.
“Hades!”
He doesn't stop.
People move out of his way as he cuts across the square, then turns and runs.
Holy shit.
“Hades!”
I start after them.
Someone steps in front of me, and by the time I get around them, the Masked Man has disappeared between two buildings.
Hades follows.
Then they're both gone.
I stand in the middle of the festival clutching a stuffed bat against my chest. My pulse pounds in my ears. Around me, Halloween continues. People laugh. Children run past. Music plays.
No one seems to realize that a man wearing a nightmare has just disappeared into the darkness with my date chasing him.
I press a shaking hand to my mouth.
They’re two different men.
“Oh my God.”