CHAPTER FIVE
OPAL
The apartment smells faintly of pumpkin from the candle I lit earlier, but I barely notice. My mind is elsewhere—tangled in the thoughts of tomorrow night, the party.
I pull the outfit out of the bag, laying it on the bed. Mini skirt. Tube top. Sequins and lace. Devil horns. I’ve never wore anything like this outside my apartment.
And of course… I can't stop thinking about him.
Kellan. My dark knight. I wish I would have invited him to come tomorrow.
I shake my head, trying to banish the thought. He probably doesn’t even think about me like that. And he probably has a wife at home. One who he buys books for.
The party isn’t until tomorrow, but I can already feel the nerves bubbling.
I boil water for a cup of tea. I scroll my Kindle looking for a good dark romance to suck me in.
I’m craving a good stalker romance. The kind where the male character is installing cameras in her house and watching her every move, quietly protecting her from the shadows.
Kindle and tea in hand I move to the bathroom and start running a hot bath. I drop in a fun Halloween themed bath bomb—black and glittery.
I sink into the bath, tea within reach, Kindle glowing softly. The water swirls around me. A little calm before the excitement and chaos of tomorrow. I lean back and let the water soothe my muscles and get lost in the world of my story.
I try to breath through the nerves buzzing in my chest. Tonight’s the night.
I order Starbucks on DoorDash—pumpkin spice latte and a breakfast sandwich to go with it. When it arrives, I take everything out to the small balcony.
The cats weave around my legs, tails brushing my ankles, meowing, hoping for scraps. I toss them a tiny piece of egg and smile when they pounce.
The orange one jumps onto the table. “What, Ronald?” I scratch his chin and kiss his forehead.
I sip my coffee slowly, staring out at the sleepy little town. I still can’t believe I ran into Kellan last night—literally. That’s the thing about small towns. You always see someone you know—or don’t know? Wish you knew?
It’s quiet now, but tonight will be buzzing—parties, costumes, laughter, chaos. The thought makes my stomach flip.
I can’t remember the last time I went out on Halloween. Hell, I can’t remember the last time I went out at all. I trace my finger over the lid of the cup.
Why haven’t I gone out?
I guess because… I don’t know anyone here. Not really. Just Alex, my boss and the regulars at Nook & Fable.
My mom is back home in Virginia. My dad? He went MIA a decade ago, leaving behind questions that never found answers. And my brothers—also in Virginia—busy with their own lives, families, jobs.
It’s just me here. My books, my cats and my fictional men. And that’s the way I like it. Though I would like some company from time to time.
I swirl the coffee in my cup, watching the foam cling to the sides. Maybe that’s why tonight feels so big. It’s not just about a party. It’s about allowing myself to have something I deserve—fun.