Page 64 of Game Plan

“Anyone else want something?”

Two of Jules’s friends ordered mocktails too, and Shawn ordered a draft beer when he joined them. We exchanged a few words before my friend pulled me aside. “Is it really over with my brother?” she asked.

I took a deep breath in and offered her an apologetic smile. “I think so. We had a great time, but our last date ended up with him more interested in my football-player friends than in me. It was awkward afterward.”

“He’s so stupid. Gosh, I’m sorry. I swear he’s not usually like that. For what it’s worth, he wasn’t proud of himself the next day. I think he realized too late how he messed up.”

“Whatever, it’s okay. I wasn’t looking to date anyone, so maybe it was bound to happen. I’m good, I promise.”

“Who knows, I might still feed him his balls in his sleep someday.”

I burst out into a loud chuckle. “Please don’t. He’s a good guy.”

Another server called my name.

“I gotta go,” I told Jules. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.”

“Tell Cassie that next year I want her to make my costume too. You look incredible.”

“Thanks.” I zigzagged through the patrons toward the bar, taking three more orders on my way there.

“Big night?” Barry, the barman, asked. He was dressed as a zombie. A fog machine and changing-color lights set behind the bar made him look like he’d just survived an apocalypse.

I removed my peaked cap and used the crook of my elbow to wipe my forehead, careful not to ruin my makeup. “Is it always like this?”

“On Halloween? Yes.” Soon, he placed my orders on the countertop, and I refilled my tray, ready to go back out there. When I turned around, I almost bumped into a girl dressed as Smurfette, and I giggled. I hadn’t thought about Mason so far tonight, but now that I was facing a human-size blue humanoid creature, I anticipated seeing him later—if we ended up at the same party. Cassidy had promised to send someone to pick me up when my shift ended so I could meet her. Deep down, I worried that things might be awkward between Mason and me. We hadn’t seen each other since the night he’d walked me home after we painted his bedroom over a week ago. Yes, there had been pretty big sparks between us that day, but it didn’t mean anything, and it mostly didn’t mean they would still be there. Or I liked to believe they wouldn’t.

It was almost midnight when I exited the pub. Declan, Cassidy’s friend and coworker, was waiting, his car parked in front of Lola’s when I finished my shift. The sidewalks all around campus were crowded with students in costumes, some sober, others clearly intoxicated. I appreciated how everyone had joined in the festivities, but I was relieved I didn’t have to walk alone tonight of all nights.

Minutes later, Declan parked in the driveway of a white house, the front lawn overcrowded with people.

“You’re not coming in?” I asked him before I climbed out.

“Nah. I’m working early tomorrow, and I’ve had enough of this wig.” He removed the bright orange spiky thing covering his head and raked his fingers through his hair. His green makeup was half gone, and his red tie was hanging loosely around his neck. He told me he was supposed to be some cartoon character, but I still couldn’t figure out which one.

“Thanks for the ride. I hope I didn’t keep you up too late.”

“Nah. I told Cassie I’d be the designated driver until midnight, so it’s all good.”

I stepped out of the car.

“It was nice seeing you, Mel. Have fun in there.” He spoke again before I had time to close the door. “Oh, and Cassie said to tell you she would wait by the DJ booth. Night.”

I nodded and made my way up the five steps leading to the front door. A guy with a curly black wig dressed as a disco-era dancer with a mass of dark fake chest hair—or I hoped they were fake—visible through the opening of his silver shirt, greeted me.

“Welcommme to our…huh…house,” he slurred, moving the red plastic cup in his hand as he spoke and sending liquid sloshing everywhere. “I hopppe you’re not here to arrest meee, Offficer. I’ve been a verrry bad boy tonight, but how could I have resisted theeese two butterflies?” He lifted three fingers and put them in front of my eyes, squinted, and lowered one. “Two.”

I forced a smile. After the night I’d had, I was a bit fed up with wasted people. “You’re safe. For now. I won’t tell anyone, and I won’t arrest you.”

Out of the blue, he erased the gap between us and pulled me into a bear hug. He smelled of sweat, cigarette smoke, and vodka, a combination I would have liked to avoid. “We should get marrried. I likkke you a lot, you, the girl offficer.”

“Mel.”

“I likkke you a lot, Meggg. And I thinnnk you’re hottt.”

I pushed away from him without correcting him. “Thanks.” I gestured to the party. “I should go. I’m meeting some friends.”

His face fell. “Ohhh, okay. Come get meee if you need anything. A-ny-thing.”