Three hours. That’s how long it took Shea and me to pick out our suits. We’d gone to a shop within a few blocks of school, and taken one of the Fallen Academy school guards with us, since I wasn’t supposed to leave campus without a security detail now. Luke and Angela left after an hour of dying of boredom. Now I was wearing a powder-blue string bikini that Shea promised me looked killer, and a pair of tiny cutoff jean shorts over it. We’d had no issue at the shops, so I was thinking the kidnapping plot was behind me.
We’d just pulled up to Santa Monica Pier, the same pier where I’d kissed Lincoln.
“Oh my God, this looks awesome!” Shea squealed, doing a mini twerk in her seat to invisible music.
There were two huge white tents set up with open sides.
“This is catered?” Angela asked, peeking her head into the front seat.
Two caterers in formal attire were serving a spread of different foods in one tent. Looking farther out onto the beach, I saw two volleyball games going on and some other things set up.
“Oh my God, Chloe’s brother is here.” Luke breathed from the back seat. “I should’ve worn the red shorts. Angela, move. I can get in twenty more sit-ups.”
I burst out laughing. “Come on, y’all. Enough pining over these asshats. Let’s just let loose and have some fun.”
Angela tapped my shoulder. “I like your style.”
“Did you just say ‘y’all’?” Shea gave me the stank eye.
I ignored her because something hit me then. “Wait, Chloe’s brother is a Nightblood. How is he in the sun?”
Angela pointed to a tall brunette female. “She’s a super powerful Light Mage in the Fallen Army, and can do temporary sun protection spells.”
Cool.
I turned off the car and jumped out. I’d spent nearly half my paycheck on the bikini, so Lincoln had better freaking notice. Slipping my bag over my shoulder, I locked my car and we all started to walk to the beach. I didn’t bother wearing a shirt; I had one in my bag for later, but I wanted to get a decent tan, and make Lincoln hopefully lust after my tiny boobs.
As we walked up, I noticed my dark-haired hottie right away. He was dishing out a plate of corn on the cob, BBQ ribs and a few other items I couldn’t see from my vantage point.
“Ladies! And Luke,” Noah said, coming over to shake the Beast Shifter’s hand.
“Thanks for inviting us,” I told him.
He nodded. “Of course.” He turned to Shea and popped a kiss on her cheek. “You look killer.” He winked at her.
She grinned.
Noah’s wink was a dime a dozen.
Lincoln looked over then, his eyes running a quick up and down my body before coming back to my face.
“Bri!” a familiar voice shouted.
Snapping my attention to the right, I saw Fred, from my studies of light class, making his way over to me.
“Fred? Hey, I didn’t know you were going to be here.” I reached up and gave him a quick hug.
“Yeah, Darren is my good friend. Sweet rib cage tats. I always wondered where you were hiding the other two.” He glanced at my abdomen.
I brushed my fingers across them and looked past Fred to see Lincoln standing just behind him, dishing more food on his plate but totally listening in on my conversation.
“Yeah, I forget they’re there sometimes,” I told him honestly.
“Hey, listen, I wanted to ask you today but you weren’t in class. Are you going to the winter ball?” No shame, no fear. He just asked me in front of everyone.
I liked a take-charge guy like that.
“I was thinking about it,” I said, watching Lincoln for any sign of distress. None so far, except about ten pounds of food on his bowing plate.
He smiled. “I’d love to take you. Assuming you don’t have anyone?”
My eyes flicked up, to find Lincoln craning toward our conversation.
“You’re dazzled with my light magic, aren’t you? That’s why,” I joked.
Fred grinned. “What can I say, those little four-watt bulbs really do it for me.”
Genuine laughter erupted from me. Fred was funny and sweet, and he wanted me. Even with all the rumors swirling that I was an archdemon, he still wanted me. “I’d love to go. That sounds fun.”
He smiled, and it was handsome. He wasn’t sexy, but he was still cute. “Cool. You’re in Bright Hall, right? I’ll pick you up at seven.”
I nodded, but before I could answer, Lincoln spun around and placed a hand on Fred’s shoulder. “Ever since Chloe’s birthday, we’ve had to be extra careful about where Brielle goes and who she is with, so if you’re taking her to the dance, you’ll have to be escorted by her security detail.”
Lincoln’s eyes were burning holes into me. He cared. He totally cared.
Fred shrugged the hand off. “No problem with me. Tell her security detail to be at Bright Hall at seven.”
“Fred, you’re up!” someone yelled from the sand, where some game was happening.
Fred squeezed my upper arm lightly. “See ya.” Then he ran off.
Lincoln and I just stood there staring at each other. It was then that I noticed Shea and everyone had left me.
I took a step closer to Lincoln, lowering my voice to keep it private. “You know, I can cancel with Fred if you want to take me to the dance.”
There, I said it. Maybe Fred asking me out had flipped a switch in him, and he’d changed his mind about our age gap, or whatever it was that bothered him.
He looked like I’d given him a cow dung cookie, his lip curling. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
My face fell, and I swallowed down the tears that threatened. Lincoln Grey was a heartbreaker, and I wasn’t going to have anything to do with that.
Unhooking the button, I peeled off my shorts, holding his gaze the entire time. Then I broke eye contact, and threw my shorts on top of my bag before storming out of the tent. I’d been told many a time that my ass was my best physical feature. Best to throw it in his face so he’d know what he’d be missing.
I am done with Lincoln Grey.
We won two of the four games. My wedding cake sand castle was lit and helped us win that round, Angela used her Necromancy gift to make live roses grow out of the top tier. We lost the swim relay race, and also our round of beach volleyball. There was some huge complicated scoreboard that I didn’t understand, and about ten different teams, but I didn’t really care. I was having a blast. I’d even managed to put Lincoln, and my Exorcist magic from my mind, and focus on the fun.
“All right, partygoers. One final game, then the winning team will be announced, and the bonfire party will begin!” Noah shouted through a bullhorn.
He walked over to a small bucket of water and threw a single red apple inside. “This year’s mystery game is the apple run. One member from two opposing teams will compete against each other. Your hands will be tied behind your back and you’ll run, try to get the single apple into your mouth, and then make it across the finish line with it. Anything goes—tripping, shoving, whatever. Just get that apple!”
The teams roared in excitement. Most of them were drunk, so I was pretty sure we had an advantage.
“Each team pick a member to represent them, and put their name in the basket,” Noah shouted, pointing to an old Easter basket sitting on the table.
Shea immediately turned to me. “Oh, girl, you got this! You’re the best at bobbing for apples on Halloween.”
It was true. Our apartment always had a wicked Halloween party, and I’d had lots of practice. I looked at Angela and Luke. “You cool with that?”