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“It’s almost like I’m doing it on purpose,” Suzie said.
“Why?”
Suzie shrugged. “Sure, Megyn looks nice. When she actually tries and gets all prettied up, she looks like a catch. She’s even fooled you. But she isn’t a princess. She’s just a pauper. You might like her, but she’s not a match for you.”
I could feel myself getting angrier. I wanted to grab that ridiculous tail of hers and rip it off the back of her skimpy costume. The way she toyed with it as she walked around me, so suggestively, really got under my skin.
“How can you say that about someone you work with?” I scoffed. “It’s a wonder she even can work with someone like you around. You think I haven’t seen your behavior?”
Suzie beamed and I winced inwardly. I had just informed her that her antics were working. No doubt she’d try even harder now to keep my attention. “You have me all wrong. Megyn and I don’t have to be friends or get along. She’s an okay person, though not my favorite kind to be around. Really weak. You don’t want someone like that to be your wife.”
“It’s none of your business what I want.”
Her eyes flashed. “Really? I have money. I have the family. I know how the business world works. I could be your partner. If you fall for Megyn, you’ll realize she’s just a burden to you.”
My chest tightened, rage swelling inside me. “Listen here—”
From behind me came a quiet little voice. “Carter?”
I whirled. Megyn stood behind me, clutching two solo cups filled with green punch. She looked stricken, moisture brimming in her big eyes. Her dark red lips trembled.
I didn’t need to think about what was more important for me to do in this moment. I ignored Suzie and went to Megyn, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and whisking her off the dance floor, out into the quieter hallway. I lifted the cups of punch from her hands and set them aside, and wrapped her up against my chest and held her tight.
Megyn trembled against me, her tears warm on my neck. “Suzie’s right. I don’t know how to live the life you do. I couldn’t ever offer you anything.”
My throat was tight. I held the back of her head in my hand and stroked her hair. “Suzie is jealous of you. Even before we met, she’s been jealous of you. I can tell. It’s been festering inside her.”
“No.” Megyn shook her head.
“Yes. You have passion. She doesn’t understand that and it makes her strike out at you. She’s maybe not a bad person, but she really is a bit too crazy for my tastes. Not that I’m even looking, since I have you.”
Megyn kept shaking her head, refusing to agree. But, she didn’t pull away. She clutched at my prince costume and pressed to me. She wanted so much to believe. I could feel her heart trying to open up to mine, she just needed a little bit of help.
I let my head rest on top of Megyn’s and closed my eyes, letting the two of us be the only people in the world. “Megyn, sweet Megyn, I don’t want anything from you. It’s I who wants to offer you something. I want to share. I want to show you what I have, and I want to make happy memories. You’re beautiful. You’re special. I’ve seen it for myself. You’re being silly if you think I’d rather be with someone like Suzie.”
Megyn sniffled and tucked her face more to me. “Why are you so nice?”
“It’s a character flaw,” I said sadly.
Megyn gave a tearful laugh against my neck.
I held her face and brought my lips to her, kissing her, tasting the salt of her tears. “You really don’t know yourself. You’re so much better than you think. We’ve only just arrived and already I’ve caught so many wandering eyes being drawing to you.”
“No way.”
“Way. I’m lucky to be the one with you tonight. I don’t want anyone to steal you away from me.” I took her hand and squeezed it. “Why don’t we drink our punch and then try dancing again? I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.”
Megyn nodded and passed one of the drinks to me. “You stepped on my foot towards the end there.”
I choked, almost inhaled the sugary fruit punch. “I did?”
“You did.” Megyn lifted her cup and drank, her eyes smiling at me over the rim. “You really need more practice.”
I laughed. “I’d love to.”
We took our time, walking through the party to look at all the cheap surplus Halloween decorations scattered here and there. When we both finished our drinks, we made our way back to the dance floor and tangled our arms around each other.
We danced.