Page 24

CHAPTER 24

SKULL MASK 2.0

THEODORE

T he stupid fucking skull mask has been mocking me from my underwear drawer all week. Hell, it has been in there for practically a year now, and the only reason I keep it there is some kind of self-sabotage. But as it vexes me, it makes every memory come rushing back. The memory of running through the woods and my cock shoved down Jax’s throat right where it belongs.

It’s the night my mind always finds its way back to when I let myself daydream, usually with my cock in my hands in the shower, or the nights when Bridget’s gone and the house is quiet.

It’s always that damn Halloween party.

Turning down the back-to-school party invite was easy; that may have been the night Jax and I shared our first kiss, but Halloween changed everything . And that very same party is this weekend. The entire thing crept up on me, again, until Jax’s text popped up on my phone a few days ago.

Jax

Halloween weekend is coming…

The party is on Saturday night if you want to come. You can even bring Bridget, it’ll be fun.

Gotta invite the neighbors so the cops don’t get called

My eyes have been going back and forth between that message and the mask sitting in my drawer. The fact that he’s even willing to invite me and trying to be amicable about this entire thing proves how good of a man he truly is. Better than I could ever hope to be.

Me

Marg better be there

Jax

It’s past her bedtime when we throw parties, or she’d be there.

She shut the last day party we had down.

Emerson and I had to practically carry her over to her house.

Me

She parties harder than me, it sounds like.

Bridget might go out of town on business. Maybe I could come.

No response.

Left on read.

For almost a week.

And rightfully so.

What the fuck was I thinking?

Why did I say that?

I’ve been doing so well keeping things very professional between Jax and I, but the Halloween party brought up the past in one fell swoop, every feeling, every memory, every desire came rising to the surface.

? * I can’t do this.

Slamming my drawer closed, I pocket my phone and do my best to push the thoughts of the party aside.

Why can’t college students just go trick-or-treating?

* * *

Avoidance didn’t work. Like, at all.

It’s Saturday.

And I still haven’t decided…

The mask has now made its way out of the drawer and is sitting on top of my dresser, mocking me even more than it was, if that’s even possible. The sun has just set, but there are already partygoers piling into the Baker house, as per usual.

It’s still eating at me that Jax still doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding my engagement. That everyone else in our families wants it more than I do. That I would quite literally break off the entire thing tomorrow if it didn’t mean disappointing everyone I care about. Again.

Him possibly thinking that I’m a cheater makes me physically sick. But when it boils down to it, I guess… I guess I technically am.

The thought of him thinking that puts my body in motion.

I slowly start getting dressed in the same “costume” that I had on last year.

Black cargo pants.

Black long-sleeved athletic shirt.

My all-black running shoes.

And lastly, the fucking mask.

I look in the mirror above the dresser and nod to myself. Twisting my wrist so my watch face flicks to life to show me the time, I say to no one but myself, “Fuck it.”

What else have I got to lose, right? Only my job, the respect of my parents, my engagement, and the last bit of dignity I have left. No big deal.

The feeling of Deja Vu is strong as I retrace my steps from last year. I exit my house using the back door, careful to not be seen by students standing out on the street. But instead of getting to Jax’s backyard, I stop dead in my tracks when an all too familiar voice rings out from the wicker chair on the front porch. “You lost, Mr. Young?”

Immediately, I realize my error in judgment.

Good idea wearing the same fucking costume, Theo.

Jax is in the chair in what looks to me like some sort of Indiana Jones costume, and I can’t take my eyes off of his chest through the open buttons. Trying to maintain a modicum of composure, I steel my spine. “Not at all, Mr. Baker.”

“I guess your fiancée wound up going out of town after all, since you’re here on my porch with that mask on.”

Despite my efforts, a heavy sigh falls from my mouth. “You could’ve responded to my text…”

“I could’ve… but I didn’t, did I, Theo?”

Okaaaaaay.

I nod because I know the game he wants to play. He doesn’t want to be the one giving in to me. He wants to be friendly . Amicable.

And if I was being a true “friend” I would turn around right now and go back to my house. I should leave this poor man alone. I’ve done enough. The last thing I need to be doing is standing in front of him, daydreaming about his lips being on mine. Because despite how friendly we have been, when it comes to him, I’m a lost cause.

* ? Fake - I Prevail