Page 150 of Wherever You Are

My lips lift.

“Devil!” Lo shouts at me from up the driveway.

I raise my gaze from the computer screen, unsurprised that I’m being given a nickname.

“You know what happens when an angel and a devil create a bodily union? The apocalypse.”Jesusthisis why he gave us a couple costume.“Do the right thing and don’t end the world tonight.”

“That’s definitely not how that works,” I say dryly.

Lo looks to Ryke. “Do you hear this guy?”

“Yeah. I guess he doesn’t understand the fucking meaning of apocalypse. Want to spell it out for him?”

I cross my arms over my chest and give Ryke a look like,why do you have to be on my case too?Man, it royally sucks that Willow now has two brothers. One was enough since his name is Loren Hale. Adding Ryke into the mix is like throwing in barbed wire and explosives.

I’m not a fucking GI Joe doll. I’m not about to run through their obstacles with a smile andyes, sir.

It doesn’t help that Ryke doesn’t trust me. I see it in every inch of hisI fucking hate youstance and his towering, broody ass glare.

“Apocalypse,” Lo defines, “also known as the end of your godforsaken, puny little life by the powers that be.”

“Also known asme,” Ryke chimes in.

“And me,” Lo finishes with a half-smile. “Welcome to hell.”

I barely blink. “I’ve seen scarier.”

Ryke’s brows jump in surprise. “Who?”

“My brothers.” I turn into my computer, a little shocked I even uttered those words. My abdomen tenses and I roll out my shoulders.

Whatever.

Lo and Ryke have dropped the whole overly protective brother routine, and Willow nudges my shoe with hers. “Sorry about them,” she whispers.

I shake my head. “It’s good they care about you.” If it were any other guy on the receiving end of their bullshit, I’d probably be applauding. Willow deserves people to care about her enough to grill whatever guy she’s with. I’m just the lucky asshole who gets her.

“They’re ten fucking minutes late now,” Lo complains. As soon as he says the words, the front door opens. Rose struts out first in a long, light-blue draped dress with a gold belt, along with a platinum blonde wig.

Daenerys Targaryen.The Mother of Dragons fromGame of Thrones. It’s not my genre of choice, but I’ve been watching with Willow.

I glance to my girlfriend. Her smile has officially burst across her face. “It’s perfect,” she says softly. “I never thought I’d get to see Rose dressed up as Dany.” Before I can say anything, she leans a hip against the limo and angles to me. “Are you nervous about the party?”

“The Halloween party?” I ask. Lo gave us bare details. It’s in the Hamptons at some famous singer’s house. He annoyingly forgot the singer’s name. I know this is Willow’s first “adult” Halloween party that’ll include more than just chaste apple bobbing.

She nods.

“Not really,” I tell her. “Are you?”

“Yeah, it’s just…” She rubs her arm. “Their bodyguards aren’t allowed in the mansion, and what if something happens?”

“Nothing’s going to happen,” I say, and I don’t add that if anythingdoeshappen, it’ll probably be to the people more famous than us. That’ll just make her worry for Daisy. “What are you nervous about specifically, anyway?”

“People. Lots of people. Being touched or not knowing where to go. Getting lost…lots of things.”

Fuck. “I’m not going to let anyone touch you.” Even thinking about it is like drilling nails into my skull. Not happening. It’s not fucking happening.

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