Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

WILLEM

‘ What's your favorite costume?'

Those three bubbles popped up, followed immediately by Andi's response. ‘Like best costume I've ever seen in the wild? That's tough.'

‘That is now a follow-up question, but for now I meant like your go-to costume to dress up as?' I pursed my lips and tried to think of the last four Halloweens we were friends and what she'd dressed as. ‘ I feel like I remember you prefer non-traditional costumes. No witches or fairies or vampires . . . right?'

‘Yeah, I like to spice it up a notch from the basics,' she responded immediately.

The basics. If she only knew. I smiled and stretched out on my bed. It was Friday night, the night of the zombie crawl, and I was doing everything I could to avoid going and to distract my thoughts from all things Indi. Every time I left the house, I had some awful run-in with her . . . and her pretty, intelligent, old as hell perfect boyfriend. Everywhere I went, there she was. I knew this Island was small, but dammit, not that small. I hadn't seen Monroe Whittaker in a week. Holden was nowhere to be found. Yet there was Indi. Everywhere. At the pumpkin hunt, at Boo at the Zoo, the pumpkin-carving contest, sardines night, and that damned haunted house. Hell, she couldn't even give me the peace of not bringing her yummy new boyfriend to my own brother's birthday party. We hadn't seen each other in ten years, and she brought a guy to my brother's party.

I hated seeing them together. Each time was worse. The bonfire made me so sick I could barely eat for days. They were just so cozy and chummy with each other. I wondered how long they'd been dating, not that it mattered. Wait, are they soulmates? Have I seen their arms? Yeah. Yeah, I think I have. I didn't see a mark. Shit, I should check. Honestly, the worst part about her being with Daniel was how perfect they were for each other. Indi had lived a hard life, basically becoming a single mother at fifteen despite not giving birth. That trauma aged a person. She was an old soul, a damaged old soul. Daniel was literally old. Bash told me he was over six hundred years old. That kind of wisdom and life experience was something Indi had to find comfort in—someone who understood her life like that. My life had been too cushioned for her. Daniel was a detective, which wasn't much different than an archaeologist.

I sighed. We had agreed after that broom race to not be awkward around each other. It was supposed to be the first step toward being friends again. Again. I laughed to myself in a short burst. Indi and I had never been friends. It'd been love at first sight. We'd been a couple within hours. I literally had no idea how to just be her friend. And even though I agreed to her terms, I wasn't sure I wanted to be friends. I wasn't sure I could be friends.

I cursed. So much for my distraction. Andi was taking too long. ‘ So what's the answer, Jones?'

‘Dinosaur.' She sent dinosaur emojis.

I grinned. ‘I should have expected that.'

‘You forgot about my inflatable T-rex costume, didn't you?'

I gasped. ‘OMG. I did forget. I think I was so jealous of it I had to block it from memory.'

In response, she sent a selfie of herself in a hotel mirror wearing one of those inflatable T-Rex costumes.

I laughed. ‘ That's epic, dude. I think I need one.'

‘ So what's your fav? I mean, I know you don't dress up most years, but surely you used to partake in the tradition? '

‘ My fav as a teenager was this fake tree costume. I'd wear it and then find places to stand still then jump out and scare people.' I giggled at the memories.

‘ That is just so you.'

‘Halloween isn't celebrated in enough places. '

‘ You usually travel around in October.'

‘Yeah, last few years I've been documenting different celebrations in the States. But before that I'd traveled to other countries to see what they did.'

‘Which countries did you check out?'

‘Mexico, England, Italy, Guatemala, Japan, Ireland, and China. I think that's all.'

‘Did you take pics?'

‘You know I did. And you're right, I should publish those as a collection.'

‘I am so smart.' She sent with a winking emoji. Before I could respond, she sent another message. ‘ You okay, Arrow? You seem a little . . . heavy lately.'

‘Well, two of my brothers are chefs, so I am quite literally getting heavier by the day.'

‘Deflection. Got it. I'll poke you later for the tea.'

I sighed and felt my lips curve into another smile. Andi had a way of easing the pressure in my chest no matter the situation. She calmed me. Centered me. Without her I would be a mess. I just wasn't quite ready to rifle through my emotions over Indi again. My brothers hadn't let up since they found out. The questions were non-stop. I just needed a moment to catch my breath, to relax and not have my heart poked and prodded by my ex and her perfect boyfriend.

‘ How's your sister?'

‘It's SO weird to be planning her wedding.'

‘Weird how?'

‘Like on one hand I'm basically her mother, so I just keep wanting to cry and hold on to her because I can't believe she's all grown up . . . but on the other hand . . .' She didn't type it, but I knew she was sighing dramatically on her end. ‘ It's hard to plan a wedding for my baby sister when I'm painfully single. And it's unfair to really feel this way.'

‘I get that. My two older brothers have already met their soulmates.' As soon as I sent that, I grimaced. Soulmates weren't a real thing for humans, but she'd assume I was being poetic. ‘ It's a high standard to try and compete with.'

‘What that must feel like . . . a soulmate. Like to be able to say that and feel it. Wild. '

‘Do you think us being so co-dependent has prevented us from wanting to actually date other people?' Andi and I were no strangers to deep conversations and sometimes it felt good to have them without feeling the need to sugar coat things or hide my true feelings.

‘Well, Matt thinks so. As do my mother and her friends. Also my sister.'

I chuckled. ‘ Shit. Maybe we should be concerned?'

‘Whatever. To hell with the haters. They're just jealous they don't have a best friend like we do.'

I grinned. ‘ Facts.'

‘What are you doing tonight?'

‘Hiding from my family, hoping if I don't make any noise, they'll forget I'm here so I can spend the evening alone reading a book. You?'

‘Just barricade the door,' she sent with a funny gif. ‘ I get to choose between playing third wheel with my sister and her fiancé, OR I can go hangout with all the other spouses who married into the family.'

‘Where's the fake boyfriend?'

‘I gave him the night off. I'm not much good for company right now either.'

‘Don't run, Andi.'

‘SIGH. I'm not running. I . . . I can't do that anymore to my sister. '

‘ Good. Maybe you should barricade yourself in tonight too? '

‘I think I will. Watch Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic. What a night.'

I started to respond when I heard heavy footsteps heading toward my door. It was either Archer or Brian. They sounded similar. ‘Do that. Text me later. I think I'm gonna take a nap so they won't make me go out. Talk to you later.'

I had just rolled onto my side and closed my eyes when Archer let himself into my room. "Dude, you have to come out."

"I quite literally do not," I grumbled without rolling over to face him.

"Connor and Caleb have this whole special event thing planned. They want you there."

"Pressure and a guilt trip?" I rolled to face him. "Nice."

He grimaced. "Sorry, Will. You can't just sit in here?—"

"You did. For like three days straight. You smelled."

He nodded. "So you're saying Indi is your soulmate, the literal love of your life, and that's why you can't function?—"

"You know I didn't say that." I groaned and flipped onto my back to stare at my ceiling.

"Then the circumstances are not the same," he said softly.

I glared at him.

He held both hands up. "Besides, you have a girlfriend now. You're welcome by the way."

I rolled my eyes. "Go away."

"Jethro has a meeting with a client. When he's done, he's driving over, though not in costume. Be in that car, Willem, or I tell Mom about you and Indi."

I gasped. "You wouldn't."

He smirked. "Call my bluff then."

Then he was gone. I groaned and kicked my legs like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

The door opened again, and I growled. "Go away, Archer."

"Just me, bro." Brian slid into my room.

I closed my eyes and scrubbed my face with my hands. "Sorry, what's up?"

"Can I borrow that old bow and arrow set you have? I won't shoot any arrows?—"

"What?" I frowned and turned to look at my youngest brother. He was dressed as some kind of hunter, not a zombie. "Isn't this zombie crawl?"

"Yeah. I'm going as a zombie hunter." He grinned. "Figured it's a great way to start conversations with cute zombie girls."

I sighed. "So is saying hello, Brian. You don't need a gimmick?—"

"C'mon, this will be a fun way to flirt. It's harmless."

"Fine. Yeah, I don't care. Have fun." I pointed to my bookshelf that was loaded with all kinds of trinkets and things I'd collected while traveling. "It's hanging on the side, next to the . . . uh . . . next to the flower crown thing."

"Sweet." He skipped over and unhooked the bow and quiver, then he inspected the crown. "That's really pretty. Looks handmade."

"It is," I said softly. "You better get going."

"Thanks, Lemon Drop!"

And then he was gone.

I sighed and forced myself out of bed. Archer was most likely lying about telling Mom, that wasn't his style, but in the slim chance he wasn't lying . . . I had to go out. If Mom knew I'd once been madly in love with Indi Chase, she wouldn't let it go. My body tensed just thinking about all the scenarios she'd put me in to ty and get us back together.

There was no way I was doing a zombie costume. I just didn't have it in me. Nor was I leaving this room until Jethro told me he was ready. Instead, I grabbed a book off my shelf, then walked over to sit in the bay window that overlooked the street. It was my favorite spot to sit and watch people go by.

But a few seconds later, I watched in horror as Zita walked out of Barbie Graham's house with none other than Indi. My heart stopped. Barbie was Zita's aunt, so it was normal for her to be there, but I couldn't think of a single reason for Indi to be there. My intrusive thoughts were spiraling out of control.

Would Zita tattle on me to Indi about our fake relationship?

I wanted to say no, to be positive the Zita I knew would always have my back, but a lot had happened to her in ten years and she herself told me she'd changed . . . Perhaps she'd be more like my mother and Bash and try to get me back with Indi. My heart pounded in my chest.

I leaned against the glass, watching them walk across the street toward my house. Suddenly the window flew open and gravity yanked me right out. It happened too fast. One second I was sitting in the window, the next I was rolling down the angled roof. My body went airborne for a moment, then I slammed into the cold, hard ground.

My breath was knocked from my lungs. Pain shot through my entire body. My head throbbed. I sucked in air and tried to just not die for a second.

Indi flew into my line of sight with her pink hair pouring over her shoulders. Her pink eyes were wide with horror as she dropped to her knees beside me. She reached out with her hands and started to pat me down like she was looking for a horrible injury. "Will, oh God, are you okay? What happened?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. There was no way I was explaining what just happened. And there was no way I could breathe normal with all that concern for me on her face. It hurt my heart more than that fall hurt my back.

"Will? Will, can you hear me?" She reached forward and took my face between her hands. "Can you breathe?"

I opened my mouth again and sucked in more air as proof I was breathing. A little groan slipped out of my lips. My gaze then landed on her arms, more specifically her left arm. She was dressed as a zombie, as I knew she would be, in a little ripped-up white dress that had fake blood splattered all over it. Her makeup somehow made the angles of her face even more beautiful than they already were. She had thick white gauze wrapped around her hands and arms. There was just enough skin peeking through the gauze to prove to me that Daniel was not her soulmate.

That relief rocked me harder than falling from a second-floor window.

All I could do was stare up into her pink eyes. I wondered if she could see what she did to me, what pain I felt for her. If she did, she didn't speak on it. Her pink eyes glistened with emotion as she held my face and stared back.

I didn't know how long we sat there like that, but it was over too fast.

"WILL!"

"WILLY!"

Archer and Brian were shouting my name and rushing for me.

Indi didn't move but she did pull her hands off my face. "Your mother is in her shop. I'll let her know you might need one of her potions."

Without another word, she stood and nodded to my brothers, then bolted.

I cringed and let out a sharp whimper that had nothing to do with the physical pain.

"Is he dead?" Jethro yelled from his bedroom window in the room next to mine.

"Doesn't appear to be dead," Brian shouted back as he stared down at me in horror.

Archer shook his head and leaned down to put his hands on his knees. "This is a bit excessive and dramatic, Willem."

I groaned.

"First you get jumped by a bear and now you fall out a window?" Brian chuckled. "Not a good month for you."

Dad suddenly appeared and hovered over me. He dropped to his knees and started checking me out the way doctors did. I'd been injured enough, so I knew the drill. I knew which little tests he'd do to make sure I had no crazy serious injuries. The fall had hurt more than I wanted to admit, but I was fine. I just hadn't gotten up because I wasn't sure there was a point.

Then Dad sighed and leaned back on his heels. "You'll need some blood, just in case, and I want to check you for a concussion and check your neck?—"

"—I wasn't actually going to hold you to my threat, Lemon Drop." Archer laughed. "You didn't have to throw yourself out a second-story window to get out of going to the zombie crawl."

I laughed but it sent sharp pain through my ribs. "Bite me?—"

"Perhaps if you did a little more biting, Son, you would've had the strength to use your new reflexes."

My brothers snort-laughed.

"I thought we didn't victim-blame in this house, Father."

"We do when the victim was also the attacker." He grinned. "Now, brace yourself. Your mother is already screeching in distress."

More laughter from my brothers.

I groaned.

Archer leaned over me. "You might need to stay on the Island and learn how to be a proper vampire, Lemon Drop."

Bash landed from seemingly out of nowhere beside Archer—or I'd blacked out for a second. He grinned. "I've never heard of a vampire falling out of a window on accident. This is why I love being part of this family. We keep it interesting."

I was never, ever, ever going to live this night down.