Chapter 45

chapter

forty-five

ADDIE

"This is corny, isn't it? I should go home and change. This was the dumbest idea since low-rise jeans." My palms sweat as I jump in front of Caroline and Maren to stop them from getting any closer to the Tap.

"I could not be happier that high-waisted pants of all kinds are trending." Caroline tips her red cowgirl hat at me with one hand and uses the other to point to the high-waisted bell bottoms she's strutting in. She makes a damn good Lainey Wilson.

And I'm so freaking happy she's finally moved here so we don't need to resort to missed FaceTime calls and sporadic texts anymore.

I know Austin is more than happy too.

But none of that calms me down right now. I'm too busy freaking out about Owen to enjoy the return of my oldest friend.

I smooth out the round edge of my red costume and continue, "He's not going to show up, and if he does, he won't be wearing his costume. He'll think it's too embarrassing."

Maren places both hands on my shoulders and levels me with a sincere stare. "It's the cutest idea since your homecoming float for Caroline last month. The half-city, half-Sapphire Creek idea was inspired, and this one is brilliant too. He's going to show up dressed appropriately and tell you how much he loves it."

I nod along, but I don't release the breath I'm holding.

"If not, I'll punch him in the junk, then buy you all the shots your gigantic heart desires," Maren promises. That's exactly what it is—it's not a joke or a clever way to make me laugh, but a promise.

Her dedication to ruthlessly backing me up does help me relax, if only a fraction.

"Owen's funny. He'll appreciate this," Caroline adds.

"Well, he's more than just funny," I say.

"Of course," Maren chimes in. "He's also a really good kisser. What did you say about him—that he's phenomenal? That he made you believe in magic?"

" Whoa ." Caroline's wide eyes land on me like she doesn't know me. "I need more of these details, ma'am."

"Right now, we need to focus and hope for a stroke of magic," I say, completely serious, because this will either be the best night of my romantic life so far, or it'll be the worst.

Austin approaches us, his costume tragically uninspired, as he arrives in simple coveralls dressed as a… mechanic.

"Great costume. How long did it take for you to come up with that?" I ask sarcastically.

He barely cracks a grin as he gives me a once-over. "What are you supposed to be—friendly Satan?"

"That's not what this S is for." I gesture over the front of me, but he's stops listening before I finish my sentence. Instead, he nuzzles his nose into the crook of Caroline's neck.

They're blissfully in love, and a twang of jealousy hits me square in the chest.

I want that. I could've had that had I not been too scared.

I'm still scared, but there's a difference now—I'm not going to let fear and the unknown stop me from being happy.

Rain and my father have helped me come around. Rain left a few days ago, singing about her work being done here, and as promised, my father visited me this weekend. His flight left for Louisiana earlier this afternoon.

He was serious about making amends. He even arrived without my stepmom. I love her, but in hindsight, Dad often uses her as a buffer, like he needs a crutch to hang out with me. Without her around this weekend, he and I were able to connect in ways we used to before the divorce.

It left me feeling much better than our previous phone call.

The lightness in my chest is what stops me from running for the hills right now.

Sharply inhaling, I hold my head high and loop my arm through Maren's. "I'm ready."

"I don't think I am," she mumbles as Nate high-fives Austin, then adjusts the suspenders over his shoulders.

He's a fireman, and if Maren stares at him any longer, there might be a real fire to put out when she combusts. She's practically sweating.

"Hey," I say, nudging her to stay behind as Nate, Austin, and Caroline lead the way inside. "If you're serious about meeting someone new, this is your night. You are so hot in this Wonder Woman costume."

"You don't think I'm trying too hard, do you?" She adjusts the headpiece higher into her hair. "It's not too hot, right?"

"There's no such thing as too hot. It's perfect. Now go get some." I smack her on the ass and gesture for her to go inside.

But she doesn't immediately budge. "I'm not going to sleep with anyone all willy-nilly tonight." She scoffs.

"I was talking about some numbers and dates." I shrug, feigning innocence.

"Right," she draws out and slowly saunters inside.

Once she disappears, I freeze as Owen takes her previous spot.

My instant frown reaches every part of my body, carrying with it the gloom of a hundred rainy days.

He's not wearing the Skittles costume I left on his doorstep last night. He's not wearing any kind of costume, and I'm a big red dope.

"Hi." His small smile throws me off. Does he think this is funny? Is he laughing at me?

"If you thought this was too embarrassing, you should've just told me beforehand. You didn't have to come here to mock me in person." I fold my arms over my chest. I try to, anyway. The costume is ridiculously wide.

I could easily disappear inside of it like a turtle, but I won't give him the satisfaction. I'm done hiding.

"I'm not mocking you, Lockhart," he says, his sober tone washing over me with comfort.

"You didn't think the ‘Two Skittles Walk into a Bar' note was too cheesy?" I tilt my head and squint for any detection of mockery in his solid fa?ade.

"I loved the note." He inches toward me with the cool demeanor he seems to always possess when I'm in turmoil. His calm and collected persona will be the end of me.

"If that were true, you would've dressed up." I back away as he swallows every foot I set between us.

More people filter inside, a parade of superheroes, zombies, and cheerleaders. My thundering heart nearly drowns the commotion and music from inside, which grows louder each time someone yanks the front door open.

Owen glances over his shoulder as if to check for lurkers and eavesdroppers, then grabs my hand to lead me between two cars until we're tucked away from prying eyes and ears.

"I'm not dressed up because I don't want you to make a statement about us to everyone," he says. "I don't want you to out us until you're absolutely ready. I don't want it to be because I pressured you into it. That wasn't fair of me to demand in the first place, and I'm sorry."

I wiggle my hand from his grasp. "Don't do that. Don't let me off the hook so easily."

"There's no hook." He rams his hand through his hair, no hat on his head tonight. "There's no ultimatum, either. It was wrong of me to force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. I should've been more patient, but I was scared."

"You were?" This is news to me.

Owen is such a confident person. I didn't think anything could scare him, but if I've learned anything this week from my parents, whom I'd previously and naively believed were indestructible, it's that we all get scared. It's just part of being human.

"I'm not scared of my feelings for you. I'm not scared of us," he says, easing my hand back into his. "I'm scared of losing you."

My lips part as everything starts to make sense.

I squeeze his hand. "I'm sorry I ever gave you a reason to doubt my feelings."

"You didn't do anything wrong."

"But I did." I lick my lips, likely smearing the pale red lipstick Caroline gave me for the night. "It was never just about the job, and I should've been honest with you about that. I was afraid to tell everyone about us, but more than that, I was scared of trusting you with my heart."

"Angel, I would never take such a thing so lightly."

"I know." I cup his cheek in my small palm, loving the five o'clock shadow he's sporting tonight, and tilt my head. "The biggest wrongdoing of mine is letting you leave my house last weekend without telling you how important you are to me. I let you leave without saying how beautiful those things you said to me were. Worst of all was that I let you leave at all, and I'm sorry."

He shifts his face into my palm and places a kiss on my wrist. It's the softest touch of his lips on my skin, and it's enough to launch a tidal wave of emotions through my chest.

I melt against him like a current pulling me, and I can't fight against it, not that I want to. Not anymore.

"What I should've said was that…" I gulp. I've read countless romance novels and watched even more romantic comedy movies. I've swooned over so many grand gestures and heartfelt monologues, but none of those are enough. "You're infuriating," I blurt.

His good-natured chuckle makes me smile, especially since he doesn't release his all-consuming hold on me.

"You're sloppy and impolite," I continue as my smile grows wider. "When I'm with you, it's pure chaos. No rules or manners or logic. And I absolutely love it."

When he kisses me, the stars above us blur into magnificent streaks of bright lights as my eyelids flutter closed.

His kiss is firm and heated, yet loving and tender, and the bubble we previously resided in expands. It feels like it covers the whole world around us.

This is how we were always supposed to be—open and free.

"I love you," he whispers against my lips, and I gasp.

I thread my fingers through his hair and rise onto my tiptoes. "I love you too."

Owen Conrad loves me, and I love him. If that's not proof of magic and miracles, then I don't know what is.

"I want to take you home—now." He growls against my neck, but a burst of cheers from inside makes me jump back.

"There's one thing we have to do first." I shake my head, but the haze of bliss remains. "Well, two things," I correct myself.

"Name them."

"First—you need to put on your costume. Did you bring it?"

He slowly nods, clearly confused.

"Second—we need to go inside."

"We do?" He doesn't hide disappointment well.

"It'll be worth it, I promise." I give him another slow, sensual kiss to shamelessly entice him.

And it works.

"I just need two minutes," he rasps, then races to his truck as I make my way to the front door.

He wasn't kidding about the two minutes, although it seems he gets dressed in less.

"Ready?" he asks, his orange costume with the big S down the middle matching my red one.

"Almost." I slide my hand into his and grin. "Now I'm ready."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive." I punctuate the simple word with a jerk of the door, and we walk in together.

I'm not sure what I expected. Part of me thought the room might freeze, with the music screeching to a halt. Maybe I thought everyone's head would turn in sync to gawk at us in disbelief.

But none of that happens. Everyone simply carries on laughing with friends, dancing with loved ones, and chatting with new faces. Candy wrappers litter many of the tables around us, adding splashes of bright colors to the browns and neutrals of this rustic bar. The music is loud, and the energy is buzzing as people in masks and clown makeup mill about for drinks and appetizers.

I'm almost disappointed that my relationship with Owen isn't more of a grand announcement. I've been troubled for weeks—a dramatic display of reactions would've been more satisfying.

As if she reads my mind, Gemma from the school stops short of us, gapes, and points at my hand in Owen's. "Wait. Are you two…" She glances between us, curiosity coloring her eyes.

"We are together," I say at an unnecessarily loud volume, and it's not just because of the music.

Squealing, she pulls us in for a hug, and I accidentally knock off her princess crown.

"Sorry!" My hand flies to my mouth.

"Don't even worry about it." Gemma scoots the crown back into position. "My toddler helped me pick this out, and oh my gosh—I need to call my mother to see how they're doing."

Once she bolts outside, Scarlett fills her spot, followed by her friend Matilda. They're dressed in tame costumes, donning only black midi dresses and cat ears.

"I figured you two would've shown up in something shinier than Taylor's Eras Tour outfits put together." I point to their bland getups.

"This is what Kenny approved." Matilda rolls her eyes.

"Forget Kenny." Scarlett waves her off, then points at us. "You two are together, and I freaking knew it! Where's Maren? I need to tell her it's out in the open now, and I'm no longer sworn to secrecy."

"You knew, and you didn't tell me?" Matilda smacks her friend's shoulder. "I tell you everything, including the dream I had the other night where I was a cartoon tiger with a crush on a flower."

Scarlett pats her arm and forces a smile. "You should really keep some things to yourself."

As they get back to work, a few more familiar faces approach us to ask about our relationship. We haven't even made it three feet from the door.

This is more like what I had in mind, but Owen and I haven't gotten to get a drink or enjoy our first big party as a couple.

I'm asking for far too much, aren't I?

When the music cuts, Cole moves the mic and greets the crowd. "Welcome to the Tipsy Tap's Topsy Turvy—you know where you are." He waves off the guests, who share a laugh. "Just wanted to remind you all that we have several specialty cocktails tonight for you all to try. Witches Brew, Candy Corn Cocktails, and more. Live a little, okay, Sapphire Creek?"

Everyone whoops and hollers, and one woman even tosses her pointed witch's hat in the air like it's the end of graduation.

"I have an idea," I tell Owen. "Wait here."

I race up to the stage before the music comes back on. Right as Cole steps down, I climb up, stopping him in the process to say, "I need the mic for just a second."

"This isn't karaoke night. I don't have the machine set up."

"I know that." I scoff.

With the mic in place by my mouth, everyone's attention turns to me. I find Owen in the back, but he moves forward, slowly meandering through the crowd while keeping his eyes on me.

"Hi, everyone." I laugh nervously, wringing my hands in front of me as butterflies erupt in my stomach like they might if finally freed from a cage. "I'd just like to add to the drink specials for the night. The Candy Corn Cocktail looks amazing, in particular. Oh, and Owen Conrad is my boyfriend. We're dating. Enjoy the party!"

Claps and cheers echo across the bar as I nearly stumble off the stage on wobbly legs.

On my way back to Owen, I lock eyes with Sable, who lifts her drink in a silent toast. I grin back with appreciation and continue moving through the crowd and their pats on the back until I leap into Owen's arms. Another round of cheers serenades us as I plant a big kiss on his mouth.

"You are crazy!" he calls out to me over the noise.

"You made me this way!" I shoot back as he sets me onto my feet.

A mid-paced song starts, and he nods over my shoulder. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" I ask as he pulls me toward the opening in the crowd.

He tugs me to his chest, lifts my hand in his, and sways to the beat. "I want to dance with the prettiest girl in the room."