I reluctantly open the door and he gapes at me. “What do you need?” I ask.
“Holy shit,” he mutters, “you look fucking amazing.”
I look him up and down. “You’re not wearing a costume.”
He makes a face of disgust. “I went to the costume store yesterday to get something but everything was stupid so I got the brilliant idea to paint my face to look like a skull—only I forgot that I can’t paint.” He points to his face and I can see evidence of paint left behind where he’s scrubbed it off. “Help me,” he pleads, holding the face-painting set out to me. “Have mercy on me, I beg of you.” He throws in pouty lips for good measure.
I sigh and take the kit from him. “Come here.” I point to the closed toilet lid for him to sit down.
He does as I say and I flip open the palette.
“Thea is going to kill you for not wearing a real costume,” I warn him.
“This is a real costume,” he argues.
“I’m sure she won’t see it that way.” I laugh. “Now be quiet.”
He mimes zipping his lips and throwing away the key.
I take my time mapping out how I want the skull to look and then I work on adding the colors more heavily to his skin, and then being sure to blend them so there’s no harsh lines.
It takes me a good thirty minutes before I’m happy with the final product.
I step back and assess him.
He blinks up at me. “What’s the verdict?”
“You make a hot skeleton. Though, when you’re as hot as you are I’m pretty sure you can pull off anything.”
He laughs, placing his hands on my hips and tugging me close to him. He rests his hands on my ass and looks up at me. “You think I’m hot?”
“You know you’re hot.”
He grins. “That’s not what I said. You think I’m hot?” he repeats.
I look away and mumble, “Yes.”
He slides his hands up my waist. “I think you’re hot, so I guess we’re even.”
He stands and the small bathroom now feels even smaller. I’m convinced the walls have moved closer together.
“Confession,” he lowers his head so his lips graze my ear, “it’s going to be impossible for me to keep my hands off you tonight.”
“Confession,” I say breathlessly, “I don’t want you to.”
He grins at that. “Tonight?” he asks.
I know what he’s asking. “Tonight,” I echo.
Fear fills me at the thought of telling our friends, but I feel excited too. Our relationship is complicated and maybe a little weird, but it’s still real and shouldn’t be treated like a dirty little secret.
Jace smiles and it fills me with happiness that he’s so okay with this. He was so hesitant in the beginning, but I think he senses it too, the rightness that him and I are together. We just … click.
My phone buzzes on the bathroom counter and I grab it.
Joel: Hey, I ended up not having to work. Think I’m still invited to the party?
Me: Of course. You better have a costume though or Thea might hurt you.