Page 2 of When Darkness Calls

“How did you know I needed a ride?” My voice cut through the space in a harsh breath, hoping he would forget the question.

A small smile plays at the corners of his lips, and he gives me a slight shrug. “I have my ways.”

“So…he told you?” I shift in my seat to face him raising my brow. His smile widens and he shrugs again. I give him a blank look. “Why didn’t he pick me up? I feel bad you ended your…whatever you were doing, early just to be my babysitter.”

Grayson’s eyes shift as he unfurls one arm, laying his hand on the wheel, picking at the frayed threads stitching the leather together.

“Like I said, he was preoccupied. Besides, he didn’t ask, I volunteered. Only reason I have his truck is because I didn’t think you’d want to ride my motorcycle with how cold it is tonight.”

“Thanks, Grays. I’m still sorry though, but only a little bit because I really didn’t want to stay here any longer,” I mumble, grimacing when I push my hair over my shoulder.

His nose wrinkles as he looks at me sideways. His hand rises to turn the volume down just as a new song begins to play.

“Seriously, Dee, what happened?”

“It’s a long story,” I sigh, looking out the window at the decorations in the other yards on the street. None of the jack-o’-lanterns are lit. I wonder if the wind blew them out or if the family that lives there only lights the candle on Halloween night. It must really suck living so close to a frat house like this.

“I’ve got time. Spill it.” His voice had hardened. The usual signs of quiet amusement have fallen away.

My brows furrowed. “It’s not a big deal, okay? I’m sure it was an accident. I just want to forget it and take a hot shower and watch a movie or something.”

Grayson shot me a pointed glare. His jaw clenched and his eyes unwavering. The words didn’t need to be spoken.

Tell me, now.

I scowl. God, it’s like I can practically hear him saying it.

“Fuck, fine. Some spoiled douchebag spilled like an armful of drinks all over me. He was standing on the porch, and I was in the yard trying to—I don’t know—get some peace and quiet? He tripped or something and they fell over the banister on my head. I was already in a pissy mood and then he just put a lovely cherry on top. That’s all. Happy, now?”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean ‘no’? I told you what happened.” I stared at him incredulously.

“You said you were already having a bad time. Why?”

“It doesn’t matter. I just want to go home, Grays.”

“It matters to me. Tell me. I’ll sit here all night if I have to. I have nothing better to do.” He shifts back leaning on the truck door as if getting comfortable for the hours we could be here idling in the middle of the street.

I sighed. The rush of air expelled like a deflated tire in the quiet pause. That’s how I felt. Deflated. Defeated. Tired.

“I didn’t want to go to the party to begin with. I mean, fuck, look at it.” I point out his window at the house bursting with people. There is a couple dozen, at least, in various positions outside from sitting on the porch banister to the couple I’m really hoping are only cuddling near the bushes. Even inside Cade’s truck, the music is clear, the dull thudding of a heavy bass remix of “Monster Mash” echoes my own heartbeat.

“I know that. I could have told you that when I was at your house this morning. Why did you go?”

“Lizzie begged me to come because Issac got us in with one of his friends who’s a member or some shit. I can’t say no to Liz, especially not when she said she was afraid Issac would ditch her when they got here to go hang out with the guys he knows. I didn’t want her to be alone.”

His eyes soften and he gives me a nod of understanding. Grayson shifts forward, hand gripping the wheel as he leans towards me motioning for me to continue.

“Anyways, I had my costume I planned to wear for the parade tomorrow, but Lizzie told me it wasn’t ‘right for this kind of party’,” I paused running my hand down my sticky face. The irritation was starting to bubble beneath my skin.

“She thought it would be a great idea if I stepped outside of my comfort zone, apparently. So, I wore this.” I glanced down at the costume I was wearing.

The corset was from a costume a few years back. The fit was a bit too snug to wear for more than a few hours now, and one wrong move and my breasts would pop out of the cups. The small fit accentuated the drastic curve of my waist compared to my bust and wide hips and easily concealed the thickness around my midsection.

The skirt itself wasn’t really a skirt, more so a thin, maroon fabric I had draped and pinned in precarious places to create a flowy skirt with a high split in the thigh. Paired with thigh-high, leather boots, I was passable as a pirate.

Grayson looked me over blankly. “A pirate? Witch without a hat? Thirsty vampire?”