Page 56 of First Kiss with a Mothman

“Sounds like people like it.”

“It’s all very beautiful. Dean Yaga pulled out all the stops.”

“And there’s food?”

“Of course.” I pat his arm and lead him to a far table. “Let me get you some eats.”

“Will I need my carb-loaded energy for all the dancing?” He shoots me a challenging grin, and I can’t resist caressing his lower lip.

“Among other activities,” I murmur. I kiss his forehead and allow him to sit. I hurry as quickly as I can to get food, not wanting to be away from Arie for a long time.

When I’m back, he’s seated next to some dudes I’ve only ever seen in passing. “Sup?” I ask, skeptically.

“Mort. Have you met Owen and Clay?” Arie says with a smile.

“We met through Tanner,” Owen says. He pats the carrier on the table; that’s right, he’s the dude with the bat familiar.

“You’re the frat guy!” Clay says, pointing at me.

Better than being known as an actor. “Yup.” I nod.

“It’s so cool that you have a date to the Halloween Ball.” Owen jostles Arie’s shoulder. “I didn’t have one last year. So I’m making up for lost time with this one.” Clay giggles and kisses Owen’s hand. Alright, glad to know Owen isn’t hounding my man.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with being here single,” the third dude says. He’s sitting next to Clay and gives off surly vibes.

“Ah, we’ll find you a date, Yuki.” Clay claps the dude’s shoulder, and he seems more irritated than me. “In fact, a chunk of the polo team is single.”

“Let’s go see them and let them say hi to Bat Nathanson!” Owen chirps, tapping the carrier.

“Great idea, love!” Clay stands up and takes both of the dudes. “Come on, Yook. There’s gotta be a water polo player you can dance with.”

“Wha-wha-what?!” Yuki sputters as the three of them disappear to the other side of the ballroom. Romance is definitely in the air all over campus tonight.

Turning to my pretty date, I give him a plate and help orient him to the utensils and where the food is on each section of the plate. We chat about nothing too important as we munch on carb-y goodness and drink punch. He occasionally brushes my knee, and warmth blossoms in my chest. Being with Arie is so easy. I know I’ve been averse to relationships, but no one else genuinely makes me enjoy conversation this much.

Maybe I’ve been waiting for my heart to be thawed by someone as friendly and wholesome as Arie.

A few minutes pass, and a gaggle of harpies walks by. They mutter to each other and point at me. They exude freshmen energy, and I can tell when I’m recognized at this point. They’re not approaching me, but they’re making a decent amount of noise. When I glower at them over my drink, they disappear to another side of the dance floor.

“What was that?”

“What was…what?” I reply.

Arie glances around. “I heard some people walk by, then your wings got all tense.”

Truly nothing gets past Arie. “People were just…I don’t know, taking photos.”

“Of us?”

“I hope not,” I murmur.

Arie takes a bite then says, “Do you think they recognized you?”

My face warms. “Maybe. Or maybe they think you could do a lot better than me. A human and a mothman.”

“I’m not human, remember?”

“You’ll always be Arie to me.” That sounds alarmingly like we have a long future, which is an absurd thought. But when my date smiles and squeezes my hand, I know I said the right thing.