Page 77 of Light Up My Life

“I wish we could ask like that. Out in the open,” he said.

“Me too…”

“Soon, right?” he said.

“I hope.”

“Your brother.”

“I know. It’s not looking promising.”

“But you’ll come?”

“To the masquerade?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said.

“You’re being serious. Don’t you normally drive over with your parents?”

“I don’t have to. I’ll tell them I’m going with friends. We can meet somewhere else, go from there. Avoid my parents all night.”

I couldn’t do that, not before Christmas. Not while I was still trying to keep our interactions a secret and my family happy. We’d be asking to get caught if I went to the ball.

“I don’t have anything to wear to that.” My phone buzzed in my pocket, bringing me back to reality.

Ryan released his hold on me, maybe feeling the vibration as well. I pulled out my phone.

The message was from Fiona: Tell me you have your brother.

Chapter 27

I felt the blood drain from my face. I whirled around and headed quickly back across the bridge.

“What is it?” Ryan called, following me.

“My brother. Fiona lost him.”

“Lost him?”

“The movie. I forgot he gets scared during the part where the Grinch steals everything.” I cursed myself for being so careless.

“I’ll help look for him,” Ryan said.

I nodded. “Thank you. Let’s split up. Cover more ground.”

“Where could he have gone?”

“I honestly have no idea.”

“I’ll text you if I find him,” he said. I must’ve had a panicked look on my face because he pulled me into a hug. “He’s fine. The whole town is here.”

I nodded. “Do you know what he looks like?”

He smiled. “Yes, of course.”

I rushed off toward the town square, and Ryan turned and went the other way. Maybe he was going to check the playground. Probably smart.

Fiona crashed into me as I headed across the street. “I’m so sorry. He was sitting there one second, and then that hot-chocolate-elf guy came over and asked where you were, and when I looked back, Harris was gone.”