My eyes went flat, and I shouldered past him, making sure my elbow pressed into his sternum. At his swift intake of breath, I grinned and pressed harder. Then I moved past, smirking back at him, “Oh, Ritt. How I’ve not missed you. At all.”

“Ha-ha.” He stepped back as Bryce and Denton followed me inside. Giving both a wary glance, he rubbed at his sternum and let the door close. Jerking a thumb over his shoulder, he said, “Everyone’s in rare form. We’ve been waiting for you, and I have to warn you guys,” he lingered on Denton, his smirk appearing once more, “everyone’s going as chicks so . . .” He swept an eye up and down both of the guys again before finishing, “guess what you’re going as?”

Denton started laughing.

Bryce scowled. “What? No. No way.”

As Denton kept laughing, Bryce turned to him. “Why aren’t you pissed?”

He got a shrug as a response. “I’m an actor. You do what you have to do.” He gestured to Michael and where we could hear everyone in the living room. “If that’s what we have to do to blend in.” Another shrug. “So be it.”

Michael Reveritt looked at me. A speculative gleam in his eye and I shook my head, holding up the Zorro mask. “No way, buddy. They can be chicks. I’m down with that, but I’m chick enough. I’m going as Zorro so give me a sword.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re never any fun, Jeneve.”

I smirked. “I’ve got half a country and an entire police department that says otherwise. According to them, I’m too much fun.”

“Har-har.” He scowled before he finished his drink and went to the counter for a refill. “I’ve missed that charm. Really.”

“Ha-ha.” I glanced around. Going to the doorway, I saw that he was right. Most of Corrigan’s fraternity brothers were wearing ball gowns, masquerade masks, and wigs. I wrinkled my nose. Half of the wigs were falling off. The other half were in knots. I turned back and surveyed Michael. He looked normal. No dress. No wig. No mask. I asked, “Aren’t you joining in with the festivities?”

“Me? Nope.” He leaned against the counter with his new drink in hand. “I’m hanging back to be the sober cab.”

I gave his drink a pointed look. “Sober cab, huh?”

He flashed me a grin. “Well, you don’t need one now, but later,” he leaned forward, “I’ll be sober then.”

Corrigan came into the room then and the conversation halted. We had to take in the magnificence of him. Gone was his earlier disguise. A strapless, glittering green dress with cleavage that dipped low to line the sides of his nipples had taken its place. If he’d been wearing a dark hair wig instead of a platinum blond one, I would’ve been tempted to call him JLo. As it was, with glitter on his cheeks and his masquerade mask already in place, a silver one with bright and shiny beads, the only thing I could say was, “Well.”

I was struggling not to laugh.

He shot me a dark look, but the corner of his mouth lifted.

“Dude.” Michael nodded once with his approval. He lifted a hand, throwing it up and around to smack Corrigan on the ass. “If you were a girl, I’d want to doggy pound you.”

Denton laughed then, and I glanced over at them. Bryce was trying to hold back his own, too.

“Just wait,” Corrigan warned them, smirking. “You think I look hideous? Guess what we have lined up for you two?”

“What?” Denton stopped laughing.

So did Bryce. “Huh?”

In the end, I was the only one who could laugh. Michael Reveritt had said all the guys were dressing in costume and he was right. Every single guy traipsed past me outside the back door in high heels, wigs, formal ball gowns, and their masquerade masks already in position. Each guy gave me a slight smile as they passed by. The only ones left at the end were Michael, Corrigan, Bryce, and we were waiting for Denton.

“Shut it,” Corrigan started.

Bryce sent back, “You’re the one laughing. You shut up.”

Corrigan laughed, then elbowed Bryce.

He returned the favor hitting Corrigan back on the arm.

They were laughing together, jostling each other, and a slow smile was on my face. I didn’t think I could wipe it off, but I must’ve looked like an idiot.

They were really together again. Finally.

“Ta-da!” Denton made his entrance at that moment, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Corrigan and Bryce. Both straightened, their eyebrows shot up, and they shared another look before laughing.

“What?”

Hearing the irritation from Denton, I pulled my gaze away, then I felt the laughter bubble up myself. His blond wig was swept up into a fancy bun while he was wearing a turquoise dress. It was shimmering with only one sleeve that ended above his elbow. The other side swept underneath the opposite arm. There was no cleavage so it was an A-line dress.

It would’ve looked stunning, no wait, it did. Denton pulled it off. His high cheekbones, cute red lips, and those beautiful movie star eyes were looking back at us underneath the glittery pink mask.

Then Corrigan burst out laughing. “You look like a mermaid.”

Denton scowled, then paused, his eyes narrowed, and he shrugged it off. “I’m a beautiful mermaid then.” He raised his head up, looking down his nose. “Don’t be jealous, fellas. These high cheekbones have made me millions. Remember that.”

BEEP!

Michael snorted, then gestured outside with his cup. “The ladies are waiting. I’d haul ass, if I were you four.”

Denton sniffed and marched out first, like he was walking a catwalk. Bryce sighed and went after him. Corrigan lingered behind, his gaze on Michael’s cup.

“What?” Michael almost growled.

“You’re the sober cab, brother.” He gestured to the cup. “Knock that shit off.”

Michael narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t respond.

The tension in the room suddenly shifted. It’d been there, but I hadn’t realized it. I realized it now and it was simmering from Corrigan’s fraternity brother. I waited. He looked ready to snap back or throw his drink at Corrigan.

But he only moved his hand to the sink and he turned the cup over, spilling the drink down the drain. Then he placed the empty cup on the side and forced a smile. “Better?”