made sure he was right there when she did. He’s…he did the same thing to me. When my EDS really took its toll on me, he swept in like the knight in shining armor. He was there for me when no one else was. He’d say shit like, ‘It’s all right that you have a disease, I still love you anyway, even if no one else could ever want you.’”
Simon wrinkled his nose. “A bit of a back-handed compliment, even for my corrupted taste.”
“I didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time. It was abusive.” She sighed. “But that’s how life works. You don’t see what’s right in front of you. You only see the truth after it’s gone by.” Her steps hitched. “There.” She pointed.
He pulled her into the shadow of one of the trees and out of the lamplight. Sure enough, there were her friends, gathered together. The husband and wife with the two children, Ludwig’s former lover and his husband, the little mousy thing named Emily, and Duncan.
Simon tilted his head to the side slightly, measuring up Cora’s previous lover. I’m taller. Far more attractive. Certainly far more interesting. Duncan was disappointing on all fronts. He expected the man to carry some kind of charisma. Some kind of cloud that revealed his vile nature.
At least Simon had the decency and self-respect to look evil. A venomous snake should be brightly colored and loudly proclaim their lethality. It was only proper sportsmanship. But the man who walked beside Emily was…bland. Normal. He looked like anyone else. He held the girl’s hand and sipped from his beer as they walked.
Nothing about him said he was a monster.
And that might have been what made him so dangerous.
Cora was trembling again. Simon pulled her to him, her side against his chest, and wrapped an arm over her shoulder. She was watching her friends, eyes flashing with a myriad of emotions.
He smirked. “Walk me through the whirligig you have going on in your head, cupcake.”
“Trent’s found someone. He was so afraid he’d live the rest of his life as a spinster.” She chuckled. “Look at him. He looks so happy. Christ, I’m overjoyed for him. And look at Jane and Tom—so grown up. Lisa and Robert look great. I guess…I guess I’m just so happy they’re all okay. But…I’m also heartbroken I’m not there with them.”
“I know.”
“I just…” Her expression darkened. There was a sudden anger there that surprised him. It turned her gray eyes to a stormy black as she hid her face from the light. “I don’t trust him.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“Follow them. I need to make sure she’s okay.” After her friends passed, she began walking after them, keeping a distance. She was still wearing the form-fitting costume she had performed in. It made it hard to focus. He took off his coat and slung it over her shoulders. It went down past her ass, which was the point. She smiled at him faintly and pulled it closer to her. “Thanks. I was getting cold.”
Not why he did it. Not at all why he did it. He smirked. “You’re very welcome.”
They resumed walking. He did like how she looked in his clothing. It was an odd thing, that. “You said you wish to know if she’s all right. What if she is? What if you see nothing to alarm you?”
She shrugged. “I guess then it is what it is. They’ll leave, and…hopefully I won’t see them again. This hurts more than I think I can describe.”
“Trust me, I know.” He scratched at his heart. “You really must stop being so emotional all the time. It gives me heartburn.”
She chuckled. “Sorry that my problems are inconvenient to you.”
“Mmhm. As you should be.” He grinned playfully and flicked one of the curls of her hair. “So. If you see no warning signs, you will let them leave without another interaction. And what if you do, hm? What if you see something terrible? What will you do then?”
“I…I don’t know.”
He smiled. It wasn’t a friendly one. She didn’t see it. He was glad for that, as it might have given away his game. Oh…this is wonderful. He knew this was all by design. He knew Harrow Faire was working its dark magic. This was too convenient—too perfect—to be a coincidence. “Well, then, I think we should make sure your friend Emily is all right.”
“Really? I thought you’d try to convince me to stop.”
“No. I see how important this