“I won’t be needing my p**n tonight,” Matt informed us.
“Oh, Matt,” Claudia and I groaned as Beck slapped him across the head.
“What?” Matt cried, rubbing his head. “That’s a compliment.”
“It’s f**king gross.” Lowe grinned, shaking his head at him.
“You were all thinking it.”
Beck glared at him. “Claud and Charley don’t need to hear that shit out loud, though.”
“What’s with the costumes anyway?” Denver asked, grinning at us. “Other than to provide us all with masturbatory fantasies.”
I grimaced. “Thanks for that. And the costumes are for a costume party.”
“Party?” Beck asked Claudia before taking a drink of beer and sitting back down at the table.
“We were invited to a party on Simpson Loan behind the university so we can only stay for a little bit. I’ll text you the address so you guys can catch up after your set if you want.”
“Sure.” Lowe nodded and then caught my eye. “I get the feeling I’m only going to get to see this once in my entire lifetime, so I’m making the most of it.”
“Me too,” Beck agreed, smiling wide at us. He flicked his eyes casually to Jake and Melissa. “You guys coming with?”
Melissa looked to Jake for the answer and he nodded. “Sure.” Sensing my gaze, Jake looked up at me. I had to admit, I was a little disappointed he didn’t treat me to the almost X-ray perusal Lowe and Beck had. Instead his mouth twitched. “Supergirl? Finally embracing it, huh?”
I rolled my eyes at his boyish grin. “Claudia wanted to be Wonder Woman and she thought that this was funny. She’s very difficult to ignore when she wants something.”
“She must be very persuasive.” I could tell he was dying to laugh at me.
“Why?” Melissa asked quietly, a little furrow between her brows.
Jake didn’t take his eyes off me as he replied, “Because Charley’s had the nickname Supergirl since she was fourteen and doesn’t like it so much, and then there’s the fact that she never wears skirts. Claudia has performed a miracle.”
Although Jake didn’t see it, I saw the uneasiness in Melissa’s face and understood what it meant. She didn’t like the reminder that Jake knew me well. I didn’t like it, either, but for a completely different reason.
“Why are you nicknamed Supergirl?” Lowe asked curiously.
“Because—”
“Jacob Caplin, you tell that story and I will kill you,” I growled.
Just like when we were younger, Jake found the growl cute instead of menacing and he ignored my warning. “She threw her older sister out of the way of an SUV when she was fourteen, took the impact instead. Broke her leg and ribs. The town started calling her Supergirl.”
“Why do ye no want people tae know that story?” Rowena looked as mystified as the rest of the group. “That’s a great story.”
“Because people make such a big deal out of it and anyone would’ve done the same.”
“No, they wouldnae,” Rowena argued.
Instead of glaring at her, I threw my dark look at Jake, who just laughed. Annoyed at him, I decided to cool off at the bar. I took everyone’s drink order and ignored the comments from other customers—whether sleazy or teasing.
I’d only been standing in line to be served for a minute when I felt a warm body press close. When I tilted my head around, I was surprised to find Melissa looking down at me. I couldn’t read her expression at all.
“You’re not making this easy,” she told me softly, matter-of-factly.
I swallowed hard, feeling suddenly much too hot in my costume. Throat parched, I croaked, “What?”
She sighed and ducked her eyes away. “You’re his first love and you knock people out of the way of moving cars, and you want to be a cop, and you’re smart, and you’re confident, and you have the guys eating out of the palm of your hand every time you open your mouth … and now you’ve gone from pretty to every guy’s fantasy in a superhero costume. I want to hate you.” Her eyes lifted back to mine now. “I really want to hate you, but I can’t because Jake’s the one who wronged you. And maybe that’s part of the problem too.”