The Envy of Idols (Rich Boys of Burberry Prep #3) - C.M. Stunich Page 0,60

earrings on, and big yellow wedge heels with white polka dots.

"Because that's what Harper and Co. want?" I suggest, exhaling as I fluff the wrapper-covered purse that I made. I used an intact piece of big pink bubble gum for the clasp. That, and I've made a little 'corsage' out of weaving silver wrappers together. To complete the look, I did my makeup in bright, sparkling pinks, and drew a huge pink circle next to my mouth, as if I'm permanently blowing a bubble.

For Miranda, we decided on 'sexy watermelon'—I know, I know, bear with me—and her outfit is freaking precious. She's got a tight red dress on with a green hem, and little black seeds dotted across it. There's a 'bite' out of the right hip that shows off her skin underneath.

Andrew ended up choosing to be a chocolate bar, but then he also turned it into drag. He's wearing a dress with an asymmetrical brown top and a silver skirt that's ruffled to look like the wrapper's been pulled down. Honestly, it's pretty brilliant. He's got on a brown wig, too much makeup, and heels, and he seems pretty happy about it.

"True," Miranda hedges, watching as I sweep my costume off the bed and head into the bathroom to change. She was totally quiet when I told her about what happened in Lujo—both the dating conversation as well as the Zack thing. However she feels about it, she's continued to be supportive.

I owe her freaking big time.

We finish getting ready and meet the boys in the hall.

It's pretty surreal, seeing them all gathered together like this. Technically, each of them is my boyfriend. I have boyfriends. How crazy is that? Part of me knows that this isn't permanent, that it'll only last so long, that a group of alpha dudes like this can't stay together forever, but the other part of me just wants to enjoy the moment.

I'm part of a group. I feel protected. I feel safe.

My eyes go to Tristan first because out of all the boys, he was the only one who refused to reveal his costume until now.

Pretty sure I almost keel over and die when I see him.

"Holy shit." The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I slap a hand to cover my lips.

He lets this wicked beautiful smile work its way across his mouth, and then moves in to stand in front of me.

"Black licorice, do you like it?" He's got on a leather jacket that's been covered in long pieces of black licorice. Underneath it, he's got on a fishnet shirt and leather pants as well as expensive loafers with bits of licorice artfully crisscrossed on the toes. He's even got a bowtie around his neck made of candy.

My heart starts to pound as he steps toward me and puts his hands on the hips of my sparkly pink dress. It's a bit too short and too tight for my liking, but it was the only one I could find that fit the theme of my costume.

"You both look and smell divine," he says with a sharp twist of his lips, leaning in to breathe the bubblegum smell that surrounds me. His usual scent of cinnamon and peppermint has been replaced with black licorice, but I don't mind. I actually like the stuff, despite the fact that everyone else I know hates it.

"Right back at you," I whisper, as he leans down and presses a kiss to the side of my throat. It's such a deliberate move, meant to make my blood boil.

It works.

I exhale and step away from him before I get too swept up in his presence. I want to check out the other guys and their costumes. We all worked so hard on the set, I need to take it all in.

Zayd is dressed up as a container of French fries—or chips as Windsor refers to them—but he's done it in such an artful way that he looks hot as hell at the same time. He's got on a pair of overalls with short legs. The suspenders are bright yellow, and the shorts part is red, like a container. He's painted a big, white McDonald's M on the ass, and made a brooch out of an order of small fries from a drive-thru. He glued them together, and I helped spray them with shellac.

Fortunately, he doesn't smell like his snack of choice and instead, when he embraces me, there's the usual clove,