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I laughed through my tears.

She examined the punch one last time, took another cautious sip, then smacked her lips. “Nah. Tastes exactly how I made it.”

“Willow.”

“What? I had to eliminate the liquor first.”

A laugh nearly escaped me despite everything.

Caspian actually laughed.

Willow shook her head. “Oh, this is some crazy-ass shit!” Then she raised her face toward the ceiling. “Lord, I knew that nigga was in these damn walls!”

That made both me and Caspian laugh.

Caspian brought his attention back to me, and I couldn’t stop touching him. My palms remained against his chest as though letting go might cause him to disappear.

“Baby, I don’t understand.”

He cupped my face.

“I know, beautiful, and you don’t have to right now.” His thumb moved gently across my cheek. “I just need you to trust me. Everything is gonna be explained soon.”

“Everything?”

“Every last bit.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And then you’ll have all of me. I promise.”

I closed my eyes when he kissed my forehead, then my cheek.

Finally, his mouth met mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

The kiss was warm, familiar, and everything I remembered. Everything I had missed.

For one beautiful moment, the rest of the mansion disappeared.

There was no Halloween party; there was only him, holding me and kissing me… exactly the way he should have done on the night he never made it to me.

When he finally pulled away, I rested my forehead against his chest and held on because I wasn’t ready to let him go.

Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

He kissed the top of my head. “I love you, Lakelyn.”

I closed my eyes. “I love you too, baby.”

His arms tightened around me for another moment before his entire demeanor changed.

Not toward me… toward the man waiting near the front entrance.

“Now…” Caspian’s attention shifted toward Chalis. “Let me handle this nigga.”

My stomach tightened.

He returned his eyes to me. “Baby, go stand with Willow.”