But no, he has to be sexy, funny, great with his niece, and completely invading my every thought.

Chapter Twelve

Nina

What do you wear to a haunted house? More importantly, when the hell did I start caring so much about what I wear? Since Jake walked into my life. I settle on a cute pair of leggings in case I need to run, jeans offer more resistance, and a v-neck t-shirt. I grab a hoodie because it gets cold at night then I slowly walk to the couch. My legs feel like jelly, and I have no idea how I will be able to function tonight.

There is a knock at the door, and I know it’s Jake. I open the door and walk outside after yelling a quick goodbye to Tina. Jake gives me a hug and a kiss. The affection he shows me is something that I need to get more comfortable with. I have never had a relationship, so this is all new to me. We walk to the car, and I see Sam and Hunter sitting in the backseat. “You ready for this?” He looks at me, and I know that he probably sees the way that I’m walking all crazy.

“Not really, I don’t even watch scary movies.” He opens my door for me, and I climb in.

“Nina!” Sam gives me a hug from the backseat. “I have missed you, girl!” Sam and Hunter have been gone for the past week. She had a bunch of appearances in New York, and Hunter is her bodyguard. That’s actually how they ended up getting together. When she told me the story about how her one nightstand was her new personal security, I almost died.

“I missed you too, but you know we all can’t be famous stars. Speaking of which, how the heck are you two going to go unnoticed tonight?” Both of them are so recognizable because of all the tabloids that it makes it so hard for her to go out in public.

“Hunter called the place a couple days ago; all three attractions are one continuous thing, so they are just going to let all of us go alone. The workers won’t know, though. I also have the best disguise ever.” She holds up a baseball hat, and I laugh.

“So what is this place like?” I’ve never actually been to a haunted house, but scary movies terrify me.

Sam smiles, which I know is not a good sign. “It starts off with a haunted hayride, and then leads into two other things. They are all connected which is nice cause it makes crowd control easier.”

Her lack of details has my heart beating at twice its normal speed. Jake’s hand reaches over and holds mine. He steals a quick look and gives me a wink. At least I can hide behind him. We pull up, and the line is as long as one at Disney World during summertime. There have to be at least three hundred people waiting. “We are going to be in line for like two hours.”

“It’s all good, Nina; we bought VIP tickets. No line.” Of course, they did. I should have figured there was no way Hunter would let her wait in that line, there is too much of a risk that she would get recognized.

“How much do I owe you guys for my ticket?” I ask as we are getting out of the car.

Jake’s arms wrap around me from behind. “I got it covered, babe.”

My body shivers from being this close to him. Did he call me babe? I feel like it should freak me out a little bit, but I think it’s hot. His deep voice turns me on and makes me want to do all sorts of things that shouldn’t be on my mind yet. He places a kiss on my neck, and I lean my head back against his chest.

“Come on, let’s go! Or get a damn room!” Brian says as he and Jules wave to us.

I turn to face Jake, my cheeks red with embarrassment. He smiles and shrugs his shoulders. “Hey, I’m up for either option.” I elbow him in the stomach before walking toward everyone else. He catches up to me in the ticket line and hands me mine. “You’re sexy when you’re mad, Sparky.”

I dip my head trying to hide the smile that feels like it will make my cheeks crack. Once we’re inside, a creepy girl in a shredded dress and splattered blood all over leads us to a wagon filled with hay. Everyone starts to sit down when I move to sit next to Jake, he takes my hand and pulls me to sit between his legs. I comply crossing my legs Indian style sitting straight up, completely unsure of what he expects me to do. As everyone else gets comfortable, he wraps his arms around me.

His lips press a kiss next to my ear. “Relax, I’ll protect you.” He leans back taking me with him. Leaning against his chest with his arms around me, the two of us looking up at the star-filled sky feels perfect. I breathe a sigh of contentment.

Suddenly a loud scream rips through the air, and I jump, completely forgetting what we are doing here. Creepy laughter surrounds me as my heart speeds up again. I grab onto Jake’s arms and pray that these crazy people don’t realize how scared I am and single me out.

The wagon begins to move, and we enter a cornfield. Great, ‘cause cornfields at night are filled with unicorns and Care Bears. Aside from the creepy surroundings, things have been pretty calm. “This isn’t that—Ah!” A crazy ass clown appears right in my face.

He is hanging onto the side of the truck as it is still moving. “It’s dangerous to be here, little girl, watch out!” He cackles as he lets go and stares at us until we are out of sight.

“What the hell! Do they all do that? I mean to just jump out and—”

“Hey!” A guy with bolts sticking out of his neck appears.

“SHIT!” He laughs and moves to touch my hair. “Jake!” I shrink down trying to escape this crazy person. I hear laughing. I look up, and my knight in shining armor is in stitches. I smack his chest. “Don’t worry I’ll protect you,” I say in a mocking voice. “Asshat.” I sit up straight, needing to have full range of vision. “It’s okay; they’re not real. They’re not real. They’re not—”

“I’m real!”

“Ahhhhhh!” A damn zombie snuck up on me when I was trying to fucking meditate. Is nothing sacred?! “I am too much of a wuss for this shit.” I sit up on my knees trying to see the end. “I just want to be home in my leggings, on the couch, drinking a pumpkin spice latte.”

All of a sudden there are loud clanging noises and the wagon comes to an abrupt stop. I fly forward landing face first into the hay. “What the hell is going on now?!”

“Sorry, y’all, seems my tractor done broke down.” The driver is standing and facing us.

“No the fuck it didn’t! Fix this shit now!” Everyone around me is laughing, but I fail to see what’s funny. Then I remember what Sam said in the car. They all knew this shit was going to break down. “Screw all of you bastards. I’m not getting out of this damn wagon.”

Jake touches my arm. “If we don’t move soon they’ll get us.” He points behind me.

I turn around squinting in the dim light and see a shitload of demons, murderers, and just crazy ass people coming toward us.

“I hate you guys!”

I scream before jumping out of the damn wagon and running away.

Chapter Thirteen

Nina

Fuck this shit! I am running trying to ignore every damn sound until I hear crying. A girl is sitting on the side of the trail in the fetal position. I can’t see what she is wearing but she has blood dripping down her leg.

“Oh my God. Are you okay?” I approach her slowly. She doesn’t answer and I make a move to touch her arm and let her know I’m here to help. Just then she grabs my wrist tightly and looks up at me.  She’s one of them! Blood is dripping from a bullet wound in her head. She crooks her head at me and stares.

“Oh shit!” I start to pull my hand free, once I do, I lose my balance and land ass first in the mud. Of course! Jake has caught up to me and grabs my hand to help me up, he’s still laughing. “I hate you.” I start to walk away from him when someone jumps out of a bush. “Holy crap!” I take cover behind Jake and now everyone is laughing. “Can we just get through this shit? I can see the damn end of the woods right there.” I try to take solace in the fact that this is almost over. Then I hear it, the sound of a chainsaw. I slowly turn around. It’s Jason!