“It’s nothing personal. I just don’t particularly like champagne. And that’s quite sexist of you, to masculinize bourbon.”

Her sea-storm eyes flash with lightning.

Christopher laughs. “Ah, c’mon,” he tells her. “That was funny.”

“Don’t start with me, Papa Bear.”

“Papa Bear?” I ask.

Bea glares up at Christopher and tugs his bear mask back down over his face. “He’s the brother I never had.”

Christopher slides it once more up on his head. “Someone has to keep an eye on you Wilmots.”

“We grew up together,” Bea explains. “His house is next door.”

Christopher grins. “I have many embarrassing Bea stories.”

Her eyes narrow dangerously. “Don’t even think about it.”

Before it can escalate, Juliet whistles, drawing the crowd’s attention. “Okay,” she says, standing on a chair near the front door. “Thank you for being here tonight! I’m so happy you could come to celebrate Jean-Claude. Before we move on to all the fun, I’d like to give a toast,” she says, lifting her glass.

“Actually.” Jean-Claude steps forward and drops to one knee as he opens the ring box. “I had something I wanted to say first.”

“What the fuck?” Bea says.

Christopher elbows her. “Shh.”

“They’ve been dating for three months!”

“Bea.” He looks at her sternly.

When I refocus on the proposal up front, Juliet is already nodding fervently, hands over her mouth.

To hoots and cheers and applause, we raise our glasses, toasting an engagement and then a birthday. Bea stands, stunned, as people swarm the happy couple with congratulations.

I have no idea what to say.

“Now!” a new woman says, jumping up on the chair Juliet was occupying a minute ago. Her hair is bright blue, a perfect pairing with her peacock mask. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Sula, Juliet’s friend!”

Margo wolf-whistles from the middle of the crowd, and Sula gives her a wink.

“Our first game of the night begins now. Let’s get started and give the newly affianced a few minutes to themselves. Jules and Jean-Claude, you’ll lead the search. But first, everyone else, hide. Nowhere is off-limits. Once you’re found, you join the search party, and the last person found wins the grand prize! Go!”

· THREE ·

Bea

I’m extremely competitive, and the point of this game is to be the last one found. But that’s not why I’m using my ultimate hiding spot. I just want to be alone for as long as possible. For once, I couldn’t care less about winning.