Page 19 of Don't Scare Me, My Love

Gary was hiding in the break room to change into his company shirt, and Nicholas was ringing up a packet of chips and a chocolate bar for a lady who couldn’t take her eyes offher phone when the bell above the door announced another customer.

I looked up and saw Jack standing at the door. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he also narrowed his. He usually never came by this time of day.

“Everything okay?” I asked.

“You tell me,” he said, his gaze darting to the only man who could have an explanation for this.

“Excuse me, ma’am,” Nicholas said to the woman, placing her credit card back on the counter before completing the transaction. “I'll be right back with you.” He turned to me, but his eyes darted past me. “Gary?”

“Now?” Gary’s head popped out of the break room. “One second.”

The soft background music stopped, and after a moment of silence, cheerful orchestral music echoed through the room.

With a shy smile on his face, Nicholas stepped in front of me. “Jason,” he said, taking my right hand.

What the hell was going on? He announced he wanted to scare me, but… what was that?

“I know, we’ve only known each other for a week,” Nicholas continued, squeezing his fingers closer around mine. “And I know this is crazy, but hasn’t our relationship been like this from the beginning?” He dropped to his left knee. “And it’s probably stupid, but I wanted to have at least a few people close to you to be part of this exciting moment. That’s why I invited Jack,” he turned to him, “Thanks for coming, my man.”

Everyone turned to Jack, including the woman who was now grinning from ear to ear, her smartphone in her hand, filming the whole thing.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to miss…this,” Jack said with a face like he was witnessing a car crash and didn’t know whether he wanted to look away or keep his eyes fixed on it.

“Gary,” Nicholas went on, “you’ve become almost like a father to me in this one week. Making my first evenings in this town so much more pleasant.”

“You’re welcome, my friend,” Gary replied, who was now standing behind us, watching the whole thing. “You’resowelcome.” He bit his lips together, sobbing softly as if this was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced.

Nicholas shifted his eyes back to me. “I wanted Jack and Gary to witness the beginning of something truly extraordinary.”

If I didn’t think he was about to do the craziest thing ever, I could have melted seeing his face so full of love, but…what the fuck?

“Do you, Jason Taft,…”

I broke into a sweat. A minute ago, it had been very comfortable in here, but now the whole place felt like a sauna.

“…want to…”

The muscles in my shoulders clenched. The music seemed to get louder as it reached a climax that made me flinch. I stared at Nicholas, but it felt like I couldn’t see him anymore.

“…be myGhoulfriendthis Halloween?”

FOUR

GHOULFRIENDS

NICHOLAS

Jason’s left eye twitched.His chest rose and fell as his breathing increased. If it hadn’t been for the romantic music I had asked Gary to put on, we might all have heard his heart pounding.

“Why is your face so red?” I whispered, still kneeling in front of him. “Did you think I was going to ask you something else?”

I had him. He was sweating. It was a different kind of scare, but this had to count.

He took a deep breath, his left eye blinking wildly. “I… do… want to be yourGhoulfriend,” he said, pulling on my hand to get me back up.

Gary applauded, and the woman I had made wait at the cash register joined him. I pushed myself up without taking my eyes off Jason. His hands still holding mine, he leaned in closer. His mouth was now only an inch away from my face.

Was he going to kiss me? In front of everyone?

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