Page 188 of Deadly Sweet

Chapter 36

Jake

“Are you sure she’scoming?” Walker’s mother asks as she steps out onto the front step. Their house is decked out in Halloween decorations. His sisters take it very seriously.

They’re twenty-one and twenty-two, still living at home while they go to school. Good kids. Look, just like their brother. Sun-kissed skin and dark hair.

His mother, on the other hand, looks nothing like her children. She’s got long blonde hair, looks like she’s only in her early thirties, when really she’s older than Leroy. Something Caleb loves to tease him about.

“Yes,” I reassure. “She just texted. She got held up with a friend, but she’s on her way.”

“Good, good,” Elena, his mother, says. She looks at Athena and grins. “You are the cutest little thing ever,” she gushes.

We’ve decided to go as the characters from The Wizard of Oz. Athena is Dorothy. She’s got the little dress and a stuffed dog that looks like the one from the movie.

Walker walks out of the house, and my eyes widen. “Oh my god,” I snort. Trying to hold back my laughter.

Caleb doesn’t even bother. “You look so stupid,” he wheezes.

“Fuck you,” Walker growls.

“Language,” Elena scolds her son. “And he does not look stupid.” She glances at Caleb. “He looks adorable.”

At the look on Walker's face, I’m unable to hold back my laughter. I bend over, laughing so hard I nearly piss myself, Caleb howling alongside me.

He looks ridiculous. The damn thing hardly fits him.

“You told me you got the biggest size,” Walker growls at Caleb.

“I did.” Caleb wipes at his face. “I did, I promise. Not my fault your big-ass can’t fit inside it.”

Walker points to Caleb. “Don’t even start. Like you can talk. You look like a fucking tool. What are you even supposed to be? You look like something out of a horror movie. I’m surprised you haven’t made the baby cry yet.”

Caleb is dressed as a flying monkey, and I kind of have to agree with Walker.

“Hey.” Caleb sobers up and glares at Walker. “I look amazing.” He pulls down his monkey mask. “Don’t I, baby girl.”

Athena looks at Caleb and bursts into tears, clinging to her grandmother for dear life.

“Shit.” Caleb pulls his mask off. “It’s okay, Little Bug. It’s just me, Daddy Caleb.”

“I’m gonna go inside and calm her down. You, get rid of that damn mask,” Elena hisses before taking the baby inside the house.

“You were saying?” Walker crosses his arms, trying to look all big and intimidating, but he nearly rips his costume.

“Why did you waste so much money on that costume?” Leroy asks. “It’s twice as much as ours.”

“It was the damn mask,” Caleb mutters. “It was handmade.”

“What’s it made out of? Human skin?” Leroy raises a brow.

“Whatever, old man,” Caleb grumbles. “At least we saved a few bucks from not having to dye your hair to match your costume.” Leroy is going as the Tin Man. “Already have the silver to match.”

Leroy glowers at him. “Make all the old man jokes you want, but my age isn’t an issue where it counts.”

“Where's that? Getting the senior discount?” Caleb grins.

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