Page 45 of Forever

“Ready!” I called as I grabbed the frame. I hurried down the stairs. I was so excited to go to the party. It actually felt like Halloween as a kid, when I was so pumped to go get candy. And I couldn’t stop smiling. Smiles definitely came easier when my girl was smiling too.

Brooklyn grabbed Jacob’s helmet. She’d put black paint under his eyes and he looked like the cutest little running back. Especially with the regulation sized football tucked under his arm. He was going to have so much fun tonight.

We were just about to head out the front door when the stupid living room door opened.

“Wait for me!” Nigel yelled and ran into the living room through his private door. He was wearing all black except for the stripped scarf around his neck. His hair was askew like he’d just woken up. And he was holding a paint palette in one hand. He smiled at me.

Brooklyn laughed. “Nigel, that’s perfect. I figured you’d be listening. You totally nailed it.” She held up her hand for a high five.

He awkwardly shook her hand instead. “It seemed like an invitation to me. You can’t be Gloria and Jeremy without me.”

“I’m sorry, who are you supposed to be?” I asked.

“Todd Cleary,” Nigel said and adjusted his scarf.

“Who?”

“The brother from the movie. The homo painter.”

I laughed. “Nigel, you can’t say that.” But he’d totally nailed the look.

“Why not? That’s what he was. And you and I?” He stepped closer to me. “We had a moment at the table earlier, didn’t we?”

“When you were watching me eat?”

“No, before. So I painted you. Since you refused to paint me.” He tapped the frame. “I call this painting…Celebration!” He waved his free hand through the air. “But you’re not doing it right. Take off your pants.” He reached for the button on my jeans.

I stepped back from him. I remembered his character from the movie perfectly now. He’d painted the painting I was supposed to be. And tied the character up in the bed and tried to do things to him. Nigel was very much like Todd Cleary. “Cut it out, Nigel. This was supposed to be a couples costume.”

“A throuples costume, yes.”

Brooklyn couldn’t stop laughing.

“Let’s play tummy sticks!” he said.

“Nope. No. Absolutely not. Go change.”

Nigel turned to Brooklyn. “Someone is being a Wizzy.”

Brooklyn laughed. “Such a Wizzy.”

“What does that mean?” I said.

“It’s a savage insult,” Nigel said.

Well, yeah, I got that.

“I bet you’re devasted right now.”

“Go change,” I said more firmly.

“The only other costume I have is Hitch. It’s a nod to Master Tanner’s expert matchmaking skills. But I’m out of shoe polish for my face so I won’t quite fit the part…wait! Can I borrow some of that paint that you put under Mr. Jacob’s eyes?”

“What for?” Jacob asked.

“No,” I said firmly. “You’re not allowed to put shoe polish or paint on your face. Come on, man.”

“Why? It was fine a few years ago I think. Has that changed? I haven’t checked my Halloween costume notes in a decade or two…”

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