Page 106 of Badges
“Are you sure?” I ask Dad one more time as he stands on my porch.
He adjusts the ridiculously large collar on his Dracula cape and smooths his slicked hair. “Yep. I haven’t gone trick or treating since you were ten. I’ll get her all the best candy bars.” He grins to show off the fake fangs hanging from his dentures.
I can’t help but chuckle. “Alright. If you insist. We’ll be at Hilltop for a few hours. Call me if you need me.”
When Cynthia pops outside, she struggles through the door with an inflatable duck on her lower half that’s fashioned to look like she’s riding it like a horse.
“You know you’re gonna have to let that go flat for the ride.” I grin as she frowns. “Well, unless you want grandpa to have to haul you in the livestock trailer?”
“Um, no thanks. It smells like poop.” Her nose wrinkles as she pulls the tab until her inflatable flattens.
“Let’s go, kiddo. Best houses start giving the big ones at six!” Dad claps his hands, herding her towards his car.
“Have fun!” I call after her.
Is it strange I’m missing her first Halloween?
Seeing the look on my dad’s face makes it worth it.
“I will! Love you!” She pulls the passenger side shut.
Leaving me stunned.
She’s never said that to me before.
It knocks the breath out of my chest and I claw for the wall to hold myself up.
The best kind of pain clinches me into a chokehold.
“All set.” Elena appears next to in a long coat with a bag in her hand.
Her eager smile fades when she sees me wiping my eyes.
“Wade? Daddy? What’s wrong?” Her palm works over my lower back.
“She said she loves me,” I cough, then start to laugh. “Sorry, I’m acting like an idiot.”
She wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her breasts against my chest. “I think it’s wonderful.”
My palms cup her ass cheeks to lift her against me. “Let’s ditch the party and work on making babies.” With a growl, I burrow my mouth against the hollow of her collarbone.
With a shriek she giggles and pushes away. “We can go for a little while. I’ve been stuck in the house for weeks and would love a break.”
Shit.
I let her feet flatten from holding her up. “I’m working on that.” Pressing my lips to her forehead, I find her hand to lead her to the truck.
But then I have an errant thought.
“Am I supposed to change here? Or is my costume in the bag?” I’ve asked her a few times about if I needed to get anything, but she just kept smiling and saying she had it covered.
“It’s here.” She pats the plastic as she slides into her seat. “I know it’ll fit.”
I guess I’m gonna have to trust her.
The parking lot is packed as it is every year. After I slide the engine into park, I sit back.
“So…Do I get to find out now?”
