Page 84 of Of Poison & Pumpkins
“I smell like you.”
“You’re welcome.”
This time, I do give him a little punch.
“Hey now, I was only dazzling because you made me that way. Having sex with you is better than winning Nationals, better than chocolate cake and birthday presents, better than a box full of kittens. Speaking of, we should visit Goosie’s kittens tomorrow. They must miss me terribly.”
“We’ll be busy. Tomorrow is the Halloween festival, and I have to figure out a way to raise money for Tinsley since we won’t win the award. I can’t abandon her.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll become a millionaire and pay you to strip for me every night.”
I quiet him with a kiss—one that I hope lasts for a lifetime.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Elias
The black streamers, balloons, spiderwebs, and never-ending pumpkins has transformed Blake Street. I’ve heard that more ghosts than usual have flocked to our festival, swarming the night air.
I wait on pins and needles by the fake tombstone that is our designated meeting spot, curious if Rynn will wear the costume I picked out for her. Children dressed as zombies and fairies, superheroes and dragons, run about with buckets full of candy in their hands. Part of me is surprised that they don’t seem the least bit scared by the haunting music creeping from the hidden speakers. Maybe their worries have disappeared because of the lanterns casting light upon the square. Along the building walls, the shadows change into different shaped animals and chase each other along the brick.
Magic sparks to life in every direction, thanks to the Fuzers whose unique spells can be used to enhance the mood. I’ve been to countless Halloween festivals, but Oakmar’s may be my favorite. Goblets levitate to my left, full of crimson liquid, hovering over the stand of a psychic and tarot card reader. I scan the rest of the town square. At the fountain, the water rises straight to the stars, defying gravity.
I pluck Goosie’s hair off my lion costume and let it fly away in the breeze, chased by auburn leaves. No longer in need of searching for my place in this world, moving from town to town, I let the scene sink in. My whole heart belongs in this quaint town with its gorgeous gothic architecture. My new home.
Right on cue, Rynn rounds the corner, dressed in all black spandex, with cat ears atop her head and whiskers drawn on her cheeks. Adorable. Plus, she went above and beyond with the smokey dark makeup framing her bright eyes.
I clutch my heart dramatically. “I can’t stand how hot you are.”
“You too, my mighty lion in suspenders,” she says, running her hands along my straps, then pecks my lips.
There’s no chance I’ll settle for such a short kiss, so I tug her to me and pepper her with kisses all over her face until she’s in a fit of laughter.
“Stop! Maya will see!”
“I don’t care.”
“Yeah, you can kiss him, Wynn.”
“Woah, careful with your sword, munchkin.”
“I not a munchkin. I’m a knight!”
“A mighty fine knight you are, indeed,” I say, bowing low to her.
“She changed her outfit twenty times,” Tinsley says as she approaches in a panther mask. “Her playroom is currently a massacre of costumes. I still don’t understand the theme.”
“Mommy, twust us. Come on!”
I exchange a grin with Rynn and let Maya pull our hands toward the main event. Food trucks line the street and I follow my nose to the taco one I’ll visit later.
Groups mingle, and I see people holding ice cream, others with coffee or beer. I inhale the crisp autumn air and savor this perfect moment.
“Bro!” Zanther hollers from a cluster, fully decked out as a panther. “You made it!”
He rushes over, bows to little Maya respectfully, then slips an arm around Rynn for a hug. Surprisingly, she doesn’t wince in the slightest. Maybe my girl has started to trust someone new already.
“It’s almost nine. They’re about to call the winner.” Zanther nods to the stage, where the council members chat at a long table behind a podium.
