“Aw, I don’t know about that. But that little darlin’ sure makes it easy when she’s such a sweetheart.”
A door upstairs opens, followed by loud footsteps in the hallway. I’ve barely made out what he’s wearing as Carson struts down the stairs like it’s his own personal catwalk in full costume. He’s dressed in a deep purple suit, completing the look with light green hair and full Joker makeup.
Today is Halloween, and Carson clearly went all out with the themed costumes he picked out for Cadence, McKenna, and himself.
“There she is! Happy Halloween, Austin. I’ve got your costume upstairs in my room.” He thumbs behind him, before continuing, “I really outdid myself this year, if I do say so. Griff, I put your costume in the guest room.”
Griffin is now the one wearing a puzzled expression. “Austin?”
“Inside joke,” Carson replies without elaborating.
Griffin shakes his head, his face lighting up with a bemused smile before he heads up the stairs.
Carson watches him retreat for a second before he returns his gaze to me, tucking his hands into the pocket of his purple suit pants. How does this man even make a villain costume look attractive?
“So, what was today’s pick?” he asks.
I slowly blink at him, trying to solve the riddle he sometimes speaks in. “Pick?” I question.
He shrugs his shoulders, hands still in his pockets. The move would look downright adorably boyish if it weren’t for the way the creepy makeup on his face distorts his typical golden glow. “Yeah. Which book did you pick to read today?”
My cheeks heat the way they always seem to do under his attentive stare. “Oh, um, well, ever since I moved to Minnesota, fall has quickly become my favorite season.” I pause, clasping my hands together, before realizing what I’m doing and dropping them to my side. “The crisp air and falling leaves feel sort of whimsical, which puts me in the mood to read fantasy books.”
A lazy smile takes over Carson’s face as he stares at me. It’s unnerving having this man’s full attention and unyielding gaze on me.
“Fall just so happens to be my favorite season as well. In fact, Halloween is tied with Christmas for my favorite holiday.”
I chuckle at that tidbit. “You don’t say . . . I would’ve never guessed,” I say sarcastically.
“I know, I hide it pretty well. I’ve been told I have a great poker face,” he goes on.
“You have not,” I tell him in a fit of laughter.
“Alright, so I’m not exactly the best at holding back my emotions. But isn’t that a good thing? When I like something, there’s no hiding it,” he explains, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.
“I suppose it’s not a bad thing,” I admit, hugging my arms to my chest. “Hey, did you say you had my costume upstairs?” I ask, and he nods in response. Dipping my head, I give him a shy “thanks” in response before slipping past him to get changed.
Upstairs on the bed,hisbed, is a shirt that says “Daddy’s Lil Monster,” pleather pants that are red and blue, hightop Converse sneakers, and a blonde wig that is already pulled up into two pigtails, one dyed red, the other blue.
Dear god, please help me. I can’t do this. I can’t go out in public looking like this. If a photo of me ever got back to Aaron somehow, he would probably kill me for looking so indecent.
A few minutes later, I crack the bedroom door open and peek my head out. I see two figures dressed in all black at the other end of the hallway. I recognize McKenna’s voice as she talks to Griffin. They are dressed as Batman and Catwoman, and Carson wasn’t lying, he really outdid himself. All of these costumes look as if he stole them from the production set himself.
McKenna turns toward me, and I see a smiling Cadence dressed up as Wonder Woman.
“Look at you, Cadence! I love your costume,” I say to her. She claps and squeals, her whole body going rigid in her mom’s arms with excitement.
“Are we going to your parents’ neighborhood to trick-or-treat?” Griffin asks.
“Yeah, I think Carson was just loading the stroller into his truck. Figured we could all ride over there together,” she replies.
The four of us head downstairs to the kitchen to pack up a few snacks for Cadence—because as sweet as she is, Cadence goes from fine to melting real quick when she’s hungry.
“I’ll get the snacks while y’all get her bundled up,” I suggest. It’s only October, but in Minnesota, it gets colder for Halloween. Or maybe this Texan just hasn’t adapted to the cooler climate.
Carson joins me in the kitchen once he’s loaded his truck. He walks up to me with a twinkle in his eye. “Harley-girl, you look amazing,” he compliments me as he grabs my right hand in his. “I almost forgot—a few of the accessories were still in my truck.”
Before I can pull my hand from his, Carson’s entire body goes rigid when he spots the bruises on my wrist. He doesn’t tighten his grip, but he gently tugs my wrist closer while thoroughly inspecting my purpling skin.
