“You do trick-or-treating? How does that work with so many frats and sororities on the block? Aren’t most of them partying?”
She laughs. “Until Dad bought this house and we all had a meeting about it. We want the community to feel welcome here this close to campus and having it kid friendly at least on Halloween is a way to do that. It helped when all the boyfriends on the sports teams put their hands up as a hey we support this so let’s all get on board.”
“If the icons of the university agree, people will naturally fall in line.” The same holds true of high school sports as well.
“So, are you in?”
“Sure.” It’ll at least keep my mind off things. “I’m guessing you needed into the attic because all the decorations are up here?”
She nods. “I didn’t even realize you were home until Christa saw your car. Are you sick or something? I’ve never known you to miss class.”
“No, I just needed a mental health day.”
“Girl, same. We all need those every once in a while.” She turns to the corner housing all the boxed up decorations. “I still can’t believe you labeled it all and stacked it by holiday.”
“It made sense to do it.” I yawn and shove my feet into my house shoes. “Come on, let’s get started. If we’re doing trick-or-treating, then we’re doing it right. Got to give the kiddos a really scary experience.”
Once we had all the boxes unpacked and the decorations scattered over the living room, I took charge. Halloween is myholiday and I always do it right, even when we couldn’t afford the best decorations growing up. The outside lights I told Jenny to wait and have the guys hang outside on the porch, but Christa set up the skull lights lining the driveway. We even conned one of the guys into sitting in a chair on the porch with a bucket of candy in his lap dressed as Jason Vorhees fromFriday the 13th.
Jenny comes running outside to where I’m standing contemplating how I want to string the lights a few hours later. She looks pissed.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?”
“Because I didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Well, why not? We’re your friends, aren’t we?”
“Yes.”
“Friends need to know when friends’ birthdays are. It’s sacrosanct.”
“I don’t know when your birthday is.”
“It’s on the kitchen calendar as well as every other person’s in this house. And it’s February 3rd, for your information. I expect a happy birthday and a card if not a present at the very least.”
“Of course I’ll get you something. We are friends after all.”
She glares at me. “And why would you not want us to do the same thing for you?”
“It’s not that. Just today is making me remember my Nana isn’t here and I don’t even know if my brother will be able to call. He’s overseas in the military and they only get phone calls every so often. Today made me sad and I didn’t want to think about it.”
Her expression morphs from outrage to sympathy in seconds. “I didn’t think…I’m so sorry, Daisy. If you don’t want me to mention it’s your birthday, I won’t, but Hutch told me and I guarantee he told Collin who can’t keep a secret to save his life. Half the campus will know by nightfall.”
“Great, just great,” I mutter, not looking forward to being bombarded by everyone. “Wait, Hutch told you? Is he done with his meetings?”
“No. He texted to make sure I knew in case he didn’t get back until really late.”
“I’m really nervous for him and Collin.”
“Me too. It helps they have the same agent.”
“And the same lawyer. Both are in attendance for the meeting in hopes of getting it done today so they can start practice on Monday with the team.”
“That’s even better. Now, about today…if you want to escape up to your room before people start arriving for the party, I’ll make sure none of them bother you. We’ll keep the downstairs door locked so there’s no way anyone can accidentally get up there.”
“Even if they did, my room would be locked.”
She nods. “What are you doing out here anyway?”
