Page 55 of Dead End

“She’s right, Toby. There is nothing we can do right now. We can only take this one step at a time.” Maddie jumped up and grabbed my shoulders, looking me square in the eye. “We got this. These bitches ain’t going anywhere, so enjoy life because I’m telling you to. I’m here, sis.” Then she muttered under her breath, “There better be sweets outside.”

I had to hold back a giggle at how serious her face was as she segued into candy territory. Typical.

Everyone was staring at me, waiting for my reaction. They were right—I was in the here and now with the people I loved surrounding me. I just wish Freddy and Jessica were here.

“Lead the way, Aunties.” I hesitantly smiled and loved watching them get excited like two little kids as they basically moonwalked out of the living room, their robes fluttering around their feet, singing gibberish. They were insane, but I loved them to death.

I pecked Jason and Michael on the cheek as I got up to follow, grabbing a daydreaming Maddie by the hand. I glided my fingertips over a still-frozen Norman by the archway. He gazed down at me expressionless as we passed him before sighing and following behind us. I knew he was worried about Freddy. We hadn’t seen him since he went into beast mode, but my gut told me he was fine.

He was a werewolf, made to feel the dirt beneath his paws as he howled at the moons. He’d always been a wild card—the guy who lived every day like it was the only one he’d get. He really was made for this world, just like the rest of us.

The moment we stepped outside, my jaw dropped, and I felt a warm, happy glow fill my chest. Right under my nose, fresh baked foods floated by on trays, landing on the smooth surface of a tree trunk in the middle of the yard. Pumpkin cakes were still steaming from the oven, and there were apple strudels with cream cheese drizzle, fresh popped candied popcorn, and caramelized apples. It was making my mouth water—until a horrible thought popped into my head.

“Um, who made these?” I gestured to the feast, praying to the great pumpkin that it wasn’t Auntie Pip, or I would start sobbing.

“Came from—” Auntie Fe started.

“Toil and Trouble,” Auntie Pip finished. Gesturing for us to take a seat on a bunch of floor pillows that looked comfy and squishy.

The colorful pillows were scattered across the lawn in a massive circle surrounding a bonfire that Michael lit with a snap of his fingers, grinning widely at me as I clapped in excitement. We sat down, the glow of the fire warming me instantly on the chilly, perpetually autumn night. With the stars twinkling above, I tilted my head back with a contented sigh. A small, cast-iron cauldron was brewing over the bonfire, smelling of spiced apple cider, and I was practically bouncing on my toes for some.

“Sister, lights, please,” Auntie Pip asked as she started pouring us steaming cups of cider to pass around.

With a whispered spell under her breath, Auntie Fe pointed at the dark-stained wooden shed in front of us, and we oohed and ahhed as a white sheet was pinned to it with string lights, creating a homemade screen. A movie started playing from the projector over our heads in the apple tree, and I instantly recognized the music in the background.

“Nothing like a little Hocus Pocus to cheer us up!” Maddie bounced in her seat and smiled happily over at me, but she gasped at something over my shoulder. Whatever it was had her jumping up with a squeal.

I quickly turned around, thinking the worst, but sagged into my pillow as Baen and Cal stepped out of the shadows to gather around our bonfire. Baen came bearing a bouquet of black roses and purple cotton candy for Maddie, who flung herself in his arms. Cal stood there, looking awkward with his hands in his black jean pockets, but he couldn’t take his eyes off Maddie as she let go of Baen and turned towards him with her arms already open. He stepped forward hesitantly and wrapped his arms around her, picking her up off the ground to hug her tighter.

Yeah, that girl gave the warmest hugs that you couldn’t help but smile at. He finally set her down, clearing his throat, and glanced around while raking his hand through his bluish-black hair until his eyes settled on me.

“Hey, October, how are you adjusting? Still going to the festival?” I noticed the wicked glint in his eyes as a group of not-so-silent growls filled the air. The cheeky fucker was teasing my guys and enjoying every second.

“She’s adjusting just fine. Not that it’s any of your fucking business, warlock,” Norman hissed, his bat swooping down to frantically flutter around his head before landing on his chest.

I would have laughed at the way he lovingly stroked Billie’s wings and continued to glower at Cal, but I didn’t want to embarrass my jealous boyfriend. It was kind of adorable.

Wait a second... I knew I loved the guys, but was I really just now coming to the realization that they were my boyfriends? Were they really? What if they didn’t want to be? We hadn’t had a real chance to talk about what this was! Oh god, I felt another panic attack coming on soon.

“What’s eating at you, luv?” Damon crooned as he reached over to gently stroke my cheek. I knew it was only a matter of time before he made an appearance again. He was probably drawn to the food.

As Norman and Michael bitched at Cal like a bunch of tough guys—which they were, but still—I leaned over to Damon so they couldn’t hear me. “Do you think I’m their girlfriend?” I bit my lip and watched his yellow eyes flicker to gray before changing back to an amused yellow glow.

“Of course,” he said through a laugh. “I bet they can’t wait for you to carry their babies. Imagine all the sex you’ll need to get that going.” He smirked at my horrified expression and crushed me in a hug to calm my suddenly racing heart. “I’m only half joking, luv. Not about the fucking, as there will be lots of that. Why don’t you just ask them yourself? And better yet, tell them you can hear their thoughts. I can sometimes feel you in here, which is actually quite pleasant.” He tapped his head before grabbing a handful of popcorn with a wink, completely ignoring my flabbergasted stare.

“I do not...” I started to lie but gave up when he turned back to me and Jason’s curious gray gaze met my own.

“Don’t what?” He mumbled around a mouthful of popcorn, and I only shook my head before settling back into the cushions. It seemed Damon had been practicing how to take over more completely as a secretive bastard.

I grumbled as Auntie Fe handed me a mug of warm cider with a teasing glint in her eyes. Yeah, yeah. I should put it all out there and tell them. But what if they thought it was an intrusion on privacy? I couldn’t control it. It came and went randomly.

Maddie plopped herself down across the bonfire from me, munching on her web candy and looking smugly comfortable cushioned between Cal and Baen.

“Thank you for the invite, Pip. It was most considerate,” Baen said in a deep, regal voice, pulling a flask out of his brown leather jacket as his skin rippled with a small tint of green. He sipped from the flask quickly, putting it away with a grin as Maddie reached for it with a pout.

“Are you ever going to tell me what you are?” Maddie asked, bumping Baen’s shoulder.

“One day, perhaps, but today is not that day. I wouldn’t want you running for the hills.” He winked and glanced over her shoulder at Cal with a scowl that pretty much said to shove it as Maddie shook her head, blowing a raspberry.

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