Page 74 of Worst in Show

For the first time during the event, I step outside the store for some fresh air. I wave to the little Sleeping Beauty who now has a dragon-bedecked golden retriever courtesy of me. It’s nice outside, cool but not freezing, and the skies are clear. Since there’s not a lot of time left, I drag out my fake cauldron with candy and a chair to sit on.

I’ve been too busy until now to think about Leo, but from this vantage point, Canine King is in my direct line of sight. The lights are on inside, and several people crowd the entrance. Maybe I should have texted him back when he sent the picture of Tilly this morning, but I didn’t know what to say. Why didn’t you kiss me? Hardly.

The crowd leaves Leo’s store only for another family to show up at mine. There’s a fairy, an octopus, and a baby in a stroller dressed as an old lady in a curly wig and glasses.

“Are you a real princess?” the octopus asks.

“I am tonight,” I say, placing candy in their bowls.

The fairy looks me up and down. “Are you going to marry the prince?”

“Alas, no prince has visited in many moons,” I say, adding some affect to my voice.

“He’s right there.” The octopus points across the street.

I look up, and sure enough, there’s Leo standing outside Canine King with a crown on his head.

“Come on, kids. Let’s move on.” The dad gathers his brood with a quick “thank you” to me.

“Sure,” I mumble. Leo is staring at me, a baffled look about him. I try a small wave.

He glances down the street and back at his store. Then he seems to make up his mind. All I can do is stand there, statue-like, as he approaches.

“Wow.” He shakes his head slowly. “You look…”

“Like a princess?”

“Gorgeous.”

Oh. “Thanks. It’s all Micki.” I indicate his head. “You dressed up, too. Kind of thought you’d drop the ball on the whole thing.”

He touches his crown. “Looking at you, I feel like this doesn’t count.”

I smirk. “It’s an understated costume, I’ll give you that. But the kids still knew you’re a prince.”

“I was going for king, actually. Because of…” He points to his store.

“Yeah, that makes more sense. Nice one.”

He shakes his head again. “I told you I’m terrible at this stuff.”

“You did.” I chuckle. “I should have believed you.”

“But you.” His eyes do that sparkly thing again. “You made that dress, too? It’s very impressive.”

My stomach summersaults. His attention is bringing back last night. His palm against mine, the high before the disappointment. “Come on, you have to see the dogs.” I lead him inside where the three of them are sleeping.

Leo laughs. “Poor Boris looks miserable. I don’t think candlestick is his color. Here, let me get a picture. You sit there.”

He positions me behind Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, and Cogsworth and snaps a few shots. “You need to frame one of these for the store.”

“Yeah, send me one.” I want to say more, but all the words that come to mind sound so needy.

His gaze jumps past my shoulder. “Shoot, there are people at the store.” He turns in a hurry, but halfway out the door, he stops. “Hey, we’re almost done with this, right? Do you want to go over to the park for some cider after?”

My belly warms again. “For sure.”

Once the kids go home, the celebrations continue along the Riverwalk with live music, food trucks, and fire pits for the adults reliving their childhood dress-up games. There are elaborate Star Wars costumes, a Thor who could be Chris Hemsworth’s body double, mummies, Wonder Women, and zombies. My dress is partly covered by an old stole I found among my grandma’s things, but Leo and I still turn heads in our matching crowns.

---