Page 44 of She is the Darke

Tyler had been so proud, and had been talking up clients and potential clients at the awards ceremony beside her. So many of the neighborhood knew her now, and were getting to know Tyler as the “lights guy”. He already had a full schedule for the Christmas season on this side of town.

Their costumes were simple this year—she wore her crow mask, and he wore his own mask from the speed-dating event. Rachel and Griffin wore theirs as well. God, she couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun at the neighborhood party.

To anyone they didn’t know, Tyler introduced her as his lady, and seemed so proud. It filled up her heart. He’d seen her crow—petted her, even. He’d seen her nest and her hoard, and he was standing beside her, holding her hand, or touching her back, or draping his arm around her shoulders, grinning and laughing and charming the socks off of everyone around them. He was going to do just fine here with his father’s business. She also knew, down to her bones, that he would take care of this neighborhood with her at Halloween-time. He was alreadyexcited for next year, and she just knew it would be the best Halloween ever. It was something to look forward to. It was a balm on the burn of November first. Next year, they would do this even bigger and better as a team.

“Guess what I found us,” Rachel said excitedly.

“Where did you go?”

“Into that house over there,” she said, pointing to the one on the cul-de-sac. “They’re giving full-sized candy bars to the kids, and miniature alcohol shots to the adults.”

“Baby, did you get us pocket shots?” Griffin asked low, looking at Rachel like she was a goddess.

“Is that what they’re called? Then yes. I got four pocket shots.”

“Dude,” he said, holding up his hands in surrender. “Lock me down.”

“Get off the dating apps first!” Rachel ordered.

“I already got off them!”

“My man,” she said, and Tyler was chuckling beside Demi.

Those two were weirdly perfect for each other.

“To next year being even bigger,” Rachel said, holding her little plastic bottle of Fireball Whisky up in the middle of them.

“Okay, well hang on, I have to open mine,” Demi murmured, twisting the cap.

“To friends, and being right here next year,” Tyler said, holding his up. “To redoing this awesome moment.”

“Yes!” Rachel exclaimed.

Demi put her little plastic bottle in the middle and clicked it against the others before she downed hers. Whoo, that was a brutal burn down her throat, but she was having too much fun to complain.

“Oh crap, hold my shot,” Rachel said, looking at something through the crowd.

Demi took her little empty bottle and watched Rachel take off running.

“What the hell?” Tyler asked.

And then Demi saw her—Danielle—glaring at them through the crowd. At least, shewasglaring…until Rachel tackled her like a football player.

“Oh!” Demi cried out as she moved to stop the fight.

“That’s for sending my brother your crusty tit-pics, you hoochie!” Rachel yelled as she wrestled her. “That’s my best friend you’re messing with!”

It was Griffin who pulled them apart, and Demi bit back a smile as he carried Rachel away slung over his shoulder. Rachel threw two middle fingers at Danielle, who sat up gingerly and pressed her knuckles against her fat lip.

“Let’s go,” Tyler said low as he pulled Demi by the waist away from the commotion Rachel’s pummeling had created.

Demi was laughing. She couldn’t help it! Danielle’s face looked so stupid. God, she loved Rachel.

Tyler was trying and failing to hide his laughter. When they met up with Rachel and Griffin again at the entrance to the wood-chip covered trail that would lead to the back entrance of the pumpkin patch, he doubled over laughing. “Fuck, Rachel. You’re going to get us sued.”

“Bring it,” she ground out. “She’s not coming between me and my future sister.”

“Your sister?” Demi asked, confused.

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