Page 111 of Butterfly Effect

Me

Like the blind leading the blind

Freckles

*middle finger emojis*

Me

Have no fear, cooking daddy is here

Freckles

Never say that again.

Me

Cooking daddy

Freckles

Fuck around and find out.

Me

Cooking

Freckles

Don’t.

Me

Daddy

Freckles

*facepalm emoji*

Maniacal laughter echoes alongside thunder and ominous strobe lighting as I exit the elevator on the top floor. Classic spiderwebs stretch from floor to ceiling in the hallway, the walls dripping blood-red and decorated with ornate gold crown molding, like an old, haunted movie theater.

“Nice touch,” I say to no one, brushing a cottony web from my face.

Pushing open the door reveals more of the same theme. A concession stand replaces their kitchen, and catering staff dressed as zombies offer a variety of drinks, cartoonish sweets, and flavored popcorn.

Fine. They did a good job.

A red-headed Landon in gladiator garb and painted-on eyebrows twirls a strand of Indi’s brown ponytail and fiddles with the pleats of her purple Grecian gown. They share a look of adoration as she smiles over a few cheesy kernels.

I tap Landon’s bicep with the back of my hand. “Earth to Hercules.” He straightens and offers a hand to dap, then pretends to punch me in my fake, oversized front teeth. “Place looks great, Indi.”

She flings her arms up and wraps my neck for a hug. “Aw, thanks, Wade.” Her knuckle digs into my dimple as she pinches my cheek. “You look adorable.”

Someone got laid.

I’m mad it wasn’t me. But the night is young.

My eyes search for Gabe across the sea of cartoon couples. There’s Homer and Marge Simpson, Woody and Bo Peep, and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible. Olsen and Szecze and their dates make up a scantily clad Scooby Doo crew.

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