Page 56 of Where We Call Home

I wiggled into the black-and-white fabric, the stretchy material snapping lightly against my skin. When I turned to look in the mirror, I was no longer myself—I was a full-on pregnant cow.

The spandex bodysuit I found online was perfect, arriving just in time. I’d added my own flair: pink udders for my belly and a headband with floppy ears I’d hot-glued on. Using eyeliner, I drew a cute cow nose and a few other facial details to complete the look.

That was the beauty of Halloween—you could be whoever or whatever you wanted. It was the one time of year when looking completely ridiculous or insanely hot (or both) was socially acceptable.

The weather was warm, so my tattoos were on full display. The black ink that wrapped my arms in intricate florals and vines added an extra layer of personality to the costume. Honestly? I felt pretty damn good.

Spinning around to get the full view in the mirror, I smirked. My ass looked amazing, even in cow print. Feeling cute gave me the confidence boost I needed to tackle the night ahead.

The thought of seeing Aspen and Penny still made my stomach twist, but Rhodes had been right. I needed to do this—for myself and for my baby girl. My insecurities about past friendships didn’t matter anymore. I couldn’t let the ghosts of my childhood hold me back.

Running a hand over my belly, I smiled at the thought of her. What kind of mom would I be if I didn’t show her how to stand her ground?

A quick glance at my phone told me time was ticking, so I gave myself one last once-over in the mirror. Satisfied, I strutted out of the bathroom with as much confidence as my swollen feet could muster.

At that exact moment, Rhodes’s bedroom door flew open, and he stepped out, taking up the entire doorway with his broad frame.

“Absolutely not,” I said immediately, shaking my head as I took him in. “Nope. This isn’t happening.”

He was dressed as a damn farmer—plaid button-up shirt, straight-leg Wranglers, and a cowboy hat perched on his stupidly perfect head.

Rhodes took one look at me and burst into laughter, doubling over with his hands on his knees. It was the kind of laugh that made his whole body shake. I couldn’t tell if he was laughing at my costume or at the sheer irony of us unintentionally matching.

“What are the odds?” he wheezed, straightening up and wiping his eyes. “Looks like we planned this.”

“One of us has to change,” I said, glaring at him. “If we show up like this, people are going to get the wrong idea.”

“I’m not changing,” Rhodes said with a shrug. “This isn’t even a costume. These are just my regular clothes.”

“Do you know how long it took my pregnant ass to squeeze into spandex?” I shot back. “Way too long, Rhodes. Way too long.”

He stepped closer, the scent of his cologne wrapping around me as his ruggedly handsome face hovered just inches away.

“Well, we’re at an impasse, Honey.”

I groaned, throwing my hands in the air as I stomped to the kitchen to grab my purse and slung it over my shoulder. He wasn’t going to budge, and frankly, neither was I.

“Let’s just go before I change my mind and decide not to go at all!” I called over my shoulder, walking toward the door.

Rhodes followed, a chuckle rumbling in his chest. Neither of us was going to win this battle, but at least we’d get the party started. Yee-fucking-haw.

I purposefully kept my distance from Rhodes, hoping that if we stayed far enough apart, no one would notice the unintended theme. A girl could dream, right?

But, of course, that dream shattered the moment we stepped into the barn. Mac noticed immediately.

“Y’all plan this?” he asked, pointing between Rhodes and me with a mischievous smirk.

“I was dressed first!” I blurted.

“False,” Rhodes interjected smoothly. “I’ve been ready all day. I wore these jeans and boots to work.”

“Yeah, well, squeezing into this spandex suit took longer, so I win.”

“Did you win, D-I-V-A?” Rhodes teased, drawing out the letters in his deep voice.

“Okay, let’s pause the very obvious flirting,” Mac cut in with a laugh, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Let me show you what we’ve got so I can get back to drinking.”

Mac was dressed as the Joker, complete with slicked-back green hair and makeup that nailed the creepy smile. The tailored purple suit and a cigarette tucked behind his ear pulled the whole look together.

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