Page 61 of You Found Me
I knew there was something I was forgetting, and I groan, “No, I completely spaced. It doesn’t make sense for meto go into the city to find a costume, come back to get ready, then go back to Charleston tonight.”
“You can look through my vast collection to see if there’s anything that could work. Or ask Colette since you’re closer in stature.”
“I’m sure there’s something in my closet or in the boxes I can work with. Plus, I don’t want her to know it slipped my mind. What or who are you dressing up as?”
There’s a twisted gleam in her eyes as she says, “I convinced Beckett to dress up like Clark Kent. It wasn’t super hard considering his love of the old show, but I’m still taking it as a win.”
“Of course you did. I assume that means you’ll be Lois Lane?”
She shrugs. “Maybe. You’ll have to wait until tonight to see.”
“Bless Beckett’s sweet soul,” I say jokingly.
“I’m going to go shower. Let me know if you can’t find something to wear and I’ll help you brainstorm something.”
And with that, she leaves.
Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I mean besides giving out candy to trick or treaters and pumpkin shaped Reese’s cups, I could do without it. But because the twins’ birthday is two days before, they always tend to do something Halloween related.
They started taking turns on deciding the theme and activity when we were seven years old, because they wanted vastly different things. Their dad said that since Colette was born three minutes earlier, she got to choose how to spend that birthday. They’ve switched back and forth every year after that and have stuck with it even into adulthood.
After sitting on the couch for twenty more minutes, I get up, heading to my room to look through the boxes I brought with me. I left a lot of stuff at my parents’ place because I knew I wouldn’t have a lot of closet space.
The first box is mostly winter stuff—thick sweaters, fleece-lined leggings and different colored tights, beanies, flannels, and a couple of shoe bags. The second box, however, I believe I meant to leave behind.
It’s filled with stuff from when I was in college. Random flyers that were hung around campus that I thought were funny andplanned to use in a scrapbook. Spoiler alert . . . I didn’t end up making the scrapbook. A bunch of photos of the girls and I at various events and parties. And then there, at the bottom of the box is a bright green dress.
Before I even pull it out, I know what it is.
My Buttercup costume.
The one I was wearing when I met Spencer.
I don’t remember packing this, let alone keeping it all these years. I guess something in the universe, or in my subconscious, made sure I kept it. I don’t have the wig anymore, but I’m almost positive that Mia has a black bob or something similar I could use. I throw the dress in the washer on a delicate cycle because who knows if it’s been washed since that night.
When it’s done, I dry it on a low heat setting and head to my room to start getting ready.
After I braid my hair and pin it back, I walk over to Mia’s door and knock.
“Come in,” she yells.
“Hey, do you happen to have a black bob and a . . .” The rest of my question is left unspoken when Mia turns around. “Oh. My. God.Beckett is going to lose it when he sees you.”
She smiles. “Good. That was the intention behind this get up. Anyway, what did you need?”
“Oh, I wanted to see if you still had a black bob and a wig cap I could borrow. I found my Buttercup costume from that Halloween party, and it felt right.”
“I can’t believe you kept that.”
“Me either, honestly. I thought I’d gotten rid of it.”
“Hmm, seems like it was meant to be. Yeah, I think there’s one in the closet and I have wig caps right here,” she tells me as she opens her vanity drawer, pulling one out.
“You’re a lifesaver. Spencer and Beckett said they’d grab us at 6:30 p.m. Which means we’ve got less than half an hour to finish up.”
“I’m pretty much ready, just have to put on the final touches. Want me to make you a little drinky drink? Or I think there’s still a couple seltzers in the fridge.”
“Great. I’m about done too. A seltzer would be good. Maybe it’ll help ease my stomach.”
