Page 82 of You Rock My World
“You’ve been merciful with this costume. I expected something much sexier,” Josie teases. “You in superhero spandex, leaving nothing to the imagination.”
“That’s because you haven’t seen my fangs yet.” I flash her a slow smile, letting the porcelain props bite into my lower lip.
Josie’s jaw drops, her eyes doing that dangerous sparkle thing. “You’re really cruel, you know that?”
“Just trying to fit in with the other monsters.”
She opens her mouth to say something, but a small figure barrels into the room. It’s Penny wearing a mouse costume, complete with oversized ears and a golden crown. She’s clutching a plastic sword and waving it around like a tiny menace.
“Aunt JoJo! I vanquished the dragon!” the mouse declares.
“Penny.” Josie adjusts the mouse’s ears. “Are you sure you want to trick-or-treat in your Mouse King costume? You’ll ruin it before the recital.”
“Mom said I could—” Penny doesn’t finish, she gasps as she spots me, then bolts straight for my legs, wrapping her tiny arms around my knees. “You came!”
I pretend to wobble under the impact. “Whoa, your Majesty, I didn’t know I was getting escorted by royalty tonight.”
Penny leans back, grinning up at me. “I’m the Mouse King,” she declares, swishing her tiny plastic sword through the air. “We’re gonna get all the candy.”
“All of it? That’s ambitious. What’s our competition like?”
“Lots of kids, but they don’t have a knight. We’re unstoppable.”
Josie lets out an exasperated sigh. “He’s not a knight, Penny. He’s a vampire.”
Penny gives me a once-over. “Then you can scare the other kids away while my auntie turns into a human heart-eyes emoji. Cool.”
Josie groans, rubbing her temples. “I regret everything.”
I grin. “Too late. I’m committed now.”
Penny tugs at Josie’s dress, then at my cape. “Come on, let’s go! We’re wasting time!”
The three of us set out into the neighborhood. Penny is bursting with excitement, skipping ahead and waving her sword at imaginary foes with one hand while she carries a plastic pumpkin basket in the other. The warm evening air smells of dry grass and it’s filled with the shouts and laughter of kids in various costumes scurrying along the sidewalks.
Josie walks beside me, her low-heeled ankle boots somehow sexier than stilettos. I should keep an eye out for anyone who might recognize me, but I can’t look anywhere else.
“Lily’s really bummed she had to work tonight. But she promised Penny she’d take her to a pumpkin patch tomorrow.”
“Penny’s lucky to have you.”
Josie’s face turns sad. “Penny was so happy when I told her you were coming. Holidays like this are when she misses her dad the most. Danny loved Halloween.”
I glance ahead at Penny, who’s darting from one side of the sidewalk to the other, her mouse ears flopping with each bounce. The thought of her losing her father hits me anew like a punch to the sternum. Grief this big shouldn’t fit inside someone so small.
I lost my mother as an adult and it hasn’t been easy. I’m in awe of that kid’s resilience.
“I’m glad I could help.” I fight to keep the emotion out of my voice. “She’s a wonderful kid.”
Josie’s smile fades into something more contemplative. “Yeah, she is. We give her as much love and support as we can, but sometimes, I worry it’s not enough.”
“You’re doing an amazing job,” I assure her. “She’s surrounded by people who care about her. That makes all the difference.”
Josie nudges me with her shoulder. “You’re so nice, Mr. Immortal, weren’t you supposed to be a monster?”
I scoff. “Want to hear me roar?”
“I thought I made it clear from day one that all I want is to hear you purr.”
