Page 33 of One Foggy Christmas
I just love Halloween and respect anyone who puts effort into their costume. Where’s the fun in it if you don’t dress up?
I’ve been this way since I was a little girl, and it’s like everyone close to me is boring and lazy during this holiday. Last year, I begged Stetson to dress up with me. I needed a partner so we could be Jack and Rose fromTitanic—minus the nude drawings.
I’ve only been planning this year's zombie costume since May. That’s why I was thrilled when Reggie announced lastweek that he was hosting a Halloween party at his apartment. I needed a place to wear my epic costume.
“I can’t even take you seriously with all that scary makeup on your face.” Nash fills his plate with a few hors d'oeuvres. I knew if I stood by the food table long enough, I’d have a good chance ofaccidentallytalking to him. “You must be going for thebest costume of the nightaward.”
“I’m a zombie.” I lift my chin, proud of the final product. “If there is a costume contest, I’ll definitely win.”
“I hope you do.” His eyes glimmer. “Winner gets to take home the trophy.”
“Let me guess.You’rethe trophy I get to take home.”
He doesn’t need to answer. The gloating in his eyes says enough.
My phone vibrates in my leggings, but there’s so much zombie fabric hanging all over me I can’t get to it.
“Hey, I was wondering. Have you ever seen a professional football game?”
I abandon the search for my phone, partly because of my costume and partly because the call ended. “No, I haven’t.”
“I have two tickets to Sunday’s game.” Suddenly, Nash is all fidgety and nervous, and it’s adorable. “I thought maybe you’d like to go. You know, see Soldier Field.”
“With you?”
“It’s not a date. It would just be two co-workers hanging out.” His lips pull into one of his mischievous grins. “Actually, now that I think about it, itcouldbe a date. It’s our day off, so technically, I won’t be your boss that day.”
“So you’re only my boss when we’re at work?”
“That’s right. Outside of work, I’m just the cute guy from the Cubs game. Or now I can be the cute guy from the Bears game.”
I laugh at his logic.
“So what do you say? Would you like to hang out with me outside of work?”
“I don’t know.” I scratch my ear, wanting to say yes, knowing I probably shouldn’t. My eyes catch something familiar behind Nash. “Stetson?”
“Oh, come on. Don’t pull the boyfriend card on me. The guy’s been absent since you moved to Chicago.”
“No, Stetson is here.” I push past Nash and rush to the door where Stetson stands with Harper. “What are you doing here?”
“Sadie?” His brows drop. “I didn’t recognize you with all that makeup.”
He wraps me into his arms, spinning me around, giving me the perfect view of Nash’s stoney eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I repeat.
“I missed you.” He shrugs.
“Why didn’t you just call?”
“I hate how things are going between us, and I felt like I needed to come here and fix everything face to face.”
“How did you find me?” My eyes quickly dart to Nash. His clenched jaw says a lot.
“Your mom has your location. She gave me the address.”
My head is having a hard time catching up. “You drove here?”
