Page 3 of Love at First Bite
“It’s just…” Abby started to say then looked at Rosie, as if silently asking her for help.
“Halloween Book Club is fun,” Rosie said, and I blinked.
“It’s the best,” I argued.
Our little group loved the end-of-the-year holidays, and we did something for every one to make sure we didn’t spend it alone like me; or at least had something to look forward to if we got stuck having to spend anxiety-ridden time with our families like Abby.
Halloween was the kickoff to these activities. We’d done a Halloween-themed book club get-together for the last five years, followed by Friendsgiving, an ornament decorating dinner, a New Year’s slumber party, and ending with a Secret Cupid for Galentine’s Day.
It was fun.
It was our tradition.
And even though I was the biggest scaredy cat in the world, our kickoff for spooky season was something I looked forward to every year. We chose a book, usually some kind of romcom that revolved around the season that we read through the month of October at our own pace. I had a list of possible book titles in my notebook. Then we got together at my place, where I hosted a dinner consisting of food themed from the book and even did a craft while we talked about the story.
“It is. It’s a lot of fun,” Abby agreed, reaching for my hand. “But we were talking and thinking?—“
“We? You mean you guys?” I gently pulled my hand away from theirs.
“You know it wasn’t like that.” Rosie tossed her arm over my shoulders and pulled me closer. “We were just talking about how the brewery is going to do a haunted house in the parking lot?—“
“A haunted house.” I swallowed. An ugly sinking feeling made my stomach drop.
“One that will lead right into the brewery for a masquerade party Halloween night.”
“Masquerade party,” I repeated. I schooled my features so my face wouldn’t give away how disappointed I felt. How much this didn’t call me. Crowds and drinking. People literally trying to scare you? It sounded like the worst!
“Yeah! You dress up all sexy, wear a cute little mask, get jump-scared a couple of times, and then go party!” Ember explained. I smiled gently. I wasn’t sure if I was selling it, but I could tell by the way they were looking at me that this was something they really wanted to do. And I didn’t. The whole idea sounded horrible.
“Dress sexy?” I ignored the heat that started to rise up the back of my neck. I glanced down at myself for a split second. I was the least sexy person in the world!
“Come on, why not?” Abby asked. “I mean, if you have it, flaunt it. And, babe, we all have it!” I glanced around at my best friends.
They were all beautiful.
Gorgeous in different ways. Abby with all her curves and lush lips. Rosie with her thick red hair and eyes that practically glowed. Ember with her almost snow-white hair and princess features. But me? I was wearing a shirt that said ‘Read’ that I’d paired with a flowy floral skirt. I was not sexy. I didn’t know how to do that. Never had. I wasmaybecute on a good day.
“What would we wear?”
“Ooo! We could dress up with a theme!” Abby suggested.
“What about witches? Because we’re bad ones!” Rosie said, and we started to giggle.
“So…” I looked around at my girls. “You guys really want to do this? Instead of our book cub?” I asked
“We could still pick a book to read in October,” Ember tossed in, and the other two nodded.
I could tell by the way they were looking at me with their hopeful, expectant faces that they really wanted to do this.It’s like prom all over again.
“Right.” I nodded. “Okay, umm… sure. Sounds fun,” I said, not meaning it.
Not even a little bit.
2.Brewster Graham
Irolled my neck side to side, groaning when the tight muscles pulled and ached.
“Fuck,” I cursed, sliding deeper into my desk chair, staring at the multi-computer screens that sat in front of me.
