Page 39 of Fall Twice

“And? You two are just friends, so it doesn’t matter my opinion of him,” she counters, and I know this is some sort of psychological trick that she’s playing on me, as she is up to date on the latest in my life.

Puffing out a breath, I collapse onto the stool next to her. “I’m a fool,” I state. “I’m probably the biggest mixed message out there. I tell us not to overthink it, but I can’t stop flirting. I know it’s wrong, I know I need to keep my guard up, but Reid, he just does something to me.”

Annie grabs a piece of candy and begins to peel off the wrapper. “You are allowed to have fun. You are allowed to have guy friends. And you are allowed to one day fall in love again. You’re smart where Oscar is involved, and you don’t need to worry about landing on two feet and starting your own life as a single person because you’ve always been independent, and you have this. You could even have him. There is no timeline you need to follow. In fact, you have a lot of checkmarks happening right now, so why the gloom?”

That ache between my ribs is back, a bundle of nerves that has no idea in which direction to head—my heart, my pussy, my brain, or everywhere.

I grab my scarf that was on the counter and begin to wrap it around my neck. “You’re right, except I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Reid, he’s…” Before I can finish my sentence, the doorbell rings. “Here.” I’m saved from any talk of emotions.

Annie smiles right before I slide off the stool and head to the front door. Opening it, I see Reid’s back. He must be watching the kids already walking along the sidewalks trick-or-treating. He turns slowly, and a suave smile forms on his mouth to greet me.

“Trick or treat?” he asks in a sing-song tone.

“What are you?” I ask, playing along, in doubt.

He steps in, causing our bodies to brush together. “The hot professor, of course. Just so happens I wear the costume every day.” He holds up a bottle. “Here, for later.”

I roll my eyes at his joke as he hands me the wine that he brought.

He leans in, but I’m not sure if it’s to kiss me on the mouth, or maybe I get nervous. I move, he moves, then he kisses me on the cheek, and in a way, it calms me.

Reid walks into my home like he owns the place and heads straight to the kitchen where Annie smiles and says hello.

“Long time!” She stands to give him a hug, which surprises me, as she is not a hugger. Then I see that she’s feeling his arms as she flashes me a look of approval.

After a round of pleasantries, all our attention turns to Oscar who comes running into the room. He has a scarf I tied around his head like a pirate, and he’s dangling the store-bought eye patch. But the vest and pants are all me and my sewing machine.

“Is it time yet?” Oscar asks as he grabs his basket and pirate map, since fake knives were a no-no at school.

“Look at you!” Reid compliments and offers his hand so Oscar can high-five, to which he jumps up and does. Reid pulls a giant candy bar out from his coat pocket and tosses it to Oscar. “From Johnny since we’re staying in your neighborhood tonight.”

“Wow!” Oscar is impressed with the king-sized treat.

“Definitely getting a photo of you, kiddo.” Annie begins a mini photo session on her phone.

I clap my hands together, knowing we need to get moving. “Who’s ready for trick-or-treating?”

“Me!” Oscar jumps up.

Annie waves her hand. “If there are hot single dads then I’m so in,” she mutters.

Reid looks at her. “That’s your thing?”

Annie nods proudly.

I grab my witch’s hat and both Annie and Reid look at me, impressed. “Only for a little bit,” I justify.

“Is there… more costume somewhere?” Reid subtly asks as he rubs his stubbled chin. Annie picks up on the undertone and smiles tightly as she walks with her arm around Oscar.

It was all in good fun, but I feel that heat now spreading around the group of nerves that are screaming at me to figure out where to go.

Ignoring it, I meet Reid’s eyes and feel like a strand of glue is pulling us together.

“Jesus, it’s cold.”Annie shivers as she keeps her arms folded around her body. We’re standing at the bottom of the path, while Reid is up at the door with Oscar to collect candy.

We are about ten houses in. After the first three houses where I accompanied Oscar on every doorbell push and took photos, well, the novelty wore off. Annie and I are instead freezing as we watch.

“One more house, then we can go home. I left the bowl of candy out, but it might need to be replenished,” I say.

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