Page 40 of Fall Twice

Annie tips her head in Oscar’s direction. “Reid is good with him.”

“I guess.” I keep my answer simple. But yes, he is, and that should be my reminder. Friend Reid means there is no chance for Oscar to get hurt.

“AndI lost you to your thoughts again.” Annie smirks then gently grabs my arm to draw my attention to her. “Can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

“If Reid were to tell you right now that he has a date with someone else tomorrow, what would you feel? After all, you two are just friends, right?”

I glance to see that Reid and Oscar are talking to the man offering a bowl of candy, which means I have a little time to answer. “He isn’t tied down to me. We are friends, and I would be happy for him.”

“Bullshi—hey, you two.” Annie turns her attention to Oscar running toward us with Reid towing behind.

“I got Butterfingers.” Oscar holds up his basket proudly.

I investigate his basket, full of enough candy. “A perfect way to end the evening. We should head home, as it’s super cold. Plus, we need to hand out candy at our house too, you can help.”

Immediately Oscar groans. “But we still have those houses to do.” He points across the street.

“But Aunt Annie is freezing, and I really need to check on the candy.” I run my hand through Oscar’s hair.

“Want me to take him?” Reid offers.

My head immediately perks up in his direction and I see that he doesn’t seem to mind. “Oh, you don’t have to be dragged along.”

“It’s cool. We’ll do a few more houses then come home.”

“Are you sure? This isn’t what I meant by tag along trick-or-treating with us.” I feel bad, but I don’t. I trust Reid with Oscar, and it helps me out by avoiding Oscar frowning for the next hour.

Reid reaches out to touch my shoulder, his eyes soft when they meet my own. “I promise. I might steal a candy bar, but hazards of the job, right?” He bobs his head to the side.

“Right.” My upper lip twitches from the delight dancing around us.

Our no-contact embrace is broken when Oscar grabs Reid’s arm. “Come on!” Oscar’s tone is persistent.

“Just call me if you need something.”

Reid is already getting pulled away. “Sure.”

Annie’s tongue clucks in her mouth as she hooks her arm around my shoulders to walk us back in the direction of my house. “I think I just felt my ovaries explode watching that. He cares about you.”

“He’s just helping,” I protest. Truthfully, it is a little daunting seeing that Reid is, well, a kids type of person now. Add that to the positive traits list that I should not be keeping.

“Or trying to win points, but I don’t know. You two have some quite sensual looks happening.”

I try to brush it all out of my head. Impossible. But at least five minutes later, when I have a glass of wine in my hand and have refilled the candy bowl, I do feel calmer.

“It will all be okay. I know I don’t get both. It’s either the passion or the man who cares too much and may lack the passion. And since it’s amazing sex then that is my sign that it needs to end because I don’t get all the other stuff too.” I speak aloud as if a tangent of thoughts wants to spew out of my head.

Annie stops examining the bottle of wine. “That is the craziest thing you’ve ever said. I think you really need to have a chat with the guy.”

I nervously drink from my wine. “Mmhmm, totally right. I will talk to him.”

“I’ll watch Oscar in the morning before my flight. You can go meet Reid and do what you kids do to confuse your lives.” Annie sips from her glass.

I tap the counter, breathing out a breath, knowing very well that I need to take Annie up on her offer.

For the next few minutes, we have a couple more kids at the door, but it’s dying down. By the time Reid returns with Oscar, my son willingly goes to the sofa to flop down and watch some television, as he’s exhausted.

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