Page 1 of Trick or Truce

1

Elena

“Trick or Treat?”

I balance the candy bowl on my hip as I prop open the door with my foot. “Wow, it’s Spider-Man. I’ve always wanted to meet a real superhero.”

The barely three-foot-tall Spider-Man standing on my porch lifts his mask, revealing his toothy grin. “Hi, Miss Lenny. It’s me.”

I feign a shocked gasp. “Oh, my god. Jake, it’s you. I totally thought you were Spider-Man.”

“No, you didn’t. Spider-Man is much taller.” He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “Plus, my mom’s standing right there.”

I tilt my head, sizing him up. “Maybe it’s the costume, but you do seem taller today.”

His chest puffs out as he beams. “Really?”

“Definitely.”

He gestures to my costume. “Are you Black Widow?”

“I sure am. We should team up and fight crime.”

“Okay, but I have to be in bed by nine. Mom’s letting me stay up a little later since it’s a Friday.”

“That’s reasonable. I can take the second watch.”

He thrusts his open bag at me. “Can I have extra Swedish Fish, please?”

“Jake!” Val slaps her palm on her chest. “I am so sorry. He must have forgotten his manners.”

I dig out three mini-bags of Swedish Fish. “He saidplease.”

She shakes her head. “He practically walked inside and invited himself to dinner at the last house.”

Jake rolls his eyes. “They had a dog, Mom. Ihadto pet her.”

“Of course, because that makes it okay. God forbid a kidnapper ever has a dog. You’d be a goner.” Val shoots her son a glare before she turns back to me and smiles. “You look fantastic.”

“Thank you. My friend decided to have her bachelorette party on Halloween, so we’re going all-out with costumes this year.”

“Take lots of pictures. I barely remember my bachelorette, but my friend has some compromising pictures of me on stage at a male review that she still uses as blackmail.”

Jake hops off the top step, spraying fake webbing from his wrist. “What’s a male review?”

“Nothing. Don’t repeat that to your father.”

I stifle a laugh. “Well, don’t forget to brush your teeth tonight, Spider-Man. Superheroes can’t get cavities.”

“I don’t see what the big deal is.” Jake gives me a dubious look that’s way beyond his eight years. “Baby teeth fall out. Who cares if we brush them? Seems like a waste of time to me.”

“You’ve got a point, kid.”

“He’ll make a fantastic lawyer someday.” Val holds out her hand for Jake. “Bye, Len. Have fun tonight—and have some extra fun for me.”

I shoot her a wink. “You got it.”

“Bye.” Jake waves. “Have fun at your male review, whatever that means.”

---