Leo,” he sings, and then he’s off, joining his new friends. Leo runs after him, forever the helicopter parent.
I trail my gaze back to Mr. Preston. “I don’t carry hate in my heart, Mr. Preston, or hold on to grudges.” I hold on to fear. “We’re good.”
He smiles to one side, so much like his son. “Yeah?”
“Uh-huh.”
When we get back to the house, the other Preston boys inform us that they’re all going to a drive-in the next town over that’s showing back-to-back horror films. They ask if Holden, Leo and I want to join them, but we decline. Lucy and Cameron went straight home after the trick-or-treating, with Lucy and me making plans to catch up when I’m in town next. Holden’s been on the phone texting pumpkin baby lady since we got back in the car, and now, the rest of us are just sitting on the porch, watching Benny and Preston go through their collected treats on the floor, swapping candies. “All right, I have to go,” Holden says, standing so fast all heads turn to him.
“Go where?” Tammy asks.
“Just…” He shrugs, looking sheepish. “I have to go, so do I take the car? Should I drop you off at the hotel?”
“Go where?” Tammy pushes, and my dad stifles a laugh. He knows exactly what’s happening. “Hot date?” Dad asks.
“How?” Tammy scoffs. “Here?” She shakes her head. “How?” she repeats.
“He picked up a mom during trick-or-treating,” I inform.
Holden narrows his eyes at me. “Snitch,” he spits.
“Man-hussy,” I retort.
Leo chuckles.
Tammy shakes her head. “Holden, you’re going straight to hell in a handbasket. You know that, right?” But she’s already gathering her stuff.
“We should go too,” Misty says, and Preston whines.
“No, Mama! I want to play with Benny!”
“Yeah,” Benny jumps in. “I want to play with Preston!”
My cheeks hurt with my smile.
“Mia, honey,” Misty says, getting my attention. “Why don’t I get your number, and we can set up a play date next time you’re in town.”
“That sounds good,” I reply.
“What’s a play date?” asks Benny.
“My window is closing,” Holden huffs, already walking down to our car.
Tammy rolls her eyes. “Are you coming back, or are you and Benny staying here?”
“Stay!” Leo almost shouts, and I laugh, looking over at him. “We can watch a movie, and then you can stay in Lucy’s old room with Benny.”
“You should stay,” Tom adds.
“Mama, can we?” Benny’s eyes are pleading. “Puhleaaaaase?”
Like I have a choice. “Okay.”
After saying goodbye to everyone, Tom excuses himself to bed, and Leo, Benny, and I sit in the living room and share a bowl of popcorn while watching a documentary about mining minerals. It doesn’t take long until the day catches up with Benny, and he falls asleep, sprawled across Leo and me. “You’re going to have to carry him up to the room,” I whisper, shifting Benny’s hair away from his forehead. “He’s pooped.”
Leo laughs under his breath before carefully sliding out from under Benny and lifting him as if he weighs nothing. I follow him up the stairs—stairs I’ve never climbed before—and into Lucy’s old room. There are twin beds in here, against opposite walls. It’s decorated in the way a teenage girl would, and I wonder if it’s been touched since she left. The soft glow of the lamp on the bedside table showcases photographs of her and Cameron and a bunch of their friends, as well as the Preston clan. After tucking a sleeping Benny into the bed, Leo grabs my hand and leads me just outside the room, where he pushes me quietly against the wall of the hallway and presses his lips to mine. His hands are rough as they tug on my hair, craning my neck so he can kiss me there. As much as I want him, it feels wrong to be doing this with his dad sleeping just down the hall. I push him away, giggling when he rolls his eyes. “Come sleep in my room,” he offers.
“I can’t. Benny won’t know where he is when he wakes.”
Leo’s grin turns wicked as he drops his mouth to my ear, whispers, “My headboard has wooden slats. I could tie you up—”
I shove him away, heat burning my cheeks.
Leo smirks. “I know that’s what you like.”
“Shut up!” I hiss, shoving his shoulder. I look around the empty house, then lower my voice when I add, “Next time.”
Leo groans. “Promise?” I roll my eyes. He takes a step back, leaning against the opposite wall. “So, how do you think it went?”