It’s impressive.”
“Thanks. I love it, of course.”
“It could be on a postcard,” Abby compliments. “I’ll text you later. You’ve leaving for Florida soon, though, right?”
“Right, next week. I’m so excited.”
“I bet!” She turns, trying to put Penny in the stroller, but she’s just not having it.
Nancy shuffles forward, eyes glossing over. She’s looking at me, gaze unwavering. Lucas rests his hand on my back, protectively moving closer.
“Hi, Callie,” she says meekly, and I completely ignore her. Betty watches me from the corner of her eye, no doubt wondering why I’m ignoring this woman. Hah. If only she knew.
“What size does Penny wear?” I ask, sticking with my original plan to totally ignore the Martins. “I might go a little crazy buying her princesses dresses.”
“She’s in eighteenth-month clothes now. She’s little.” Abby looks lovingly at her daughter. “Don’t go too crazy, we have so much stuff already.”
“I can’t make any promises,” I laugh. “I’ll see you guys later!”
“Bye!” Abby gives me a hug and Phil waves to Lucas, saying they have to go look at cars soon.
“Un-fucking-believable,” Scott grumbles, earning a jab in the ribs from Abby as they walk off. Nancy’s eyes linger on me, and the guilt is obvious on her face.
“Bye, Callie,” she says, voice tight, and I once again ignore her. Lucas slides his hand from my back to my waist and gives me a little squeeze. I let out a heavy sigh and go back into candy passer-outer mode.
“Sorry about that,” I say softly, plunging my hand into the bowl of candy, smiling broadly at the next group of trick-or-treaters.
“About what?” Betty replies, tipping her head a bit as she looks at me. “We, uh, all have our family issues.”
“Well, I’ve got plenty. That was my former mother and former brother.” I’m not going to explain to her now how we’re related, or more so, how we’re not related. But it’s not too far off to assume I’ve emancipated myself from that awful family.
“I’ve actually wondered about your family now that I know the truth,” Betty admits. “Kristy talks about visiting her parents every now and then and you’ve never mentioned yours until this last spring.”
“They don’t have powers,” I say in one breath. Maybe I shouldn’t admit my truth to Betty, but fuck all to the lies. I’m not going to tell her they’re not my real family. Not yet, at least. “And everyone but my sister has hated me for it.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks, but it’s fine. I’ve made my peace with it.” I scrunch up my nose. “Forget about it, okay? Penny looked so cute as a little witch, and the turnout this year is incredible!”
“It really is!” Betty smiles back and we turn our attention to the crowd of trick-or-treaters coming up to our table.
“I have to pee,” I whisper to Betty, a good half an hour later. “Can you man the table for a minute or two?”
“Of course. I’ll be fine,” she tells me, and I take Lucas’s hand, pulling him in the store with me.
“Please tell me this is a secret invitation to fuck you.” He speeds forward and presses me up against a bookshelf. My eyes flutter closed, and I wish more than anything this was all it was.
“Hah, I wish. I actually do have to pee, but I also wanted to say thank you for handling everything back there. I know it’s not easy for you to refrain from violence when it comes to Scott.”
“I imagined myself killing him in at least fifty different ways.”
“Maybe later you can tell them all to me.” I laugh as I wiggle my eyebrows and give him a kiss.
“We’re really not fucking?” he asks, disappointed. “You are so hot in that costume.”
“When we get home.” I wink and sweep my hands down his chest. “And you know how much I love you in suits.”
We kiss again and then I rush off to the bathroom. Lucas is waiting for me in the little sitting area when I get done.
“We’ve fucked everywhere in the house, but we haven’t in here.”
Heat rushes through me. “I’ve never so much as made out in here.”
He looks around the store, fangs coming down. “There are so many places to fuck.”
“Another time…like when the entire town isn’t walking by that big window.”
He takes me around the waist and steps in, widening his legs. “You’re no fun,” he says and leans in to kiss me, but suddenly stops and jerks his head up, looking at the door.
“What is it?”
“Vampires.”
Chapter 14
“Vampires?” I