Page 6 of Trick Play

Mom interrupted. “Did they like your costume? I helped your mother with the wig.”

“Most of them didn’t know who Raggedy Ann was, but I think so.”

That explained the non-sexy costume. But I noticed the time, and it was getting late. “Any word from your brother?”

Kelli reached for her phone and frowned. She picked it up and dialed. “Dylan? Any luck finding the key?” She closed her eyes. “Tell your girlfriend that you have to find the key before you can leave. We’re stuck!” I didn’t hear what Dylan said in response, but Kelli’s lips thinned. “Keep looking.”

“No key?” I asked.

“No key.” She sighed. “Do you have to go now?”

My foot was twitching. “Yeah. But I don’t know what to do about the cuffs.”

“Go with him, Kelli.”

Kelli’s eyes moved from Mom to me. “I couldn’t.”

I was getting desperate, and spending more time with Kelli was appealing. “Do you skate?”

Mom slapped me again. “I made costumes for Kelli. She competed in figure skating.”

“Really?”

Kelli shrugged. “Only for a while. I wasn’t that good.”

Mom shot me a glance. “But you are very pretty. I enjoyed making your costumes.”

I thought Kelli was blushing, but it was impossible to tell beneath the makeup. “The costumes were beautiful. More than my skating.”

I bet Mom had pictures somewhere. She took them of all the costumes she made. Maybe if I saw one, I’d remember Kelli. “Do you have plans for the night?” If she agreed to come with me, at least till we got something worked out about the key, I wouldn’t be late. I was never late—Mom and Dad had drilled that into me.

“I was going to handle the trick-or-treaters till Mom could get home.”

“Yes, she’s at the wedding show.” Mom and Kelli’s mother were friends because they both sewed. “Give me your phone.”

Kelli passed it over.

Mom hit a few buttons, then started talking. “Dylan, this is Mrs. Han. You are an idiot, so your sister has to go with my son to his hockey thing tonight. You will handle the candy for the children and find that key.” A pause. “Your girlfriend may call me and I will explain how you were an idiot and now you cannot go to her party until you find the key. Maybe she can help you. Call as soon as you succeed.” She passed the phone back to Kelli. “You should go so you’re not late.”

I smiled at Kelli, and found I wasn’t that angry with Dylan after all.

Chapter 4

Anything but sexy

Larry

* * *

Five minutes later we were standing by my Porsche. “We’ll both have to get in the same door.”

She looked through the window. “I do yoga, so should I go first? Through the driver’s door?”

I did some yoga too, but watching Kelli crawl across the front seat sounded appealing. She sat in the driver’s seat, then twisted her legs over to the passenger side. Her dress rucked up, but there were so many petticoats I still had no idea what her figure was like.

My mom would give me a slap on the head if she knew what I was thinking.

I slid in the driver’s seat after her and turned the car on. I put my right hand on the stick, and Kelli tried to levitate her hand to stay close enough to let me shift.