Page 48 of The Haunting Plot

“Actually, I think it’ll be a close fit. This is the kind where the adult stands in the middle of it, so it looks like he’s riding the cock.”

“Do you hear yourself?” I shake my head.

She laughs. “Okay, that was unintentional, I swear.” I shoot her a dubious glance. “It’s a ride-on rooster. But I can sew up the hole in the middle—nope.” She snickers. “That’s not any better. So I can adapt this so he can be inside the rooster part and get rid of the ride-on part on the back. Then it’ll look just like a rooster. And since I know the air blower is loud and will trigger his sensory issues, I can stuff this one with batting so he’ll be a giant stuffed animal.”

“Thank you. Sorry this is such a weird request. You know how he gets when he hyperfixates on something, and right now chickens, mainly roosters, are his current obsession. He’s trying to convince me to get some actual ones for the yard.”

“I know how it is. And trust me, this isn’t the weirdest Halloween costume I’ve seen on a kid. And since we’re starting early, I’ll have plenty of time to make it.”

It’s a chore to get Jonah to cooperate for measurements, but once Bella has everything she needs, I walk her to the door right as someone knocks. Fuck. I was hoping to usher her out of here before he showed up.

Before I can stop her, Bella opens the door. “Chief Sawyer, what a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?” Her tone is off, like she knows why he’s here but she’s pretending she doesn’t, and I narrow my eyes in suspicion.

He looks at his watch, then me. “You said ten, right?”

“I did, and it’s ten after. Do you know how to tell time?”

“There’s my favorite ray of sunshine.”

The instant the words are out of his mouth, I know I’m fucked. Bella will never let this go. I spin and narrow my gaze on her, holding up a finger. “Don’t you da⁠—”

“Oh. My. God!”

“What am I missing?” Sawyer asks.

“He calls you his ray of sunshine? So not only did you get the longest fucking nickname out of all of us, it’s ironic too? This is too perfect!”

Before I can object, Bella pulls me into a hug. I love Bella, but I’m not a fan of PDA or any kind of touching, so I stand there awkwardly patting her back. “Can we not?”

Bella continues as if I didn’t say anything, releasing me from the hug. “This purse is cute. Is it new?” She picks up the bag off the table next to the door and examines it closely, enamored with it.

I’m confused by her change in topic. “Uh, no, it’s old.”

She sets it down and looks at Sawyer. “How are the kids?”

I eye them suspiciously before I remember that Bella has taught both of his kids since she’s the only kindergarten teacher in our small town.

“They’re great. I was supposed to have them today, but they’re going to a birthday party for someone in Jocelyn’s family, so she’s keeping them. I’m gonna pick them up later tonight.”

“Well, I’ll get out of your hair. Let me load up all my stuff, and then I’ll grab Jonah and McKenna, and we’ll leave you two to it.” Bella backs away quickly, gathering up her craft bags and practically sprinting towards the door.

Ten minutes later, she’s backing out of the driveway while Sawyer and I stand there like we’re posing for the American Gothic painting, minus the pitchfork.

“That was weird,” Sawyer says.

“That was Bella.”

“So where are we starting this morning, sunshine?”

“I’m going to stop you right there, sunshine. My name is Raven.”

“You’re right. I’ll find one that fits you better.” He grins like my thorns don’t prick him, and I turn, motioning for him to follow me upstairs so we can get to work.

——————

It’s early evening when I return from a trip to pick up more primer and grab food. Sawyer finished installing carpet in most of the upstairs bedrooms, so we decided to paint. He insisted we would only prime the walls since he’d promised Jonah they’d paint together.

I walk back into the guest bedroom and toss Sawyer a sandwich as I set my purse by the door. We eat in silence. Every now and then I glance over at him, and I’m in awe of how silently he’s chewing, unnerved at how it’s turning me on. Misophonia is surprisingly common among individuals on the spectrum, and it’s one of many clues that I am just like Jonah. It’s a weird thing to be hung up on, but I literally feel rage at the sound of loud chewing, and the fact that Sawyer’s eating so silently has my panties dampening.