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The laughter dies in my throat at once. I take tickling threats seriously. I am the most ticklish person there is, which Daniel knows well.
“You’ll need one too.”
“One what?” I ask, confused.
“A costume.”
Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
“You want me to come to the party?”
He winks at me. “Yeah. Come with me. Unless you have plans already?”
My pulse ratchets up, pounding in my ears. Wow. Wow.
Daniel doesn’t easily invite others to family events. Summer and Pippa told me that he hasn’t brought a date to any event in years. Even after we got together in college, it took a while for him to ask me to join him at family gatherings as his date.
“No plans. I’d love to join.”
Truth be told, Halloween doesn’t even make my top ten list when it comes to favorite holidays, but no way in hell would I miss a chance to spend time with Daniel and the family.
“Great. I know a costume shop. I’ll take you there this week.” Mercifully, he shrugs into his shirt, buttoning it up. “Let’s go or you’ll be late.”
I stand on my toes, kiss his cheek. Then, feeling feisty, I steal his sandwich.
“Mmm, this is delicious. So, what other skills have you acquired over the years? Just so I’m not gobsmacked again.”
Daniel cuffs my wrist in one hand, stealing back the last mouthful of the sandwich. After swallowing it, he leans into me until his breath is on my lips. “I’ll allow you the pleasure of discovering them. We have ten years’ worth of catching up to do.”
Chapter Eighteen
Caroline
On Thursday afternoon, I’m speeding through downtown San Francisco like a Tasmanian devil, but I’m going to be late anyway. I’m meeting Daniel to buy a Halloween costume, and I’m supposed to be in front of the store in five minutes.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” I exclaim twenty minutes later. Parking was a nightmare, and I’m not entirely sure I parked legally.
“No problem.”
“So, what is this place?” I inspect the display, trying not to let the grizzly masks spook me. The horror aspect of Halloween is why I’m not so crazy about it. But Daniel looks excited, so I don’t voice the thought.
“Christopher’s wife, Victoria, discovered it some time ago. The entire family buys their costumes from here.”
“Why?”
“The owner keeps track of who bought what so no one ends up having the same costume as anyone else.”
“Wow, you guys take your costumes seriously.”
Daniel grins. “Dead serious. Come on in.”
The inside of the shop is much larger than I would have guessed. It’s narrow but goes all the way to the back of the building. All around us are costumes, masks, and supplies: everything from fake blood to fake cobwebs—at least I hope they’re fake—to vampire teeth that look surprisingly real. Daniel takes my hand, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, and I sigh, relishing the warmth and security his touch gives me.
“Hey, you two!” a woman greets from behind the counter. She has shortly cropped hair streaked with neon pink, and the ends are spiked with gel. She’s even more vibrant than the store.
“Hi, Violet,” Daniel says. “We’re here because Caroline needs a costume.”
She nods, tilting her head to one side. “You don’t strike me as the type who goes for the spooky costumes.”
