"Eric?" Her voice was strained.
"Yeah?"
"Please don't read those," she said. "I realize they're in your name and that your brother was dubious as hell to do that. But they're still extremely private and I would very much appreciate you deleting them. Immediately."
"Geez, everyone's always on me for all the one-night stands, and then the moment I make the effort to improve my boyfriend-material status, you're all jumping down my throat...." My words dwindled off. They were both still glaring at me. When riled, it turned out that Morticia and Cousin Itt made a pretty fearsome set. I looked to heaven. "All right. Fine."
"Thank you."
People. Jesus. Always so overly sensitive about everything. It annoyed the absolute crap out of me. But happily, the car started moving again and we were on our way. Halloween decorations filled the yards of just about every house we passed. Pumpkins, gourds, and plastic skeletons, white sheets strung up to resemble ghosts. On the actual day, there'd be all of the trick-or-treating and a parade downtown. Not to mention all the hot babes using the opportunity to dress up as slinky devils or cute angels. It was a pretty great time of year.
Looked like everyone had already arrived at Vaughan and Lydia's. They had a small bungalow a few streets back from Sandy Beach. Vaughan, Nell, Joe, and I had all grown up in the area. Before the big money people moved in and built their mansions on the waterfront.
"Help me out with the drinks," said Joe, feeling along the side of the truck for the load in the back.
"What the hell are you going to do all night not being able to see?"
He shrugged. "I'll manage."
"You're pussy whipped."
"Yeah and you're an asshole," said my brother, with no real anger in the words. "Can't believe you were reading those messages."
Instead of answering, I grabbed a case of beer.
Fake gravestones filled the front yard. Big ugly black plastic spiders decorated the side of the steps while bats dangled overhead. Strings of party lights in the shape of skulls and glowing cobwebs hung in every window. The place looked cool, the bass line from Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" thumping through the night air. Classic Halloween musical goodness.
Alex wiggled up to the front door in her tight, long, black Morticia dress, leading Joe via the finger tucked into his belt. Before she could raise her other hand to knock, Lydia threw the door open.
"You're here!" she said and smiled.
"Happy Halloween." Alex kissed her on the cheek. "You make a hot dead Rosie the Riveter."
"Why thank you. You look rather delectable yourself."
Joe shuffled inside. "Hi."
"Cousin Itt," said Lydia. "I like it."
"Hey." I grinned as she took in my knee-length black dress with its prim white collar. "It was Alex's idea. We're doing an Addams Family thing."
"You look great." She laughed. "I need to find my cell and snap some pictures. Beer can go straight into the kitchen. Thanks."
"Sure."
"Oh, and the real live Rosie's got a surprise for you."
"What?"
"I'm not telling. Go ask her yourself." Lydia's gaze was distinctly amused.
Shit.
A decent crowd had gathered, staff, their significant others, and a few frequent customers of the bar. After dumping the beer in the kitchen as instructed, I made my way through the gathering, smiling and nodding. I winked at Taka when he made a sarcastic comment about my legs and frock. The dude was just jealous, and fair enough. Not everyone could pull off Wednesday Addams with three days' worth of stubble.
As it turned out, I didn't have to go in search of Rosie. She found me.
"Eric!"
"Hello, you..." I tilted my head to the side, taking in her outfit. Heavy black eye makeup and glossy green lips. Random bandages were strategically wrapped around her with a white top and pants beneath covering her curves. Hope her husband knew he was a damn lucky man. "Are you an Egyptian mummy, Rosie? Is that what I'm seeing here?"
"I'm a hot mummy. The 'hot' bit is important." She dragged another woman forward by the arm. "And this is my friend Natasha. She's an aesthetician. Owns her own business over in Spokane."
So Rosie definitely didn't believe me about the sex ban. What a surprise. No matter, I could talk to a woman without trying to bed her. This could happen.
"Hey," I said.
"Hi. Nice to meet you." The tall, beautiful Latina woman saluted me with her almost empty cider. She wore a colorful print dress and her dark hair was piled up on top of her head and filled with big bright plastic flowers. Also, she'd penciled in the middle of her brows making it look like she only had one long hairy unibrow. Just like that artist ... damn, what was her name?
I clicked my fingers, forehead scrunched up.
"Frida Kahlo," supplied Natasha.
"Yes! Frida Kahlo. You look great," I said. "Nice to meet you too, Natasha."
"And you're from The Addams Family." She nodded. "Very cool."
"Thanks," I said. "My brother's girl gets all the credit, though. She was in charge this year."
"Alex is lovely." Rosie patted my cheek, beaming. "I've been telling Natasha all about you."
"Grrrreatt," I said, feeling ever so slightly fucking awkward. Rosie's eyes dr
illed into me, pointed and expectant. God help me. She'd gone ahead and set me up with one of her friends after all. Without any warning or even a heads-up. I leaned into Natasha. "What did she tell you, just out of curiosity?"
Natasha laughed. She had a pretty smile and an infectious laugh. Maybe Rosie hadn't completely messed this up. I never set an actual time limit on the sex ban, now that I thought about it. If Natasha was willing to wait a couple of weeks, just long enough for me to prove myself, this might work. Then maybe we could date. Serious like. Sure, why not?
"I didn't say anything too bad, I promise," said Rosie. "I like you with braids. You should wear those to the bar."
"I dunno." I shrugged, playing with the end of one again. "Don't you think they're more of a casual look?"
"What if you added ribbons?" asked Natasha.
I made a humming noise, pretending to think it over. "That might work."
Both women laughed.
"More drinks required," declared Rosie, releasing her hold on her friend before bustling over to the fridge.
I followed. "Allow me."
"Relax, I got it. You want a beer?"
"Please."
She opened one of the Ninkasi Total Dominations and handed it over. A nice IPA from Oregon and my particular donation to the party bar. Lydia had also liberated some wine from the bar, cider, and a couple of bottles of liquor earlier in the day. Along with some non-alcoholic options, of course. The house had been fully stocked.
"You want one too, Vaughan?" she asked our co-host, who had just appeared at my shoulder.
He nodded, then mumbled to me, "Cool dress."
"Thanks." I looked him over. "What the hell are you supposed to be?"
"Sasquatch. But the head was too fucking hot to wear so I dumped it." He pushed a hand through his still damp red hair. "The full body fur suit is bad enough."
"Go stand out in the cold for a while."
"Andre and I are about to," he said. "He came in a white Vegas Elvis costume. Rhinestone belt and all. Polyester from head to toe."
"That is not a breathable fabric."
Natasha chuckled and I smiled at her. The woman seemed nice. Very nice.
"Have you two met?" I asked. "Natasha, this is Vaughan. He's terrible, you won't like him."
"We've met already," said Vaughan dourly. "And she found me to be delightful and said Lydia was a lucky woman to have me."
I raised a brow at Natasha in question.