“Ethan,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady, “I’d like you to meet my mom, Victoria. Mom, this is Ethan.”
He extended his hand with a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs Carlisle.”
My mother hesitated for just a moment before taking his hand, her smile polite but reserved. “Please, call me Victoria,” she said, her tone friendly but still holding a touch of formality.
His smile widened, though I could sense a hint of nerves behind it. “I’m glad to finally meet you, Victoria. I’m really happy you could be here tonight.”
The conversation paused, a bit of awkwardness settling between them as they both sized each other up. My mother’s critical eye evaluated Ethan, but he stood tall, in his wizard cloak and hat.
Before the silence could stretch too long, Lily came bouncing over, her face glowing with excitement, holding up a glistening apple between her small hands. “Vinnie! Did you see me? I got the biggest apple!” she exclaimed, her voice full of pride. She twirled in place, her fairy wings fluttering in the crisp evening air as she showed off her prize.
Before I could respond, Lily’s attention shifted, and her wide, curious eyes landed on my mother. With the innocent curiosity only a child could muster, she pointed at her and asked, “Are you Vinnie’s mommy?” Lily’s bright gaze moved between the two of us, as if trying to piece together this new connection as my mother offered Lily a warm smile.
“Yes, I am,” she said gently. “And who might you be, little fairy?”
“I’m Lily! And Ethan is my brother,” she announced proudly. “If Vinnie and Ethan get married, does that make you my grandma?” My mom blinked in surprise, taken aback by the question. Before she could respond, Caroline and Robert approached.
“Lily!” Caroline laughed softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Sweetheart, you don’t just ask things like that.”
Lily blinked, her brow furrowing slightly. “Oh . . . why not?” she asked, looking genuinely confused but not upset. After a brief pause, she shrugged it off. “Okay, never mind! Can we still get hot chocolate?”
“Of course we can,” Caroline nodded.
Ethan smiled. “Mom, Dad, this is Vinnie’s mom, Victoria.”
Caroline stepped forward with her usual warmth. “Victoria, it’s so nice to finally meet you.” Robert nodded in agreement, his smile kind and welcoming
“Likewise,” Victoria replied, her voice soft but sincere. “I’m glad to be here.”
The conversation flowed easily, and it was a relief to see, especially after everything that had happened between us. They laughed together, sharing stories about the town and the festival.
“Your mom seems really nice,” Ethan whispered, his voice full of encouragement.
I nodded, a warm glow spreading through my chest. “She is. And it means everything to me that she’s here, trying to be a part of my life.”
After a few minutes, Robert turned to Ethan smiling. “Why don’t you two go enjoy the festival for a bit? We’ll keep Victoria company and make sure she gets the full Hallow’s End experience.”
Mom nodded, smiling at me. “Go on, Vinnie. I’m here for a few days, so we’ll have plenty of time to catch up. Enjoy yourselves.”
I hesitated, but Ethan’s hand in mine was all the encouragement I needed. “Thank you,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude as I looked between them all. “I really appreciate it.”
“Let’s try some of the games,” Ethan suggested, nodding toward the rows of brightly lit stalls lined up along the square.
I grinned, feeling a thrill of excitement. “Sure, but fair warning—I’m terrible at these.”
We moved from game to game, with me missing almost every target—beanbags slipping past cans, rings falling short of the bottles, and darts flying wildly off course. Each time, Ethan hovered close behind me, his teasing touches and whispered encouragement making it impossible to concentrate. My aim was hopeless, and his playful distractions didn’t help,though his laughter made it hard to stay frustrated. By the end, I threw up my hands in defeat. “I’m terrible at everything!” I groaned, half-laughing, half-pouting as I looked over at him.
He chuckled, his lips brushing against my skin as he whispered, “Maybe you just have to try a bit harder.” His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me even closer. His breath on my neck was warm and tantalizing, and it took everything in me to keep from moaning out loud, aware of the crowd around us.
“Ethan,” I whispered, my voice shaky as I tried to compose myself. But he was relentless, his kisses growing bolder, more insistent, making my knees weak. His hands slid around my waist, hidden beneath the flowing cloak I wore, and his fingers gripped me firmly, possessively, the pressure sending a jolt of heat through my body. The cloak shielded us from view, allowing his hands to roam more freely, gripping my hips, trailing up my sides, his touch electrifying even through the fabric.
Ethan’s hands slid lower, his fingers trailing down my hips and around to grip my ass firmly. I could feel the heat of his hand through the thin fabric of my costume, the short hemline leaving little to the imagination as his hand slid even lower, teasing the edge of my thigh. His touch was bold, sending waves of electricity through my body, each movement making it harder to focus on anything but him.
“You’re impossible,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady despite the way he was making me feel. The crowd was just feet away, blissfully unaware of the fire he was stoking within me.
“And you love it,” he whispered, his hand slipping up my thigh, fingers brushing the sensitive skin just beneath the hem of my costume. The thrill of it—the secrecy, the heat between us—made my heart race, my body arching into his touch as I struggled to keep my composure.
“Ethan,” I whispered again, the word a soft plea.
