“What’s Halloween like here?” A part of me wishes my car broke down a day earlier. T hen I could have seen what Saffron comes up with on Halloween. When we got here, it didn’t seem like they did much. Looks are deceiving, as we all know.
We could hang around and find out next year.
The thought sends a flutter through my body that I shove down into the recesses of my soul so I can spend the next hour disassociating like a normal adult.
Autumn shrugs then grunts. “You missed the mess my mom hosts.”
“It didn’t even look like you guys did anything.” I almost swat her as my arms flail around me.
“That’s because my mom tells everyone the spirits invigorate her, and she cleans and cleanses after Halloween to prepare for All Saint’s Day.”
“The day I arrived.”
“Yep.” She pops the P with a roll of her lips. “It’s a normal Halloween, but the entire town gets involved. Some teens get into some mischief, like toilet papering Sera’s apartment or Kenzie’s house. Nothing crazy like smashing mailboxes though. Just normal, everyday mischief. Though Arlo and I always try to trick Mom into believing the graveyard is haunted.”
“Does she buy it?”
“Yep, every year, though I suspect she knows it’s just us.” The smile she shines my way is filled with genuine love for her family.
“You have another sister, right?” They don’t talk about her much, and now I’m wondering if she is like the rest of the Larson misfits.
“Willow.” She beams. “The baby and the most reckless of us all, full of wanderlust. She has dreadlocks and smells like patchouli. Also, better known as my mother’s favorite.”
I snort, picturing a young woman just like Saffron, and I’m not at all surprised that Autumn pegs her as the favorite. “Will she be home for the holidays?”
“Wonderland, yes, no one misses Wonderland. Even those who moved away spend the month of December here, like Arthur.” She bumps me with her elbow. “Kenzie’s ex,” she whispers.
“I have the hearing of an alpha wolf, Autumn.” Kenzie spins around, sass written on her face like a true demonic redhead.“Arthur and I are history.” She fluffs her hair behind us while gazing up at the moon. “That’s all.”
“Oh, honey, are you still telling yourself that story?” Paris, who’s almost a foot shorter than Kenzie, pats her arm in comfort before handing her the bottle of wine. “Here, drink away your sorrows.”
“So you all have an interesting array of exes.” I bump into Autumn’s arm again. “What about you?”
“This isn’t that kind of sleepover,” Autumn replies, then grumbles under her breath about Nosy Nancys.
“Oh, she just won’t tell you the truth,” Bloom drawls. Also, when did I take to just calling her Bloom?
“What’s that?” I’m invested now. It’s like a Lifetime original movie, and I can’t get enough.
“She’s never been in love,” Paris singsongs into the night.
“Shut your trap, Paris.” I swear Autumn looks for something to toss at her head, but after finding nothing, she growls at her like a rabid raccoon.
“Did you just growl at me?” Paris chuckles, and I know there is no way she is going to let this go. “Did you get your rabies shot?”
“Now, Autumn.” Kenzie pauses, spinning around again to face us. “You know it’s a partial truth.” To me, she carries on, “She won’t admit it, but she just refuses to date and refuses to fall in love.”
“Thanks for spilling the beans.” Autumn points ahead at a partial wall that’s sunken into the ground with stones scattered everywhere.
That’s when I realize just how deep in the woods we are. I also notice the small, overgrown road we could have taken off to the side of the trail we just traveled through.
“Your turn.” Kenzie shines a flashlight on me, blinding me from seeing the four sets of eyes trained on me.
“Wine.” I reach for the bottle Paris is already handing over and take a swig of the bitter fluid for some liquid courage. “Guess I owe it to you.”
I pick at the label, and for a long moment, no one says anything.
Bloom breaks that silence. “It’s okay, Wren. We all have heartbreak in our past. Even those who avoid it.” She pointedly looks at Autumn. “We’d never force you to share something you aren’t ready to share.”
