“We are thrilled beyond belief that you were able to make masks for us!” Mayor Grimjoy said. “Isn’t that right, honey?”
“Indeed,” Mr. Brightside said, his face as still as stone. “Thrilled as a ghoul during the Hungry Ghost Festival.”
Ash didn’t know what that was, but it didn’t sound pleasant. He let it go without comment.
“Right. So here are your masks.” He presented the mayor with the bronze sun, its foil ribbons reflecting the overhead lights, and he passed the crying-moon mask to Mr. Brightside. Supposedly, Mayor Grimjoy had wanted to dress up as the Gentleman and Lady of Moon Ridge (again), but after doing that for who knows how many years in a row, Mr. Brightside had finally prevailed on his husband to try out different costumes this Halloween.
“Oh, Asher, these are divine!” Mayor Grimjoy held the sun mask up to his face and spun toward the mirror in the entryway. (Ash’s mom had placed it in just the right place for good feng shui.)
“You look like the Sun King,” Mr. Brightside said. Even though most of his face remained as impassive as marble, his eyes lit up as he admired his husband.
“And you are my Moon King,” the mayor said. “Together, we rule as equals over the realms of day and night.” He spun around and gazed at Mr. Brightside with such tenderness, Ash had to glance away.
Mr. Brightside cleared his throat then, probably remembering that his student was standing there.
“I embarrass him,” Mayor Grimjoy said to Ash in a loud, faux-conspiratorial whisper. “But he secretly loves it.”
“Please stop,” Mr. Brightside said.
“Never.” Mayor Grimjoy beamed and pecked his husband on the cheek. “All right, Asher, I believe we owe you for these glorious masks.” He counted out a number of bills.
“That’s too much, sir,” Ash said. “Mr. Brightside already gave me a down payment when he ordered the masks.”
“Not at all! You must accept a gratuity on top of the commission fee,” Mayor Grimjoy said. “I insist that everyone be paid what they deserve, and you need to know your worth and demand it. Young people—especially artists—too often discount their value. Do not discount yourself, Asher. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. Thank you,” Ash said, as he accepted the money.
“We’ll see you tonight at the Diamantes’ soiree?” Mayor Grimjoy asked, as Mr. Brightside edged toward the door.
“Um, yeah. Of course,” Ash said.
“But youmustbe more exuberant about it!” Mayor Grimjoy threw his arms in the air. It was part dismay and part rallying cheer. “This is the four-hundred-year anniversary of the founding of Moon Ridge! Magic is stirring as we speak.”
“I don’t know if I believe in magic.”
“Don’t believe in magic?!” Mayor Grimjoy turned to Mr. Brightside. “Do you hear what he’s saying, darling?”
“As a man of science,” Mr. Brightside said drolly, “I might have to side with him.”
“Bah!” the mayor said. “Both of you need some Halloween faith. Haven’t you heard the saying ‘Love found on the darkest day, forever gold it shall stay’? In fact, Jacob and I met on the thirty-first of October!”
Mr. Brightside’s first name was Jacob?It seemed so… biblical for someone who looked more like a servant of darkness than a bringer of light. Maybe his parents had hoped their son would live up to the name Brightside.
Meanwhile, the gothic prince had opened the front door. He wanted to escape this conversation as badly as Ash did.
“See you at the gala tonight, Asher,” Mayor Grimjoy said. “And bring a date. You never know what this mystical evening has in store for you.”
Ash involuntarily glanced in the direction of Cassidy’s house. It was so quick, though, he didn’t think anyone would notice. But Mr. Brightside tilted his head curiously at Ash.
Mayor Grimjoy bounded gleefully out the door. “Thank you again for the glorious masks!” he shouted as he skipped to his car. It was, of course, a bright yellow MINI with headlights and a grill that looked like a giant smiley face.
Mr. Brightside lingered at the door. “Ask her,” he said.
Ash frowned. “Ask who, what?”
“Cassidy Rivera. She’s the one who lives next door, isn’t she? Ask her to the gala.”
“I already did and she said no. And then she agreed to go to Sadie Hawkins with Logan Jackson.”
