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My laughter made him laugh too.

“Well, we should have seen that coming,” RJ said.

“I did see it coming!”

“Definitely didn’t see the monkeys coming though. Did Mr. Tanner prank us? I feel like we’ve been pranked.”

“I think he may have.”

“Baller,” RJ said.

The music cut off and the lights turned on.

And I could just make out Uncle James through the fake snow.

“What. The. Fuck,” Uncle James said.

Oh shit.

Chapter 17 – Furry Goblins

Tuesday

Unlike when Mr. Halifax had walked into the party, I really wished I was imagining Uncle James standing there.

“Eek,” RJ said. “Scarlett is about to be grounded for eternity.”

Crap, RJ saw him too. This was a disaster. Why wasn’t Uncle James still at the Nutcracker?! I must have lost track of time while I was fucking Mr. Halifax.

“Liam will be grounded too,” I said. “We need to think of an explanation fast.”

RJ laughed. “Liam never gets in trouble.”

That was true. Which was completely unfair. But this wasn’t the time to dissect that. “What do we do?!”

RJ shrugged. “Wait, what happened to your Eve costume?”

I ignored him.

“Everyone freeze!” Uncle James yelled.

Everyone but the monkeys complied. One swung from the fairy lights toward him at full speed.

Uncle James dodged out of the way. “Why are there monkeys in here?!” he yelled.

The monkey swung back and Uncle James tried to dodge again, but he slipped on a puddle. And he somehow managed to fall forward into the pond in an epic bellyflop. The slap of the water echoed around the room.

I cringed.

A few people laughed.

Uncle James slowly got to his feet. Water was dripping from the ends of his hair and his whole tux was soaked. And he looked like he wanted to rip a monkey in half.

“Ow ow!” some girl yelled.

Gross. Did people seriously still think my uncle was hot after that embarrassing bellyflop?

A girl near me fanned her face. “He’s so hot.”