by Belle Aurora
“What are they?” Cora asked. “I didn’t get to see them at the school.”
“A restaurant gift card and a movie gift card.”
I was hoping she’d say we should use them together. She didn’t.
“We could each take one,” I suggested. “We could even draw them out of a hat to make it fair.”
She shrugged. “Sure. Whatever you want. We will be fine with either one.”
“What I want… is for us to use them … together.”
She smiled. “We could do that.”
“When?” I asked eagerly. “We could go tomorrow night before I take Olive to her mom’s. Or we could wait until Thursday when she comes back over.”
“Tomorrow is perfect.”
“Good. I really didn’t want to wait until Thursday to see you guys again.”
I heard music coming from the TV in the living room. “For the First Time in Forever.” I could relate.
The kids were asleep. I could hear Olive snoring. Cora got up from the table and took our glasses to the sink to rinse out the Sprite we drank with our pizza. I got up, too, and took the paper plates and napkins to the trash. I set the empty pizza box on the counter and leaned against the stove.
I didn’t want her to go yet.
“Hey, Cora,” I said timidly.
She turned around from the sink. It reminded me of that night, when I came upstairs to find her in the kitchen.
“If you want to stay and hang out for a little while,” I said, “I’ve got some cherry Kool-Aid in the fridge.”
She narrowed her eyes at me for a moment. First I thought she might be pissed, then I realized she was just trying to figure me out.
“You remember,” she said quietly.
I stepped closer to her. I stopped when I our chests were just an inch or two from touching. “Remember?” I repeated. “How could I forget?”
She tried to back away before she remembered her back was already against the counter. “I need to ask you something, Ben.”
That didn’t sound good. It sounded like the beginning of a very serious talk, one that I didn’t think was necessary this early into the game. But it was the first time I’d heard her say my name, and it gave me a chill in the best way. I was curious to hear this question. “What’s that?”
With her hands on the counter behind her, her guard was down, and her body was completely open to me. She didn’t look down the way she had that night long ago, but looked right into my eyes instead. “When you go to the grocery store, do you take a list?”
I smiled, surprised at how flippant the question was after all. “Are there people who don’t?”
“I’m afraid so.”
I laughed at her serious face. “I wouldn’t think of it.”
She nodded. “Good. That’s good.”
I slid my hand under her hair and wrapped it behind her neck. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way,” I said, “I’m going to kiss you.”
Cora
Halloween 2019
Feed the kids a healthy breakfast – Check.
Get Jamin in his Yoda costume without a tantrum – Check.
Look over Lucie’s costume to make sure she isn’t showing too much skin or looking too risqué – Check. P.S. She’s only eleven! Why is this even an issue already? I’m really not ready for this…
Drop Jamin off at preschool – Check.
Get Lucie to school on time – Check.
Get dressed – Check.
Put the turkey chili ingredients into the crock pot – Check.
Make the caramel-dipped green grapes – Check.
Make the seven-layer spider web dip – Check.
Get the spiced cider in the fridge – Check.
Get Jamin from preschool – Check.
Get to the school in time for the Halloween parade – Check.
Get a really nice picture of all three of our kids together – Check.
Go home and get Jamin down for a nap without a tantrum – Check.
Wrap Ben’s anniversary gift – Check.
Get girls from school – Check.
Remind Olive to text her mom to confirm I’ve picked her up – Check.
Feed kids a healthy after-school snack – Check. It really was healthy that time.
Whoa. This wasn’t on my list, I thought, as I was pulled into our bedroom by my husband an hour before he was supposed to be home from work.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
He shrugged and gave me a sneaky grin. “I got off early. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Mission accomplished.”
He unzipped his coat, took it off, and threw it onto the hardwood floor. His t-shirt said, “This is the strangest life I’ve ever known.” He smirked.
“You do not still have that t-shirt.”
“No. I ordered it online. I thought we could recreate a moment.”
“Hmm,” I said, playing along, “I’m pretty sure that moment took place in the dark, and not at four in the afternoon.”
He pushed my t-shirt up, pulled the cup of my bra down, and slid his tongue over my nipple – just like he had that night.
I yelped in surprise. I guess he wasn’t going to waste any time.
He unbuttoned my pants next, slid his hand in my underwear, and leaned in to me so he could whisper in my ear, “This moment will be taking place in the dark. I just wanted to give you something to look forward to.”
He removed his hand, licked his finger, and smirked at me again.
“What? You can’t do that,” I said.
“I can,” he said, smiling. “I did. Happy Anniversary, baby.”
He tried to leave the room, but I grabbed his hand, pushed his body up against our bed, and dropped to my knees.
Give my husband a tiny bit of something that will have him wanting more for the rest of the night – Check. Paybacks are a bitch, Ben.
Put the leaf in the table and set seven settings for our post-trick-or-treat dinner – Check.
I heard the doorbell. They were here. Everything was ready. The kids were in their costumes. Dinner, including drinks and hors d'oeuvres, was prepared. My day off of work was well utilized.
I opened the door to greet our guests – Eliza and her boyfriend, Dan.
I took the apple pie from her hands. The bottom was still warm. I licked my lips. Some might say, and there have been jokes about it in the past, that the reason we invited Eliza over for dinner on holidays and special occasions, was because of her apple pie. I won’t confirm or deny that.
“Happy Anniversary,” Eliza said to me with a sly grin, like she knew there was something else I was waiting for tonight besides her pie. Oh gosh, that didn’t come out right at all.
“Thanks,” I said, as I handed the warm pie to Ben. “Happy Halloween!”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m a full-time waitress, Chapstick-addict, make-up junkie, and Justin Timberlake fan for life. I’ve been a book nerd since I was a child, and grew up with The Baby-Sitter’s Club and The Sweet Valley Twins. I'm a sucker for the boy-next-door type, and still believe in happy endings. Writing (about the boy-next-door and happy endings) is what I do when I'm avoiding other things ... like cleaning.
I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Arts, and once had big dreams of being a Hollywood screenwriter. But then I met a boy and got distracted. A few years later, we met another boy, this one even cuter. The three of us are now living (happily ever after!) in the Detroit area. And our house is kind of a mess.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR
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OTHER WORKS BY THE AUTHOR
Cora and Ben are new characters and do not appear in any of my previous books. But if you liked their story (and I hope you did), check out the two books in my romantic comedy series:
The Good Life
A second-chance romance.
“"I highly recommend this book. I laughed, cried, sighed, gasped, smiled REALLY BIG and truly loved it." – Melissa Brown, author of Wife Number 7
All Good Things
A summer romance.
"If Dawson's Creek and Felicity had a wild night with American Pie while watching John Hughes movies." - Ashley Pullo, author of The Album
Spandex is for Superheroes by Ruth Clampett
Beware the horror of your Halloween costume not fitting!
Copyright © Ruth Clampett 2014, All rights reserved.
eBook edition
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Edited by Angela Borda
Cover Design: Jada d’Lee
Chapter One
“So Brooke, I have an idea,” Nathan says as he pulls a coffee mug out of the cupboard.
One thing I adore about my boyfriend is that he’s an animator and comic artist with a wild imagination so he always has interesting ideas. I figure this one really must be a doozy if he’s avoiding looking me in the eye.
“Uh oh, an idea?” I tease. “Is this one I need to gird my loins for?”
“Nah. No girding required. It’s an awesome idea…I bet you’re going to love it!”
Still no eye contact…I’m not hedging my bets. “Okay. Hit me with it.”
He finally turns toward me and grins. “I thought we could throw a Halloween party this year!” His voice is unnaturally high and his cheeks color as he waits for my reaction. When I don’t respond he pushes his glasses further up his nose and clears his throat. “Nothing extravagant…just a few of our friends.”
Nothing extravagant? Who’s he kidding? Nathan never does things half way. I know a big party would be a major undertaking and I can’t imagine how we’d fit it into our insane schedule.
“What are you thinking? What about your deadlines? You’re working seven days a week right now as it is.”
He plops down on the chair across from me and bobs his head. “I know, but I have an idea. I’m going to job out the inking and coloring for the B-Girl issue due first week in November.”
Whoa…he must really want to do this party if he’s finally agreeing to job out his precious comic book work. I immediately recognize the potential this provides for future weekend getaways. “…and you know I hate Halloween, handsome.”
“But I thought you liked the decorations and giving out candy to the kids.”
“I do but I always pay a price for the fun. You know my history with those huge Costco bags of mini candy bars when I hand out the treats: one for little Cinderella, one for me, one each for the two pirates, two for me.”
Apparently I have a problem.
He nods. “See that’s another good reason why we should have a party. We’ll be too busy to hand out candy. I’ll pay the neighbor kid to do it for us. He’s too old to trick or treat.”
“You’ve thought of everything.” My smile gives him a false sense of encouragement and he pulls a sketchbook out of the drawer.
“I have! Let me show you.” He flips several pages in and points to an elaborate drawing. “We can convert the garage into the Batcave.”
I lift the drawing up to examine it more closely. It’s got every detail I’d expect from Nathan including a glass case holding a full Batman costume to a simulated mission control desk, and Batphone. “And why a Batcave?”
His eyes grow wide with an expression you’d expect from a six year old. “Because it’d be so cool.”
“Indeed.” Overcome with curiosity I turn the page of the book and the next illustration has the Metropolis tower complete with a globe, rising out of the center of our roof. “Good lord. How are you going to do that?”
“I’ve already talked to Nick’s cousin about it. He does carpentry stuff and can build anything.”
Wow. He’s not joking around. I point to a drawing of what I assume was once our guest bathroom. There are spider webs everywhere. “Is this Spiderman’s bathroom?”
He nods, tapping his fingers on the tabletop as he watches me study the pages.
“I’m seeing a theme here.”
“Yeah. It’s a Superhero party!” His tapping speeds up until he finally stops and grips the edge of the table.
My stomach falls. “Does that mean what I think it does?”
“Everyone has to come dressed as a Superhero!” He says it like it’s the most epic idea ever.
“Even me?” I ask with an arched brow. “Is this some elaborate theme to get me back in that Wonder Woman outfit?”
His eyes narrow and his jaw clenches, giving him that incredibly irresistible sexy look. He gazes longingly at me like he wishes I was wearing that outfit right now. It’s been a while since I’ve worn it and the last time I had it on it didn’t stay on long. We were making Superhero love in record time. I smile at the memory but then snap back to reality. With all the stress eating lately I’m doubtful I’d even fit into that tiny costume now.
I fold my arms across my chest and shake my head. “I think I’ve developed an allergy to spandex.”
I know my man when he gets his mind set on something so I’m not surprised that he immediately disputes my claim. “No you haven’t! You practically live in those yoga pants and I know they have spandex in them.” He grins with a lascivious look. “That’s why they fit so perfectly.”
Busted. I try another tact. “You really want all your animation-comic friends to see me in that outfit? Do you remember how low cut that bustier is?”
He purses his lips together and scratches his head. “Good point.”
“I don’t really think I can take a whole evening of Andy ogling me.”
Nathan’s eyes light up. “But he has a big crush on another girl now. So she’ll be dressed up too for him to ogle! Everyone will be dressed up.”
I frown. That gives me zero comfort. Just imagining all the lumpy body shapes without the camouflaging comfort of clothes makes me want to reinstate my gym membership and share it with the others.
“Please, Brooke, please….will you do it for me?”
He asks me for so little and gives me so much. How can I not do this one thing that means so much to him? Certainly one of my friends can give me a Xanax or something to get me through the party.
“Okay,” I whisper just loud enough for him to hear. But then I wink at him to seal the deal.
He leaps out of his chair and rushes over, pulling me out of my seat. Next thing I know he’s holding me tightly as his hands wander the last places I would expect them to be early on a workday morning. I lean into him enjoying every touch.
“As for that revealing costume…I have to warn you, I’m a little curvier these days.” I slide his hand over my hip and then up to cup my breast, hoping he thinks the idea of that isn’t all bad.
“Are you kidding me? You know how much I love your curves. You’re going to be the sexiest Wonder Woman ever,” he says with a happy sigh. There’s a sincerity in his tone that makes me love him even more.
I lean my cheek against his chest and listen to his heart pound. I love that after all this time I can still get him worked up so easily.
When his hand slides down to my ass and he squeezes it lovingly, I cringe that he has so much to grab onto.
There’s no way around it… Zumba class, here I
come.
***
Several weeks later I’m returning from my Saturday afternoon errands and grocery run when I notice a collection of neighbors in front of our house. I stop my car and lean my head out the window hoping to see what several of them are pointing at. When my gaze settles on the addition to our roofline I let out a long sigh. Metropolis. I forgot it was being installed today.
I park the car and get out, planning how I’m going to do damage control. Is there some kind of big-brother community policy against adding weird stuff to our house that we didn’t know about? It’s not like we painted the house hot pink or something. I stop and study the addition more thoughtfully. It’s handsome, rather art deco and design-y. Maybe we’ll just leave it up after the party. That’ll show ‘em.
Mr. UCLA guy with his poodle on a leash is scowling. This from the man who hangs school banners all over his house when there’s a big game. I pull back my shoulders and prepare for battle.
When I step up to the group, our next door neighbor Brian grins. “Is someone visiting from Planet Krypton?”
“How’d you guess?” I tease back.
“Planet what?” asks Mrs. Rogerson, the sweet old lady from across the street who now looks a little alarmed.
I give her a warm smile. “He’s joking, Mrs. Rogerson. It’s a reference to Superman.”
“Dearie, is that why there’s a doll hanging off of it?” she asks.
I cup my hand over my brow to shield the sun and look up at the structure. “What doll?”
She hands me her binoculars and points to the right. “The one dangling off the thing in the back.”
I take the binoculars and hold them up, wondering the entire time what else Mrs. Rogerson watches through these things. I have to scan and focus before I see what she’s referring to. A Superman doll the size of a Ken doll is extended from a wire off the main structure. Wow. Nathan isn’t holding back with the decorations…not even a little bit.
“That’s Superman. He’s flying around Metropolis,” I say as I hand the binoculars back.