I’m still smiling as she runs off, catching up with her friends. And then I turn and see Scott. Motherfucker. I said I wanted to ignore him, but the second I see that smug look on his face, I’m not sure I can keep that promise.Chapter 13“Hey!” I coo, moving around the table. Penny toddles over, little arms stretched out toward me. She actually recognizes me, and holy shit, if anything was going to make me emotional tonight, it’s knowing my niece knows who I am. “Look at you! What a cute little witch!”
Penny gives me the best little baby hug and I pick her up. “This is my niece, Penny,” I tell Betty. “She was the flower girl at our wedding. And look at her little witch dress!”
I’m not stating facts like this just to piss off Scott. I’m not stating facts like this just to piss off Scott. I’m not stating facts like this just to piss off—dammit, I so am.
I kiss Penny’s cheek and set her back down. She reaches for the big inflatable black cat, and Abby picks her up, moving to the side so we can chat.
“This is so stinking adorable, Cal!” she gives me a half hug, and I see Lucas and Phil shake hands out of the corner of my eye. “And holy shit, look at you! You look amazing, and I have to say this costume is quite fitting.”
“I know, right?” Betty laughs, and Abby looks at me in question. I give her a small nod, letting her know Betty is looped in.
“How was traffic?” Lucas asks, and I try hard not to watch Nancy and Scott fuming.
“Not too bad until we got right to the state line,” Phil answers. “There was an accident, and you know how people have to slow down and look.”
“I do. They cause more of a hold-up than the actual accident,” Lucas says.
“That’s what I said on the way here!” Phil laughs.
“Hold her for a second,” Abby tells me and puts Penny back in my arms. “I need a picture of this.” Abby attempts to put Penny’s witch hat back on but the kid isn’t having it. Lucas passes out candy for me so I can move over to the big blow-up cat and take a picture with Penny.
“This is her store?” Nancy asks Scott, side-eyeing me. I’m still doing my best to ignore her, but I’d be blind not to notice the guilt wrapped in fear in Nancy’s eyes.
“It is,” Abby answers loudly. “She owns this. Isn’t that amazing?” Abby smiles at me. “Speaking of, can I beg you for a favor and use your bathroom? This little one needs a diaper change.”
“Of course. It’s unlocked so head on in.”
“Thanks.” Abby takes Penny back out of my arms and grabs the diaper bag from the stroller Nancy is gripping so tight her knuckles are turning white. Phil is asking Lucas about a car he saw for sale on the way here, and Lucas genuinely seems interested. I step behind the table again to pass out candy, and Nancy and Scott stand rooted to the spot, eyes flitting from me to Lucas and back again.
“Callie!” someone calls, and I hear little shuffling footsteps rushing up to the table. It’s Brooklyn, a young witch from my coven, whose very life has been spared twice now thanks to both me and Lucas.
“Hey, Brooklyn!” I say. She runs over, throwing her arms around me. “I love your costume! Tiana is one of my favorite Disney princesses!”
“She’s my favorite!” Brooklyn lets her arms drop from me and then looks at Lucas, going to him for a hug next. The girl isn’t scared of him, not at all, and I hope my own daughter is this smart. Brooklyn was raised with the notion that you don’t ever trust a vampire. It was ingrained in her head that vampires are ruthless and evil and will drain a witch dry the second they have the chance.
Yet, Lucas has proven otherwise, and that’s what she judges him off of.
“Hey, kid,” Lucas says, awkwardly patting her on the back. “Did you get lots of candy?”
She shows him her bag, which is getting pretty full. “I’m thinking about dumping this in the car and coming back for another run.”
“That’s pretty smart of you,” Lucas tells her.
“You’ve never had pizza,” she starts, eyes going wide. “But what about candy?”
Lucas shakes his head. “I was dead before they invented it.”
Brooklyn’s jaw drops. “That’s so sad,” she says seriously, and Lucas, Betty, Phil and I all laugh. I glance up, watching the horrified expressions on Nancy and Scott’s faces. For all they know, Brooklyn is a nonmagical resident of Thorne Hill, and she’s talking to Lucas, acknowledging he’s a vampire, and isn’t bothered by it. At all.
“Brooklyn!” someone calls, hurrying over. It’s Ruby, and she’s holding another kid by the hand. “I told you not to run off like that anymore.”