Page 52 of Better Together

“Thank you, Roman.”

Roman pulled the door shut, and Zeke moved in close to Alexis. “My brother’s right. You look beautiful. Where did you disappear to?”

“Wardrobe malfunction.” Her eyes moved down to her breasts.

“Really?”

“I dropped a Junior Mint. It started to melt.”

Zeke groaned and grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the bedroom.

“Oh no you don’t. We have to go.”

Zeke said in his best Johnny Depp impression, “This is the night you will always remember as the night you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.”

“Don’t worry, the night isn’t over. Now, the limo will be here any minute.”

“Limo?”

“Yep, Owen rented it for the evening so no one has to drive home.”

* * *

A steady stream of couples and individuals with creative costumes entered the Blue Ox bar ahead of Alexis and Zeke. They walked through a trail of lighted jack-o-lanterns. They admired several artistic ones along with the ones the family had carved.

Beetlejuice and a good witch dressed in white and pink were collecting the cover charges. “Zeke, you look amazing,” said the pretty witch. “You two can go right in. Owen paid for your group already.”

Alexis didn’t recognize the witch and didn’t like how she devoured Zeke with her eyes.

Zeke took Alexis’s hand. “Thanks, Abby. Come on, Alexis, Maggie is waving us over.”

Alexis’s hand covered her mouth when she saw Owen and Maggie. How had she forgotten to ask what the two of them planned to dress as. “Omigosh, you guys!” Alexis had to side-hug Maggie. A landscape oil painting hung from her neck by a blue satin ribbon and covered her torso, but revealed her shapely legs in three-inch white heels and white stockings. “Owen, you’re rocking that afro,” Alexis said, also noticing the paintbrush and palette he held. She remembered her mom watching Bob Ross on television, teaching the masses how to paint landscapes.

“I told Maggie she could paint my number any time.”

Maggie smiled. “The costume was Emma’s idea.”

Alexis chortled. “I’m pretty sure Bob Ross didn’t create paint by numbers.”

“Aren’t they great!” Paige said as she and Ethan joined the group with drinks in hand.

“You both look amazing too,” Alexis said.

Ethan pounded his catcher’s mitt. “Yep. I caught my sexy librarian.”

“Yes, you did.” Zeke leaned over and kissed Paige on the cheek. “Original, bro,” Zeke teased Ethan.

“I can still fit into my uniform, so why not? You’re rocking the pirate costumes.”

“You really are,” Owen said.

Maggie sipped her drink through a pink straw. “Totally hot, Alexis, and you too, Jack Sparrow.”

Zeke curtsied and pretended to stumble. “What can I get you to drink, my sexy pirate?”

“Just a beer. Any of Garrett’s brews.”

“Coming right up, my lady.” Zeke stroked his long, scraggly beard.