My annoyance instantly subsides the moment the warm air touches my knees. She charges forward, yanking the two of us along with her through the door and the immediate beaded curtain to get inside. I feign another groan and hook my arm in his. “You’ve known each other since fourth grade.” She predicted that I’d fall in love with a handsome stranger and the very next day, Riley asked me out.” She hugs his arm, squeezing him tight. “Thank god…” I glance up at the hand-shaped blue neon sign and groan.

“Well, lucky for you, we’re here,” he says, gesturing upward. “Man, you really don’t wear heels much, do you?” she asks. “I’m right here,” I say, squinting.ĭina crosses her bare arms, showing off her sizable cleavage on purpose. I stumble around the corner and sigh beneath an almost blinding neon sign. “Tannis Mackenzie, move your skinny ass!” Must remember to duck into Dina’s house across the street from mine and change back into my jeans before going home. I sincerely hope I don’t run into anyone who knows my parents. I’d love nothing more than to be draped in a giant, warm costume right now but Halloween at my age is more about the amount of skin one can expose without getting arrested. A gaggle of trick-or-treaters passes by me and I smile at the various costumes and masks. I pull my jacket a little tighter around me, picking up my pace to catch up with Dina and Riley as they round the corner up ahead. A gust of cold wind chills my knees and I immediately regret wearing a skirt tonight.

Cards of Love by Tabatha Kiss