Epilogue
One year later
Max
“Happy Halloween!” I bound into the kitchen, frowning when I see Hunter standing by the sink, not dressed in the costume he said he was going to wear.
“Why aren’t you ready? We’re supposed to meet up with Janey in an hour to go trick or treating.
Bailey is going to be very disappointed if you don’t come dressed as her favorite Barbie. ”
“Change of plans. We’re making a slight detour, then I promise I’ll put my costume on. I’m going to rock the shit out of workout Barbie.” He grins and bends to kiss me. “It won’t take long.”
“Okay, but when Janey kicks your ass for missing the bobbing for apples game, I’m going to say I told you so.”
“And you’ll get pleasure out of doing it, I know. Your ability to give me shit is one of the many reasons why I love you, angel.”
I laugh and stand on my toes, draping my arms around his neck.
His skin is warm from spending the last hour outside.
I watched him out of the living room window while he put the finishing touches on the Halloween display and set up the cooler of candy at the end of our long driveway for the neighborhood kids so the chocolate doesn’t melt in the Florida heat.
“I love you too,” I say, squealing when he scoops me off the ground and tosses me over his shoulder. “What are you doing to me, you nut?”
“Showering you with love and affection.” Hunter pulls something from his pocket and hands it my way. “Can you put this on for me, baby?”
“A blindfold? Didn’t we use this last night?”
“Yes, but this is for a very different reason.”
“So, you’re not bending me over the kitchen table and fucking me with the curtains open? Darn.”
“Nope. If you would be so kind to slip that on, that would be great.”
“Does this have anything to do with the detour we’re making?” I slide the blindfold over my eyes and relax at the silky smooth fabric.
“It does. Twenty minutes, then you can take it off.”
“Twenty minutes? Where are you taking me? The moon?”
He laughs, our fingers sliding together. “Some place better, I think.”
“You’re talking a big game there, Wilder.”
“You trust me, right?”
I can’t help but smile at the question he knows the answer to.
One year with him, and I trust him with everything I have. Every day is the best day of my life, and I keep wondering how things get better than this. I already have so much. I don’t see a world out there where I ask for more.
Leo moved out of Hunter’s place six months ago, and I moved in.
He still has a room in the house he stays in from time to time, never too far away.
Our friends are friends, a family that does barbeques and dinners and holidays together.
There are movie nights and swimming in the pool.
Babysitting Bailey, Janey’s daughter, and taking her shopping with Skyler.
I’m still teaching and Hunter, after claiming he was done with scaring people at theme parks forever, took a job as Assistant Director of Fright Nights.
He’s busier now than when he was working in the haunted house, having a hand of the set design process every step of the way and using his expertise to offer input on what guests want the most when they step through the gates of the park, ready to be terrified.
It’s so fun to see him so passionate about something, and he still makes time for the occasional murder-for-hire job too.
“Of course I trust you,” I say, being guided into his car. His arm reaches across my body, buckling my seatbelt, and I laugh. “I just don’t do well with surprises.”
It might stem from my encounter with Connor, the memory that’s been hard to shake.
I still have the occasional nightmare that wakes me up, afraid I’m back in his room with his body over mine.
Therapy helps, and so does having Hunter next to me.
He’s quick to reassure me I’m okay, never arguing when I keep him awake for an hour or two until I settle down, finally relaxing when we fall back asleep, his face buried in my hair.
“I know you don’t, which is why this will be quick. I promise.”
“As long as I get to see you in your workout Barbie outfit after, I’ll be happy.”
“My ass looks great in legwarmers, angel. Prepare to have your world rocked.”
I laugh, the car jolting forward as we take off in the direction of wherever we might be heading. “Leo told me he might be bringing someone special to Thanksgiving this year. Has he mentioned anything to you?”
“No, the bastard. Is it that girl in Skyler’s show? He thinks she’s cute.”
“Nope. It’s the girl who worked in the haunted house next to yours last year. I guess they’ve been talking on social media here and there, and when she mentioned she’s not visiting her parents for Thanksgiving because they’ll be out of the country, Leo invited her to our place.”
“How the hell do you know all of this? I’m his best friend,” Hunter says. “I don’t like being left out of secrets.”
“Because you don’t do face masks and watch romcoms with us. You’re too busy being a manly old man with your cleaver and ax and whatever hell other weapons you use on people to mutilate them.”
“Aw. It makes me happy to know you listen to me when I talk, angel.” Hunter rests a hand on my knee, giving my leg a squeeze. “Permission to join the next skin care and movie night?”
“Permission considered. I’ll consult with the rest of the participating parties and get back to you,” I say, squealing when his hand moves to my ribs and tickles me. “Hey! Both hands on the wheel! You have precious cargo here.”
“You’re right.” I hear the smile in his voice, the deep adoration he has for me like I have for him. “I do.”
Twenty minutes later, he’s helping me out of the car, the blindfold still in place.
I listen to the noises around me, trying to piece together where I am, but there are too many competing sounds.
I hear music and conversations and someone yelling about cinnamon sugar pretzels, and I’m even more confused.
“Just another minute, baby,” Hunter murmurs in my ear, a palm on my hip as he nudges me left then right. “And I want you to remember you trust me.”
“Oh, god. Now I’m scared about what this could be. If this involves bodily harm or blood, I’m going to be so mad at you.”
“Well, it doesn’t involve real blood.”
“Hunter.”
“Max.” His hand is at the back of my head, easing the blindfold off. I squint at the change in lighting and turn my chin, spotting a sign up ahead. “Tada.”
“You brought me to Fright Nights? Are you out of your mind?” I stare at the entrance of Adventure Oasis with dread.
Fog billows through the iron gate. The trees lining the path into the park are decorated with pumpkins and spiderwebs, and I burst out laughing.
“Absolutely not. I’m not going in there. ”
“Angel.” Hunter is leading me to a smaller gate away from the large crowd. He nods hello to a security guard and takes my hand. “We missed our one year anniversary. What better way to celebrate it than by going back to the place where we first met?”
“That requires being terrorized, and I’m not mentally prepared for this. I was expecting marshmallows decorated as ghosts and spiders made out of chocolate and pretzels, not complete and utter fear.”
“There are still going to be marshmallows and spiders. Just in a few minutes.”
“How long do we have to stay?” I ask.
“Ten minutes. We’ll be in then out, I swear.”
“A lot of good your promises have done so far today,” I grumble. I tug on his necklace, bringing his mouth to mine. “Fine. But only if you go first, tell me exactly where every scare actor is going to be, and don’t make fun of how much I scream.”
“I hear you scream plenty. Listening to you yell my name is one of my favorite hobbies.”
“It better be, given one of your other hobbies is murder.”
Hunter grins. “I love when you’re feisty, baby. I’ll point out everyone to you. I’ll even show you the buttons you can press in the house that trigger certain special effects.”
“Okay, now that sounds cooler than being chased by a werewolf.” I loop my arm through his and rest my head on his shoulder. “Fine. I’ll let you terrorize me. And since we’re here, we might as well stick around and watch Skyler perform in the show.”
“See how much fun all of this is? Maybe next year I can get you to do all ten houses.”
“We have very different definitions of fun.”
Hunter walks us to a special entrance no one else is using. He flashes a golden badge that tells me he’s very important and is welcomed inside with a wave from someone who looks very official.
“What’s with the VIP treatment?” I ask. “Feels like they should be rolling out a red carpet for you.
“I get free admission for myself and one guest whenever I want,” he says. “It’s the best part of this job.”
“Just for Fright Nights?”
“Nope. Fright Nights. During normal operating hours. I can come and go as I please.”
“Does that mean I can come and see the Christmas lights when they’re up?”
“Baby, I’ll take you to see the Christmas lights every night you want.”
I smile as we head through the park. Hunter points out the different scare zones and the stories behind them, and I notice there aren’t any other guests around us. Every sidewalk is empty, and I frown.
“Where is everyone?”
“They’re not letting anyone in for another twenty minutes.
We get a head start.” We turn down a small path that winds up to the haunted house where we met last year.
It’s a different theme this season, some apocalyptic television show the new backdrop, but the entrance is familiar. “Back to where it all began.”
“I can’t believe it’s been a year. Thirteen months, really.” I smile when Hunter unhooks the chain blocking the queue and lets me walk in front of him. “It’s been fun, hasn’t it?”
“Best year of my life,” he says, and there’s no doubt in my mind he means it. “Come on. I’ll give you the cool behind-the-scenes tour.”