Chapter 30
Seth
I open the door to Calvin and Braeden knocking, and my hands rush up to my face as I take in their costumes.
“Oh my god! Cal, I can’t believe you dressed up as the Joker from Batman.”
He holds out his arms and does a quick spin on my porch. “I look hot, right?”
I snort a laugh. “So hot. That green hair really does it for me.”
Braeden rolls his eyes and pushes past me to walk inside. “Gross.”
“You look amazing, too, Brae!” I yell behind him.
“I did his makeup. He’s the perfect zombie, if I do say so myself.”
“Not bad. Not bad at all.”
“Cal!” Emily yells out.
She and Calvin have become pretty good friends since he and I started dating. The attachment thing makes me a tad nervous, but I’m confident Calvin is here for the long haul.
“Hey, hellcat.”
She bounces up and down with her arms stretched upward, so he sweeps her up. She points at her costume. “Spidey.”
“Spider-Man suits you, my dear,” he says.
He sets her down, and she runs off as I close the door behind us. “How have you been since the funeral?”
“I’m doing okay. I don’t… feel much, and I’m trying to come to terms with that. It is what it is.”
I rub his shoulder. “It’s okay to feel how you do. How about Braeden? Did he do okay during the service?”
“He’s fine, too. He’s just happy that I could bring him along. We stopped by to see his parents, too. It was sad, but he’s bouncing back faster now.”
“What a relief for both of you.”
Calvin leans in and kisses me. “I like your costume, too. Who knew you’d be so sexy as a pirate?”
“Jack Sparrow, thank you very much.”
“Even better. You put Johnny Depp to shame.”
I roll my eyes and shove him inside the house.
“Who’s ready to go trick-or-treating?” I call out to the kids waiting in the living room with their pumpkin buckets.
“Me!” they all call out.
“Let’s get pictures first.”
My kids wanted to be the Avengers. Harrison chose to be Iron Man, and Sawyer decided to be Captain America.
“Whoa, look at all the superheroes!” Cal yells. “You guys look great!”
“Cal, stand in the middle with all the kids. Let me get a picture of you all together.”
I hold out my phone as he stands behind the boys, wrapping his arms around all of them, as Emily stands in front of everyone.
“Say cheese!”
“Cheese!”
After several more pictures, with me in them, Calvin took a selfie of the two of us. “To the start of hopefully many good memories,” he says.
I’m not sure why that touches my heart and soul so much. The words don’t seem that big of a deal, but to me, they mean everything. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. “We’ll have many of them.”
“We will, Tiger. That’s a promise.”
We gave the kids a safety lecture and headed out to get some treats. I let Emily run with her brothers until she got tired after about twenty minutes. Calvin took her in his arms, where she crashed hard.
He and I hold hands as he carries her with his free arm. He’s really fitting into fatherhood well. It makes me fall for him that much harder, and I have been falling for him, especially after that night Braeden ran off.
He’d told me what had happened between them and Brae’s worries.
He jumped in, dealt with the bullies, and helped Braeden get back on track at school.
All the while, he’s working full time and dealing with his mother’s funeral and house.
To say I’m impressed that this avowed bachelor did a one-eighty is an understatement.
It’s fine to be a bachelor. I never faulted him for that, but if he wants to be a part of my life, I come with a huge package.
I haven’t just fallen, but I’ve crashed and burned in the best way possible.
It’s nice to be in love again. I didn’t think it was possible after Malcolm.
And I’m sure Calvin didn’t believe it was possible to find it after Grant, either.
I don’t know if he’s in love, but he’s committed to me.
That’s big in itself. Regardless, it’s fast for me. My heart doesn’t seem to care, though.
“I feel like a kid again,” Calvin says. “When’s the last time I dressed up? College, I think, but that was for drinking and partying.” He lets go of my hand and shifts Emily to his other arm. “How does this tiny ankle biter weigh so much?”
“Dead weight can be heavy. Do you want me to hold her for a while?”
“I’ve got her, Tiger.”
He leans close to my ear and says, “Next year, I expect you to dress up as a tiger. I mean, I dressed up as the Joker. It’s the least you could do.”
All I hear in my head is, ‘I love you. I love you.’
I look ahead at the boys, who stop at a house covered in Halloween decorations, waiting for their turn to fill up their buckets.
Calvin and I stand and wait, but now I’m looking at him, filled with nerves and a gut doing somersaults.
“I love you,” I blurt, but then I’m instantly hit with regret and embarrassment.
I’m sure I’ve singed my ears from the heat.
It’s too early for love. We’ve only been dating for over a month. “Shit, it’s too early. Ignore me.”
He stands in front of me, shifts my daughter in his arms again. I look away, but he gently pinches my chin to force me to look at him. “Thank you for telling me that.”
“God, that’s even worse than you not saying it back.”
He grins, leans in, and pecks my lips. “But it’s no less true. I love that you’re brave enough to tell me, and I am ready to spend my life with you.”
“I know it’s a risk that the other person may not feel the same. Seeing you holding my girl, and your growing connection to the kids and me… I just…”
“You don’t need to explain why you feel the way you do, baby. I’m a little slower because life was utter chaos there for a while. My head was in many different places. I’ll get there. I know it. My feelings for you grow every day.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
Calvin wraps an arm around me as we head toward the next house.
“Finish to the end of the street, then we need to go home. It’s a school night,” I call out.
The boys moan but don’t otherwise complain.
Calvin pulls me tighter against him and kisses the top of my head. “I adore you, Seth Griffin.”
I smile at him and snuggle into his side, wrapping an arm around his waist. I’ll take it.
It’s the third week of November, and I’m scrambling to get everything done around the house. Calvin and Braeden will be here soon.
“What else do you need us to do?” Reuben asks.
I look around the open living room and kitchen. The black balloons are in place, floating on the ceiling like storm clouds, and the coffin cake is sitting in the center of the kitchen table. I used leftover Halloween decorations to create a deathly vibe.
“I think we’re good. The food’s here, we have drinks, and all the decorating is done.”
My house is packed with our friends. Kids are running all over the place, except for the older teens. I invited a few of Calvin’s co-workers, and his PA, Olivia, too.
Travis leans against the counter, popping some peanuts into his mouth. “Does he know you planned a surprise party? Has he figured it out?”
“I don’t think so. You all parked far enough away, so I don’t think he’s got a clue.”
Paul is sitting in the dining room with his sleeping toddler snoozing in his arms, keeping a watch out for Calvin.
“Do you think he’ll like it?” I ask my friends. “Is it too much? He won’t get offended, right?”
“Relax,” Edmundo says, clapping me on the shoulder. “You’re overthinking it. This is right up Cal’s alley. He takes nothing seriously.”
Slade steps up to me with a beer in his hand and lifts the sleeve of my polo. “How’s the tat? It looks like it’s healing fine.”
“Good, but remind me never to get another. That hurt like hell. I can’t believe I let you talk me into getting one.”
“Famous last words, my friend. Before you know it, you’ll have full tattoo sleeves like me.”
I roll my eyes. “Not a chance. I’m pretty sure I’ll die first. Way too much pain. I’m a wimp when it comes to needles.”
He chuckles and sips his beer. “You are not. I mean, you didn’t even pass out or throw up. That’s pretty good.”
My jaw drops. “People have passed out or thrown up?”
“Yep.”
“I’m definitely never getting another.”
“At least you didn’t get his name tatted on your butt,” Edmundo says.
I wince. “People do that?”
“You’d be surprised by what people get tatted on their bodies,” Slade explains. “It’s up to responsible artists like myself to gently nudge them in a different direction.”
“He’s coming!” Paul yells out.
My stomach dips, and my heart races. I hope Calvin likes what we’ve done today… and surprise parties.
“Okay, everyone hide!” I yell.
Kids and adults scramble throughout the house, ducking behind furniture and doors.
Calvin rings the doorbell, and I scan the area to make sure everyone is out of sight.
I open the door and smile. “There’s the birthday boy!” I say.
He scowls and points. “I’m trying to forget I’ve turned forty today, thank you very much. I just want to eat, snuggle, kiss, go to bed, and pretend birthdays don’t exist.”
I snort a laugh and point at Calvin with my thumb as I look at Braeden. “Can you believe this guy? Drama queen.”
Braeden giggles and nods. “I love birthdays.”
“Me too, Brae!”
“Tsh,” Calvin huffs.
I step aside to let them in when Calvin suddenly stops in his tracks at all the black balloons and death decorations. Before he can bitch at me, everyone jumps out of hiding and yells, “Surprise!”
“Holy sh… Wow!”
When I step up next to him, he pulls me into a hug and leans into my ear. “I’m going to pay you back for this later.”
“A sexy payback or an ‘I’ll make sure you never throw me a party again’ payback?”
“Now, you’re starting to sound like me. The sexy kind.”
“I can’t wait, then. Are you surprised?”
He kisses my cheek. “Totally.”
“Do you want to see your cake?”
I pull back, take his hand, and drag him into the kitchen. When he sees the coffin in black icing with a skeleton lying on top and the letters ‘RIP’ in white icing, he throws his head back and laughs. “Is that supposed to be me?”
“One foot in the grave,” I quip.
“Come here.” Calvin grabs me and dips me. “Thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome.”
He leans down with me and presses his lips to mine before letting me up.
“Do you want to see the gift I got you? Ah… sort of gift?”
He raises a brow and smirks. “What’s a ‘sort of gift’?” I pull up my sleeve to show him my new tattoo. “You… got a tattoo for me?”
He fingers the Joker playing card on my upper arm.
“How clever,” he breathes. Our eyes meet, and he drags his thumb across my bottom lip as if no one else is around.
“You have a beautiful soul, Seth Griffin. I’m thankful every day that I met you and have the privilege to be in your life.
I don’t know why this tattoo touches me, but it does.
It’s a sign of permanence. It’s a sign that I’ll be able to trust you and rely on you.
It’s a promise. Thank you for this. I love you. ”
My heart literally stops, and I hold my breath for a second. “You do?”
“Yes. How can I not? I’d be a fool not to. I’d planned on telling you tonight, but now is as good a time as any.” He cups my cheek and kisses me again. “I haven’t told you this, but I have an appointment to get one, too. Slade is going to do a tiger on me.”
“I love that.”
“Does it hurt?”
I snort a laugh and wrap my arms around his neck. “So much.”
“Then I love you even more for suffering just for me.”
I bite my bottom lip and gaze at him, doing my best sultry look, but I probably look like I’m grimacing. “Wanna fool around tonight?”
“More than anything.”
I drop my arms and thread my fingers through his. “Let’s go say hi to your guests before I kick everyone out and drag you up to my room. I’d like you to meet my parents, finally.”
“I’d love to.”
“Nervous?” I ask him.
“No, they’re a part of you.”
I’m melting. Actually melting.
We walk over to my mom and dad, who’re sitting on the couch. “Mom. Dad? This is Calvin Abernathy, my boyfriend.”
They both stand and shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally. Seth has told us so much about you,” Mom says. “I’m Penny.”
She looks a lot like me with wavy brown hair, but her eyes are brown. I got my blue eyes from my dad, though his hair is struggling to stay on his head.
“It’s a pleasure, Penny. Now I know why Seth named his business Penny’s,” Calvin says before shaking my dad’s hand.
“I’m Ron.”
We chat for a while about kids and his job as an architect, then we move on so the rest of the guests aren’t neglected.
I head to the kitchen to grab a couple of beers for us, but stop to observe Calvin from a distance. Paul steps up behind me and grips my shoulder. I wince since it’s on my tattooed arm.
“Sorry,” he says and quickly drops his hand. “Looks like he’s happy. See, you had nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah… He told me he loves me.”
Paul gives me a big smile, shifting his kid to his other arm. “That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you, Seth. And I hope you find the happiness you deserve. To be honest, I’m surprised you moved so fast with him after what Malcolm did.”
I huff a laugh. “No joke. I surprised myself. But we can’t help what we feel. That Calvin feels the same makes it all worth it.”
“Indeed. Cards next weekend?”
“Definitely.”