Chapter 56
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
RAVEN
“ I s everyone ready to go?” I shout from Knox’s bathroom as I put the finishing touches on my face paint.
I ended up letting Griffin and Knox pick my costume. They handed it to me yesterday but wouldn’t show me theirs. They wouldn’t even tell me what Noah is dressing as either.
Tilting my head, I check my outfit again to make sure everything is in place.
The black bodysuit that covers me from the base of my neck to my wrists and ankles makes me feel exposed.
The bare feeling has little to do with the white bones screen printed everywhere.
It’s more about the fact that it’s so tight it’s like a second skin.
At least it’s not a bra and thong.
Noah stands in the doorway like he’s a starfish, showing me his costume. “Mom, look it! I have bones!”
The beating in my chest shifts to a warm rhythm as I realize that we’re matching. He even has a skull painted on his face.
Once again. They know what I need.
Running my hand through his hair, I smile down at him. “I love it, little king.”
“Come see! Come see!” Noah snags my hand, tugging me downstairs and into the entryway, where Griffin and Knox wait.
They turn to face me wearing skeleton costumes of their own, but they have long-sleeved shirts and sweats instead of bodysuits. Their faces match Noah’s and my own. Sniffling, I hold my tears at bay.
We look like a family.
Griffin’s eyes wander up and down my body, making me feel even more bare than I already do. Knox does the same thing, biting his lip. My core pulses in desperate need of some Montgomery attention.
Knox whistles as Griffin comments, “Looks even better than I imagined.”
The paint on my face masks the flush in my cheeks, but not the way my nipples pebble, turning into hard peaks.
“Can we go? Can we go?” Noah yanks on my hand, jumping up and down impatiently.
“Of course.” I grin at him.
Noah is ahead of us and out the door, sprinting for Griffin’s truck. We file out after him and head to the fairgrounds.
We still have some time before the carnival starts, but I have to be there early to make sure everything is where I put it this morning. All four of us were there bright and early to help get everything ready. We got the dunk tank set up, then aided Nicole Harlow with decorations.
Griffin and Knox continued to be weirded out by all the polite greetings and small talk. I think they were waiting for pigs to fly.
We pull into an unmarked parking spot and make our way into the carnival. Carved pumpkins lit with tea lights line the path to the entrance and ticket booth. Strings of lights connect from booth to booth, creating a beautiful starry night. Plastic bats hang from the lights every few feet.
Kaitlyn LeSnob went all out and rented attractions like a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and a fun house.
They were set up toward the back and tower over the rest of the activities.
Booths such as bobbing for apples, potion bottle baseball toss, pumpkin skee ball, fortune telling, and witch’s hat ring toss are manned by other PTO volunteers and scattered about.
There’s a section near the front with all the food options.
The Halloween vibe is in full force. Even Mother Nature blessed us with a cool, breezy evening.
Kat and Camden catch up to us dressed in their own costumes. Kat chose a witch, and Camden wears his apron. When we all share the same confused expression, he huffs and admits, “I didn’t know I was coming until ten minutes ago, and this is all I had on hand.”
“Your work apron?” Griffin asks jokingly.
Camden rolls his eyes, but Noah isn’t deterred. He hops, unable to contain his excitement. “Is Benny coming too?”
Knox nods his head. “Yes, Benny will be here. He volunteered to be the unfortunate soul who drops into the water.”
I raise a brow in disbelief. “Benny volunteered?”
“When have you ever known Benny to do something he doesn’t want to do?” Knox ends his rhetorical question with a wink.
Griffin storms ahead of us as the dunk tank comes into view. “What the hell?”
“Wait back here.” Knox reaches for mine and Noah’s hands to stop us. But I dodge him and scurry after Griffin.
The water in the dunk tank is covered with a layer of something that has a deep amethyst hue. Griffin already stands there, cursing up a storm. When I reach his side, my breath gets caught in my throat as my stomach knots.
Belladonna flowers float in the water tank.
I rub my eyes, shaking my head in an attempt to rid myself of the hallucination. But when I look again, the belladonna is still there.
Knox’s expression turns venomous. “Who would do this?”
“My money’s on Amos.” Griffin’s mouth twists wryly.
I stare incomprehensibly at the flowers. “Amos? What does he have to do with this?”
The muscles in Griffin’s jaw flick angrily. “Amos knows just as much about Scarlett as we do. Belladonna is her favorite flower. And Amos has the resources to arrange something like this.”
“Griffin’s right,” Knox agrees. “Amos hates that we never stood by him through the trial. He probably had a friend bring the flowers after we all left earlier.”
My heart still races despite Griffin and Knox’s logic.
Each time I saw my brother, he had belladonna in his hands. I thought seeing him confirmed that I’m insane. But was his ghost trying to tell me something?
“Do you think he’ll try anything else?” I wring my hands behind my back.
Griffin sounds confident in his answer. “No. He had his fun with this stunt. We’re in the clear.”
Blowing out a breath, I will my pulse to slow. But my mom instincts flare, and I turn, looking for Noah.
Knox grabs my shoulder. “Kat and Camden took Noah to get a treat.”
My shoulders slump. “Thanks.”
Knox wraps me in his embrace. “Let’s get this cleaned up, and then we can find Noah and ride the Ferris wheel. He told me earlier he really wants to ride it with all of us.”
Griffin steps up behind me. “I say we focus on having fun and making memories tonight.”
My heart flutters, and my body softens. Lifting on my toes, I give Knox a quick peck, then turn and do the same with Griffin. “Sounds perfect.”
After we’ve tossed all the flowers, families swarm the fairgrounds to enjoy the festivities, and Benny arrives wearing swim trunks and a black shirt that says, “This is My Halloween Costume.” Though I’m trying to hide it, the corners of my mouth curl upward.
Benny glares. “Don’t say it.”
Ignoring his warning, I hug him. “I love it. Thanks for coming to help.”
Benny’s eyes turn soft. “Anytime.” He takes his position on the little seat above the water and takes his shirt off, tossing it aside.
Oh. My.
My mouth waters at the muscles and tattoos that cover Benny’s torso. Who knew the grump was hiding all this yumminess all this time?
Griffin glances between Benny and me, then shouts, “Put your shirt back on!”
Knox glowers at Benny as he says to me, “You’re drooling.”
Unabashedly, I wipe the corners of my mouth with my gaze still fixed on Benny’s ink and sculpted muscles.
Benny smirks. “Worried I might steal your woman?”
Griffin slaps the target with his hand, causing Benny to fall in. Griffin and Knox laugh when Benny whips back up out of the water, but all Griffin did was turn a nice-looking snack into a delectable dessert.
Knox realizes it first and covers my eyes. “Text Kat to come take over the booth. We need to take Raven somewhere else.”
I’m shuffled away in a rush. Knox doesn’t give me my sight back until we’re in a whole other section of the carnival.
Knox and Griffin give me a reprimanding look, but I don’t feel the least bit guilty. A belly laugh erupts from me, and that only annoys them further. They each take a turn spanking my ass.
“Hey!”
Griffin gets in my face. “Don’t be a brat.”
Quirking a brow, I throw sass back at him. “Don’t be so sensitive.”
He grabs my face and plants his lips on mine. His tongue demands entry. The kiss is punishing yet thrilling.
Right when I’m ready to jump his bones, he pulls back.
“You and Raven get in line for the Ferris wheel. I’ll grab Noah, and we’ll meet you over there.”
Knox nods his head and leads me away.
My mind swirls with ideas, brainstorming ways I can get them to act like neanderthals again.