33. A Queen and her Jester
A Queen and her Jester
It had been a full week since I asked Spencer to move in with me.
A week full of realizing I maybe, possibly, buy way too many things and should seriously donate some of them.
A week of merging our lives and routines without issues, which was surprising as hell, and a week of seeing Spencer relax more and more after blocking his family and going completely no contact.
I could tell it still stung, but he was finding his own way to work through it, and he set up an appointment with a new therapist as well.
I was beyond proud of him. He was able to talk to his landlord and have his friend Jacob move into his apartment, getting him on the lease, so he wouldn’t be out any money for moving out early.
We finally had confirmation from all of our friends that they would attend our little Halloween party, which was fueling my excitement and inner planner.
I found Spencer and me the perfect couple’s costume, including Dolly as well.
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday, but the last few years haven’t felt the same or brought the same joy.
Something about this year felt different; maybe it was because I had someone who wanted to celebrate with me, but either way, I was ecstatic.
Emma was headed over so we could make sure we had all the decorations we needed and to get our snack menu in order. This had been a busy month for both of us, and we’ve hardly had our usual hangouts, so I was missing her something fierce. I was lying on the couch, snacking, when she barged in,
“Don’t worry, your queen has arrived,” she announced loudly while sauntering over and plopping down next to me. Today, she was sporting a cropped tee that said “Queen of Petty.”
“If you’re the queen, what am I?” I asked while pointing at her shirt.
“My royal jester, of course.” Emma snatched the bag of chips from my hands.
“Oh, lucky me.” I deadpanned as I snatched the bag back and settled back into my spot. I looked over and noticed what looked to be a hickey on her neck that she was trying to hide with her hair.
“Where’s the hot gamer at?”
“He’s at the gym with his buddies. I told him we’d be hanging and finalizing our Halloween stuff. Also, ma’am, what is that?” I poked the bruise on her neck to show that the hair trick wasn’t hiding anything. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
“It’s nothing! I, uh, accidentally burnt it with the straightener, that’s all.
Just clumsy me.” Her laugh was way too high, and I knew it wasn’t that she burnt it.
She also hardly ever straightened her hair and let it go in its natural waves.
“I see you have your shirt I made you on too.” She asked to change the subject as she shimmied her shoulders at me.
“Uh-huh, so it wasn’t caused by another person then. No dirty secrets you need to tell me?” I arched my brow and waited.
“Mhm! So those decorations, let's go through what we have!” I laughed, letting her have this secret cause I knew eventually she’d let the cat out of the bag. Honestly, it would be good for her to get back out there.
I pulled up my list, and we went through everything we had, deciding that we needed to add a few extra things like some caution tape, fake limbs, and eyeballs. Afterwards, we looked over the snack ideas we had and decided it would be plenty since there wasn’t going to be a whole bunch of us.
“I wanna make sure one more time, Emma. You’re sure you’re okay with this? With being here while Carson is here? I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation at all. You’re the most important to me, and how you feel matters.”
“I promise I’m good. There will be other people here, and I know you’ll swoop in and save me if I need it.
It’ll be fun. Besides, this is your party, and you should also have fun.
” She squeezed my hand to reassure me, and I nodded.
“So, how has it been living with a boy? Does he snore at night? Leave clothes everywhere?” I snorted.
“WAIT! Don’t tell me… He leaves the seat up, doesn’t he? I knew it!”
“No, he doesn't leave clothes everywhere, snore, or leave the seat up. Actually, between the two of us, I think I’m the messy one in the relationship. It’s only been a week, but it’s been fun.
We spend our evenings together, either watching TV and eating, or I’ll read while he games.
When we brought his stuff over, he made me put my reading chair, which he got me, next to his desk, because he loved it so much.
” I smiled at the memory of us talking about it.
I told him he could have the extra bedroom for all his stuff, but he was adamant that the chair stay.
He even made sure there were always fresh daisies on the shelf as well.
“You two are so cute, it’s sick. Maybe one day I’ll find my person.”
“You will, Em, I just know it, but I also understand being scared or hesitant after all you’ve gone through. Besides, we'll always be each other's person first.” I pulled her into me and hugged her. “So, have you decided on a costume for the party yet?”
“How cliche would it be if I were one of those slutty nurses?”
“Given the fact you are a nurse? Maybe a little, but you’d look hot as hell.”
“I never really got to do the hot costumes, so I’m considering it.” She played with the fringe on the blanket she had covered up with.
“Girl, go for it! Embrace your body. Do all the things you couldn’t do before.
You know I’m all about it.” I loved that more and more Emma was coming out of her shell and finally embracing life in a way she never got to experience before.
Seeing her grow made me so incredibly happy and proud of her.
“Okay, well, I couldn’t decide between the nurse or maybe like a masked girl with some fishnets or something.” She showed me a couple of inspiration pictures she had saved on her phone. I swiped back and forth between them and finally passed the device back.
“That’s a tough one, because you know I love me a good masked moment. Hey, I wonder if I could convince Spencer to wear a mask…”
“Pics if you do, because I know it would be so hot.” She fanned herself, and we both broke out into a fit of laughter. A few moments later, I heard Spencer come in.
“Hello, ladies, how's the planning going?” Emma and I looked at each other and busted out laughing again. The sheer timing of it. “Oookay then. I’ll leave you two crazies to… whatever this is, and I’m gonna go shower.”
“My ribs, I—” I gripped my side, still cackling like a witch.
“Oh, that was good. Oh man.” Our laughter finally subsided, and we landed on the masked look.
We looked through her cart online and ordered all the pieces for the costume.
Heading to the kitchen, Emma perched herself on one of the barstools, and I got to work cooking dinner.
Ultimately, I decided to go with burgers since I could easily grill them, and then some homemade fries as well.
Emma and I headed to the back patio while I checked the temperature of the grill and brought out the items I’d needed.
The cool evening air chilled my skin as I stood next to the hot grill.
I placed all the burgers down, the smell of charcoal and seasoning mixing and sending a delicious scent on a smoke-filled cloud toward me.
Not long after, Spencer followed and stood next to me, leaning in so only I could hear him.
“Hey, is it okay if Carson comes over now? I wanted to ask because, well…” His gaze flicked over to Emma, who was sitting in the corner scrolling on her phone.
“I want you to know that your whispering isn’t as quiet as you think, bud.
” She set her phone down in her lap and looked over at him with a smirk, “But yes, I’m fine, guys, I promise.
” She swallowed, and I could tell part of her was nervous, but if there was anyone more stubborn than me, it was Emma.
She says she was perfectly fine till she was blue in the face, even when we could all tell she wasn’t.
“Yeah, baby, that’s fine. Let him know we got plenty of food too.
” I placed a quick kiss on his cheek, got up to flip the burgers, and started the fries while he headed inside to call Carson.
Spencer had pestered and pestered me to let him cook so I could relax with Emma, but I loved grilling.
It brought back so many fun memories of time with my Papa growing up.
“I’m okay, Allie. You don’t have to keep protecting me.” I turned around to face her, and she plastered on her determined expression.
“I also know you, Emma, and you can say you’re okay all you want, even if it isn’t true.” I shot her a glare that dared her to argue back, knowing full well I was right. Anytime Carson’s name was mentioned, she stiffened or rolled her eyes.
“You don’t even know me.” She rolled her eyes—case in point—just as dramatically back and folded her arms across her chest. Her signature comeback when I called her out on anything.
Emma set her phone down next to her before unfolding her legs from underneath her.
She gracefully stood and made her way over to the plug for the lights, knowing we’d need them soon.
Since it was October, the sun was starting to set earlier.
She grabbed Dolly’s tennis ball from the ground before folding herself back into the corner of the sectional and launching the ball, Dolly barking and chasing after it.
“Mhm, you’re totally right. Are you gonna stay the night tonight?” I changed the subject, knowing that it was pointless to linger.
“As long as that’s still okay? I know with Spencer living here now and all, it could change,” she asked, her voice filled with a nervousness I didn’t usually hear from her.