My Best Friend’s Halloween (Lit Creek Holidays #1)

Chapter 1

Evie

Knock or ring the doorbell? It’s an easy decision. As in, I should be able to make it within a split second. And I should, considering the chill in the air, the frost on the ground, and the tiny doctor’s costume I’m in. Another decision I’m rethinking. Is it too sexy?

Damn it. Back to the door. Ugh. This shouldn’t even be a decision to make because it doesn’t matter. It’s not like the man has kids. Also, he’s my best friend and he wouldn’t care either way, so why am I lingering over this inconsequential decision?

Double damn it.

I knock and ring the doorbell. There. That should do it.

The door swings open and my best friend stares at me. God, he’s so hot. I almost forgot how gorgeous the Golden Boy is—which is an ironic term because with his dark locks he’s not golden at all, and with those pecs, he is not a boy.

I normally don’t allow myself to indulge in that kind of thinking, but it’s been a while, and he’s dressed as a cowboy, which he is usually not.

So he’s looking extra hot right now. Then I catch a glimpse of his eyes.

Ocean blue. Darker than they usually are.

Like midnight on the beach. Shit. Why am I waxing poetic about my bestie tonight of all nights?

But then I see something different in his gaze and my heart flipflops like a toddler attempting a cartwheel.

Only, I’m not sure if I’m seeing him differently or if he’s seeing me differently.

Crap. It’s been a minute and I’m freezing now.

“Are you gonna let me in or just stare at me on your porch all night?” I shiver under my ankle length crimson red peacoat. Expectedly, it’s snowing on Halloween.

“Get your sassy ass in here,” Zander’s words are playful, but his tone is grim.

Based on his texts, I knew he’d be in this kind of mood, I just didn’t think it was going to be this bad.

“Cold out?”

“Mhmmm.” My chin trembles as he rubs up and down the arms of my jacket with his hands.

“You’re shivering.”

“Ya, it’s freaking cold out there, Zander.”

“You could have just texted. You didn’t need to come inside to pick me up.”

“Nope. I did need to come inside. Speaking of which, can you grab the pumpkins on your porch?” He took too long to answer the door, or maybe I took too long in making an immaterial decision, so I set them down in favor of warming my hands.

“Pumpkins?”

“Um, yes. Did you forget?”

“No…” He means yes.

“The deal was that I’m the DD, but we’re carving pumpkins before we head to the Halloween party. I missed the pumpkin carving event in town today, so we’re doing it together.”

He’s grabbing the two large pumpkins and carrying them into his kitchen where he sets them down on the island.

I follow him with my boots off but coat still on.

It’s cold. But also…my outfit is a bit more scandalous than I’d typically wear around him.

Yes, he’s seen me in a bathing suit—one perfect day always comes to mind when I think about that fact.

But even though he’s seen me many times in less clothing than this costume, this just feels…

different. So the jacket is staying on for now.

“I feel bad asking you to be the DD.”

I wave off his concerns. I’m not a big drinker anyway, but clearly he needs tonight. The dejection on his face is real.

“You look like you need a hug.” I say, opening my arms to him.

He’s like a sad puppy right now. I haven’t seen him this way in a while. Maybe ever, actually.

His arms come around my middle and he pulls me close. Like, really close. He always gives the best hugs, but this one feels like it just has this extra neediness to it. And Zander is not needy.

“It’s been a while,” I mumble against his cheek.

“Five weeks,” he sighs with a ragged sigh.

And three days, but who’s counting—

“And three days,” he tacks on.

“You could have called.”

“Probably.” He breathes the word into my hair while holding me so tightly that my feet are just grazing the ground. I’m like a rag doll in his arms.

“You okay?”

“Sloane dumped me.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.” I squeeze him tighter.

And even though this might be verging on the longest hug we’ve shared, it’s not awkward.

Nothing ever is between us. Three summers ago, he watched me puke my guts out when I got the stomach flu and he brought over some soup.

Then we traded places the following day.

Nothing is sacred anymore. We’ve been friends for far too long to let a long hug make us uncomfortable.

I mean, he was there for me when all that shit went down in high school and he’s never left.

I think I can give the guy a consoling embrace.

I’ll just ignore the heat building inside of me due to the jacket I’m still wearing.

“When did that happen?”

“About five weeks ago.”

Damn. Usually he shares everything with me, he’s a bit of an oversharer in fact, so this is a shock. But now I get the whole MIA for five weeks thing.

His nose is in my hair, inhaling, tickling against my skin. I have to suppress an inappropriately timed giggle. He misinterprets my squirming and lets me go. That, or he’s had enough of the long hug.

“I know I just asked this, but are you okay? You sure you want to go to a Halloween party tonight?”

“I want to go. I gotta get out of the house for a bit.”

“But carving first?”

“Yes.”

“I gotta ask you a question, by the way. Do you think it’d be weird if I talked to Jessa about managing her shop tonight?” I’m half asking for his opinion and half asking for validation.

“You mean for when the baby comes?”

“Ya. I know she’s got Summer helping her out at Bloom and Blossom right now, but I’d like to do it more long term for her if she’s open to it. If you think she’d want me to do it.”

“Anyone would want you to do it.”

That was a weird way to put it. And why did that make my insides twist a little?

“You think I’d make a good manager for her?”

“You’ve been managing stuff at The Hoppy Badger for a while now, so why wouldn’t she want you?”

I give him an eye. “C’mon, Zander. Working at the bar and working at her respected plant shop have very different vibes.”

“Working at the bar is respectable.”

Sometimes I think this man lives on The Andy Griffith Show, which I loved watching as a kid with my grandmother.

“Why do you want the change?” There’s a bit of clanging as he sets up some knives and bowls on the island for us to do our carving.

“I just don’t see the bar being long term for me. I need something new. Something I can sink my teeth into. Ya know?”

The clanging ceases for a brief interlude. His eyes are glued to one of the pumpkins, almost as if my answer gave him pause. I’m running back my words but don’t hear anything weird in them. I must be reading him wrong tonight. It has been five weeks. And three days.

“I can see me helping Jessa grow the plant store—pun intended.” He smirks at my laugh joke like he always does.

“Maybe I’ll even add some of the sassy stickers Amber and I have been working on as merch for her to sell.

” I really hope he doesn’t hate my idea.

I don’t want to ruin anything for Jessa and her store.

Maybe it’s a terrible idea. Jessa is such a good girl, why would she want me managing her store?

His warm eyes glance up and find me. We’re on the same side of the island now, standing a foot apart. With a small smile curling up his lips, he says, “That’s a great idea.”

Warmth floods my system. “Thanks, Zander.” He has the most uncanny ability to make me feel safe. Like I can say and do anything and he won’t judge me.

In fact, I’ve warmed up enough to shrug out of my coat. The second the jacket comes off his eyes almost bug out of his head. And this time, I know without doubt that I’m reading something questionable in his eyes.

“What? Is it too much?” I look down at the red lacy bralette peeking (okay, more than peeking) out of my white doctor’s coat that hits mid-thigh. I have my reasons for why my tits are spilling out of the jacket.

He hasn’t said anything yet, so I fill in his silence and explain my costume, “I was thinking that tonight I might actually make a move on Logan, if he’s there. I heard that his band is supposed to show up.”

Zander’s eyes are flitting all over the place. My face. My chest. My legs. His eyes drop to my lips for a second. No, that must have been my imagination. Zander’s not like that with me, not like other men.

You know when I said it’s never awkward between us…well, this is borderline. I shove at his shoulder, and presumably to catch his balance, his hand flies to my waist. With a death grip.

“Zander? Seriously. Is it too much?”

He licks his lips and then his eyes snap up to mine, pinning me in place. As if his hand wasn’t doing a good enough job of that already.

“It’s not too much.” He lifts his finger up, like he’s about to touch me, then withdraws. “Where’s your mom’s necklace?”

That’s what he’s looking at. That makes more sense than him staring at my breasts. Though I have to say they do look good tonight.

“The chain broke. It sucks not having it.”

His voice comes out all gravelly when he agrees with me. “Ya. That does suck.”

There’s a beat before he clears his throat and says, “You don’t have to dress like that to catch a man’s attention.” His eyes pierce mine with their intensity.

“I know.” I flip my hair off my shoulder. “But I figured I’d go all in tonight. Shoot my shot. Why not?”

I wasn’t really asking, but he stiffly says, “No reason not to.”