Sweet Temptation

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday: people dressing in ways they normally wouldn’t dare. Inhibitions down, even without drugs and alcohol, and dark exhilaration in the air. Tonight is no different as I scan the field of laughing people, but I don’t feel the buzz I normally do on this night.

The gorilla head smells rank, and it’s hot inside this damned thing. Between my nerves and the lack of ventilation, I’m sweating. I look through the mesh eyes at the crowd. There must be several hundred people there to see the five bands play. Not our band tonight, though I’m certain Raj, Michael, and Be

I focus my eyes, pulling each face into clear view from across the field. I wonder what A

My gaze halts on the fuzzy blond head of Jay with an eye patch, and a fake parrot propped on his shoulder. Next to him is a small green witch wearing a ratty black wig and pointy hat, with a badge at her sternum only I can see. I grin to myself inside the mask as cool relief floods my system.

She’s here.

I won’t approach her. I don’t know how she feels anymore. A lot can change in two months, especially when I’ve done my best to push her away. She deserves better.

I feel the burn rise when I think of Kopano. Makes me want to rip off the gorilla head so I can breathe easier, but I’m not in the mood to be recognized by anyone other than A

Kope is quite possibly the only man on earth worthy of A

I watch A

My thoughts sober and my pulse spikes when I realize she’s looking at me now, recognizing me. I don’t move. We stare for what feels like forever before she finally waves. I’m overcome with joy at this simple acknowledgment. I lift a paw and chuckle at A

“—Who are you waving at?” the girl asks. She’s dressed like a provocative Mi

“Um, that big monkey,” A

Correction, dear. I’m only staring at you.

They both watch me expectantly, so I lift an arm and scratch the furry armpit, which makes them laugh. I think I recognize the girl as the one A

A

I walk to them and pull off the costume head, shaking out my sweat-dampened hair and sucking in the fresh night air. Both of the girls’ eyes widen. Mi

I look at Jay and say, “Arrgh, matey.” He laughs and sticks out his hand for me to shake, which I do. Nice bloke.

“What’s up, man?” he says.

I throw a drummer joke at him, since he always likes to lay them on me.

“What’s the difference between a drummer and a savings bond?” I ask.

His grin is huge and his aura bright yellow. “I don’t know. What?”

“A savings bond matures and eventually makes money.”

He laughs and reaches out for another appreciative hand slap. When we turn to the girls, Mi

“This is my friend Veronica,” A

“Oh, I’ve heard all about you,” Veronica tells me with a big, knowing smile. I raise my eyebrows with interest. Girl talk. Brilliant. I find nothing more amusing than eavesdropping on girls in conversation. They give blokes a hard time for things we say behind closed doors, but girls are just as bad.

I focus my attention on A

“Nice wart,” I say, then flick the dangling thing off. She gasps, and both her friends laugh.

“I told you it was stupid,” Veronica gloats.

But A

A

She crosses her arms and says, “Your hair’s grown a lot.”

“So has your bottom,” I respond without thinking.

Ah, shite. I know better than to make “growth” comments to girls, or anything indicative of size that could be deemed unflattering, but it just sort of slipped out. Her friends burst into laughter, and there isn’t enough paint in the world to hide the shock on A

“Dude, you can get away with anything,” Jay tells me.

“I meant it as a compliment,” I say honestly.

Veronica is still laughing when she grabs Jay by the hand and leads him away. He shoots me a serious look of warning as they go. I respect him even more for his protective feelings over A

I flick my head to the side to get the hair out of my eyes while A

Say something, you git.

I haven’t a clue what to say, though. Should I apologize for the bum comment?

“My dad gave me a cell phone,” A

I pull my own mobile from the ape pocket and blow a piece of lint from it. When I raise my eyebrows she starts giving me her number, but the damned costume is not cooperating. Without asking, A

Right. She’s staring at me in that way that makes it seem as if she can read my mind. I clear my throat.

“How did things go with your father and the training?” I ask.

“It went fine. I guess.” She answers quietly, crossing her arms again. “I know my drinking limits now and all that.”

I try to imagine A

A

I can’t breathe. She gives me her trademark look—the one that drains me of all strength and makes me want to give her anything she wants. I’m too weak. I turn toward the stage, where the music begins, and try to regain my momentum, but she keeps talking, moving closer.

“I know it’s risky to see each other, but we could talk on the phone when your father’s not around. If you want.”

If I want. She has no clue how much I want. But I can’t simply have a tiny slice of A