From floating through life without a purpose to feeling part of a new family and town, my life changed as soon as I met Cap. I sometimes can’t believe how only a month’s passed since the day I got my panties in a twist over the giant hunk. How did I ever exist without him in my life? Everything before Cap feels like a dream and I only woke up after meeting my Prince Charming who bought me a gross sandwich, gave me a kiss, and forced me to grow up fast.

Now nearly a month after moving to White Horse, we celebrate Halloween evening at the still un-remodeled house. Cap and I quickly give up on designing the inside. Fortunately, Cricket and Bianca Bella—who returns home early after her cruise has a bout of extreme food poisoning—help narrow down ideas.

My first encounter with Bianca Bella threw me for a loop. I hadn’t heard about her return before I arrived at Cricket’s house. Bianca Bella appeared at the front door, and I didn’t recognize her from the pictures I’d seen. Her long dark hair was pulled up into a bun, and she wore reading glasses. Blocking my way inside, she sized me up and sighed.

“You’re not tiny,” she said, wearing a frown.

“Okay, thanks, I guess.”

“They made you sound like Tiffany from ‘The Bride of Chucky.’ I was picturing a tiny person with lots of curves, but you’re a normal-sized woman with lots of curves,” Bianca Bella said and then sighed. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.”

“Sorry.”

“Well, I imagined a giant doll woman, but that’s not your fault. I blame Cricket and Chipper for their shoddy descriptions.”

“You’re not what I expected either.”

“I’m not normally this tan, and I always put on twenty pounds during cruises.”

“No, it’s just that Cap told me how he was into you. I guess I imagined you as more seductive and less friendly.”

“Oh, hell, he told you about that?” she asked, leaning closer. “Isn’t that the grossest thing ever? I swear I thought he was pulling a prank.”

“Why? Don’t you find him attractive?”

“As attractive as I could find a kid I consider my brother. He was like ten when we met, and I never stopped thinking of him as a little boy. Even now, he’s just a giant kid with B.O. and facial hair.”

“He doesn’t have B.O.,” I grumbled, ready to defend my man to the death.

“Don’t get your pits sweaty, Betty Boop. Everyone has B.O., but boys have it the worst.”

Bianca Bella stepped back to allow me to enter. She offered me food and drinks and asked questions about my job at the Kitchenette and my family back in Ellsberg. She was so damn welcoming and relaxed that I forgot to feel awkward around her. By the time she sits down with Cap, Cricket, and me to look for design ideas, I view her as a friend rather than as a romantic rival. Good thing I didn’t ask Cap to evict her from the family.

After our design session, Cap and I can only agree on the wall colors. So next weekend, my family plans to drive down to White Horse for a painting party. It’ll be a chance for my siblings to meet Cap’s.

“A clusterfuck waiting to happen,” is how Cap describes the impending get-together.

Despite his worries, I’m excited about my family’s visit. I want to show off my new life and build a better relationship with my siblings. In the past, I focused on how different we were. Now I want to embrace those differences and learn more about them as people outside of their roles as my siblings. I mean, I see the way Cap does things he doesn’t really enjoy because he wants to spend time with his family. I want to be like that even if it means listening to Colton brag about pussy or Lily talk about filling prescriptions. Oh, and Rando and her constant cat babble.

On Halloween evening, we’re joined by Keanu and Lottie. They bring along lawn chairs to set up next to ours on the driveway where we hand out candies to the neighborhood kids.

“I ought to move into a place around here,” Keanu says, enjoying a beer with Cap. “I could walk over every morning to get a cup of coffee. Steal some sugar while I’m at it.”

“I’ll get a giant man-eating dog to keep you away.”

“I’ll bring it a steak until it’s trained to do my bidding.”

“I can imagine you riding a fucking dog, Short Round.”

“Wait,” Lottie says, “how can you have a man-eating dog in the house with a baby?”

Cap’s face shifts from amused to annoyed. “Oh, yeah, kids and monster dogs don’t mix. Parenthood will definitely cramp my style.”

“When it comes to fucking with me?” Keanu whispers. “Yes, it most definitely will, you giant dick-less freak.”

Cap spills beer on Keanu’s boot. “Sorry, man. My lack of a dick causes my hand to shake at times.”

“I understand, and you have my great pity.”

“I plan to teach my kids to speak Korean, so they can cuss at you in two languages.”

“I plan to teach my kids to hunt giants. You’ll want to get your affairs in order.”

The men continue to poke at each other. Whenever children are nearby, they switch to Korean to insult each other. I don’t need to understand the language to assume there’s a lot of ball threats, just based on how they protectively shield their crotches.

A little after the sun goes down; Chipper arrives with Cowgirl Mesa and Cowboy Ridge looking to rustle up some candy.

“Our house is too secluded to trick or treat,” Chipper explains while the kids dance around the empty living room. “Having you two in a residential neighborhood will simplify my holiday season.”

“We aim to please,” Cap says while struggling with the plastic ghost decoration rolling down the lawn.

Too cold to chase wayward décor, I ask Chipper, “Didn’t you want to dress up Sierra?”

“It’s too cold for the baby, and Tatum might be coming down with something. They’re toasty at home, waiting for us to show up with our haul of candy and a heaping serving of Panda Express.”

After Chipper and the kids start their journey around the neighborhood, I sip my hot chocolate while Cap and Keanu chase escaping Jack-o’-lantern decorations.

“The wind keeps blowing them over,” Cap explains when Lottie and I laugh at them.

“Who cares?” I say, still snickering at the giant badass getting owned by silly décor. “They’re creepier sideways. Now sit down and enjoy the ambiance of Middle American suburbia.”

Relenting, the men return to their lawn chairs and trade beers for hot chocolate.

“You could set up a fire pit in the back,” Keanu suggests around eight when we’re nearly out of candy. “Chilling in the backyard like middle-aged men, drinking hot chocolate and burning marshmallows.”

“If it’s good enough for your redneck family, it’ll be good enough for mine.”

“I can’t tell if you insulted me,” Keanu says, narrowing his gaze.

“Feel free to always assume I am.”

The men again square off in a language I don’t understand. I smile at Lottie who rolls her eyes at their childish behavior. My manager and I have been much closer since we took off one afternoon and drove to Nashville in my El Camino. She showed me a few quirky stores with lots of old rock memorabilia. Afterward, we ate sushi and got buzzed on sake. Never in my life had I wanted to try Japanese food or drink, but that was the old Audrey Johansson. The new one is adventurous even if it means Keanu and Cap are forced to drive into the city to pick up our drunken asses.

Long after Chipper and the kids finish trick or treating and Keanu and Lottie leave, Cap and I remain in our house. We sit in the lawn chairs in the kitchen and try to picture living here. I find a smile on my face often lately, and tonight is no different. Cap entered my life like a wildfire, lighting everything ablaze. No more safely hiding in my parents’ house and waiting for others to inspire me. I’m officially fearless in a way only possible because my sexy brick shithouse will always have my back.