Chapter 23

Bolton

Halloween was an unusually warm night, and I was beginning to regret the pirate costume I’d let Mrs. Polk order for me. The leather boots came to mid-thigh, the silk shirt was topped by a vest and layered sashes, and the hat was heavy and wouldn’t sit on my head without dipping forward. The only part I liked was the dull sword in the scabbard. It gave me a sense of pseudo-power, even though I doubt I could have smashed a fly to death with it.

Kenny had a nice, normal house in the east end, in one of the developments where people who want stately brick homes with lawns that match live. It wasn’t my sort of thing, but he was happy, and that’s what counted. I arrived early, looking forward to seeing Lilly. The yard was festooned with spider webs, witchy laughter from speakers secreted in trees, and coffins with lids that raised and lowered as mechanical hands reached out to grab the guests’ legs. Once inside, the atmosphere was different. Elegant, traditional, counters laden with finger foods, and a bar set up in the living room. People gathered in small groups, the requisite drinks in their hands as they pretended to listen to one another while they surveyed the gathering, doing their own brand of gossip intel. It was like so many other parties, and if it hadn’t been Kenny hosting and Lilly coming, I wouldn’t have shown up.

I was into my second drink when I saw her coming up the walk. At least I thought it was her. She was wearing a voluminous pumpkin costume, so round and rigid that it made it difficult for her to walk. In fact, she was doing more of a waddle. I felt a disappointment at her choice. I’d hoped she’d have chosen a fairy princess or perhaps a harem girl. I was hungry for the sight of her beautiful body. Kenny immediately went up to her, Natalie trailing behind him, looking bored. After a second inspection, I realized the boredom was actually the stupor of drunkenness. So much for our effort to help her out. It felt dismal to see such a young woman throw her life away. I wondered what Kenny saw in her. But Kenny was used to looking after demanding friends—he’d always been there for me, after all.

The girls exchanged a lukewarm acknowledgment, but Lilly kept her distance. She looked much better, I had to admit. Her face was flawless, cheeks cheery red, and the sparkle was back in her eyes. Even her hair had a pelt-like richness to it. I wanted her.

“Hello, Lilly,” I greeted her and made the little bow I’d practiced in front of the mirror at home.

She laughed. “Are you a pirate?” she asked, delight in her voice.

“And are you a pumpkin king?” I teased back, and there was lightness to the exchange that was encouraging. “Can I get you something to drink?”

She shook her head. “No, not really. Well, maybe a bottle of water?”

“Coming right up.” I snagged one out of a nearby cooler of ice and handed it to her, touching the skin of her hand. The touch sent shocks of recognition through me, and the impulse to pull her against me was almost overpowering. I cleared my throat. “How have you been?”

“Just about as you’d expect,” she answered, and her voice was a little soft in the middle of the cacophony that was party people and music.

“How about we go out back and catch up?” I invited. She looked around to find Natalie, who was studiously ignoring her. I saw sadness cloud her eyes, and she looked back to me, nodding.

There was a bench built into the back deck, and I led us to the corner. In her bulky costume, it was impossible to sit in any chair. “This OK?” I asked.

She leaned and then sank to the seat. “Fine.” She was quiet, and while there were a thousand things I wanted to tell her, I held back. I didn’t want to spook her.

“How have you been?” she asked finally, and I took the opening.

“I won’t lie, Lilly. I’m lonely and missing you.”

She nodded and looked around. “I thought you might say that.”

Why is she working so hard to keep her distance? “Lilly, what would it take to start again?” I asked.

“Ha!” The laugh burst from her. She turned to look at me then, and I saw the tear on her cheek. I realized she’d looked away so I wouldn’t see it. “You have no idea how easy it would be for me to come back to you.”

I held my breath and leaned toward her, the sword pressing hard against my leg, and in the moment it took for me to change position and move it, she’d scooted down the bench away from me. She was always pushing me away.

“What is it? Why do you say one thing and then do the opposite? Come back to me, Lilly. I promise you it will be different.”

“I can’t.”

I wasn’t going to let her push me away again. I stood up and went toward her, but she held her hand up, tears streaming down her cheeks. I was watching a pathetically silly scene with a crying pumpkin, and I was in love with her.

“Don’t, Bolt. Give me a minute, will you? Maybe a little bit of wine to help me calm down?”

I looked behind me at the party inside. That was another world, and I wanted to stay with her. “OK, sure, hang on.” I went inside and pushed my way through dozens of people laughing and trying to pull me into their conversations until I reached the bar. “A glass of rose, huh?” I said to the bartender. He nodded and handed it to me.

Kenny came up to me. “Hey, buddy, have been trying to get a minute with you all night. Glad you came. I guess you saw that Lilly’s here.”

“Yeah, she’s out on the deck waiting for me. Look, she’s a little fragile right now. Let me catch up with you a little later, huh?”

He nodded. “Sure, fine, fine. We’ll talk later.”

I stepped out onto the deck. Lilly was gone. I didn’t bother searching the yard for her—I’d known it when she’d asked me for the wine. She was just waiting until I was out of sight.