Copyright © 2017 Juliana Conners and .
All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 1 – Brynn
"Oh geez. I think this skirt is too short."
I cringe as I look at myself in the mirror, and then at my best friend Riley Bradford.
It’s Halloween night, and I’m second guessing everything. Including this obnoxious cheerleader costume. And the way my ass is hanging out of it.
Sure, it sends the message I’m looking for: Come and get me. I haven’t gotten laid in a long time, and tonight’s the perfect night for it.
"Don't be silly, Brynn," Riley says. "It's Halloween. It's the one time of year when there's no such thing as a skirt that's too short. In fact, Halloween is the excuse that young hot women everywhere use to flaunt their goods without feeling slutty."
"Yeah, but that category doesn’t even apply to me anymore. I'm getting old. And frumpy."
"No, you're not. You look just as hot as you did when we'd go to Halloween parties in law school."
"I’ve gained like twenty pounds since then."
"So? You were hot then but you're even hotter now. Curvaceous is the new skinny."
I roll my eyes. But I love how dear Riley brings a positive spin to everything.
"Remember that one time I went as a ghost?” I ask her. “What the hell was I thinking?"
"I think you were thinking of saving time and money," Riley replies. "You were busy preparing for that big trial coming up in moot court— not to mention studying for midterms— and the easiest and quickest kind of costume was to throw a sheet over your head after cutting some circles out of it for eyes."
"That's true," I agree.
Good old practical and reassuring Riley.
"But I totally ruined my chance to flaunt my goods when I was younger and looked a lot better."
I can't help but reminisce about the past, when I would get laid on the regular. I wish I could be that carefree and fun now, because I haven't gotten any in ages.
On that note, I peek my head into the living room to make sure my son Caleb is okay. He is, so I go back to looking at myself in the mirror.
Being a mom is the best thing that ever happened to me, even though I wasn't so sure it would be, back when I was first pregnant with Caleb. I didn't even know back then that I'd be a single mom.
I was just scared and unsure— with good reason— of going through a pregnancy with Caleb's dad Steve. My worst fear was that he would bail on us. Which is exactly what happened. But still, I wouldn't trade Caleb for the world.
Ever since then, though, dating and sex have been last on my list of priorities, and I could certainly stand to be fucked good and hard.
Steve was the last person I’d been with in that way. After that he’d taken off, leaving Caleb and me in the dust. So, he must not have thought the sex was worth sticking around any more than we were. I can’t say the sex was worth it myself, although it did produce Caleb, and for that I’m grateful.
"You look great!" Riley is still insisting. "That skirt totally shows off your hourglass figure."
"Awww, thanks Riley."
I can't help but smile at her even though I still feel that the costume is a tad too inappropriate for someone— a mother, no less— my age.
"You always have a way of making me feel better."
"Good,” she responds, her pretty lighting up in a smile. “Because just seeing you makes me feel better."
"I know! It's been way too long. We haven’t seen each other since your wedding."
"And whose fault is that?" Riley laughs, teasingly. "Ms. Big City, Big Firm lawyer."
"I know, I know. I'm way too busy with work. And with Caleb, too."
I look over to the living room again, where Caleb is playing with Riley's son, Drew. To more accurately state the situation, Caleb is not playing with Drew. I've told him three times to share his truck but he just shakes his head and screams "NO!"
Meanwhile, Drew has been glaring at Caleb in between coloring— or, should I say scribbling?— in his Sesame Street coloring book. He's too young to have gotten the actual act of coloring down yet, but he's sure trying.
Even though the boys are staying in tonight— Trick or Treating having already happened earlier this week— they both wanted to wear their costumes. So, Caleb is dressed as a monkey and Drew is Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
"Speaking of Caleb," I say to Riley, "I'm sorry he's not better at sharing. I don't think that Drew likes him very much because of that."
"He'll warm up to him," Riley says with a shrug. "They're both toddlers and therefore haven't even learned what sharing means."
I smile at her. She's not only a good friend but a good mother too. She knows when to let things slide. She's a breath of fresh air to be around compared to my moms' group friends who freak out if their kids eat anything but organic gluten-free crackers off expensive non-plastic, non-toxic plates.
"Well, I'm glad you're in town and I'm really glad you invited us to this party," Riley says.
"Of course, Love," I tell her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
As my lips meet the powdered makeup she’s wearing there, I’m reminded that I haven't even put any on.
"I think I left my makeup in your living room," I tell her. "What kind of makeup do cheerleaders wear, anyway?"
"Lots of it!" Riley says. "But at least you don't have to worry about making yourself look like a loofah."
Riley is wearing a short blue frilly dress reminiscent of a flamenco dancer. She can still pull it off because she has the perfect body even after having had Drew.
"I'm glad you're wearing something pretty provocative too," I tell her. "Even though I feel so slutty in this short skirt."
"Isn't that the whole point?" Riley asks. "As I keep trying to tell you, a cheerleading outfit is the perfect costume for a single girl to wear on Halloween. I, being a married woman, tied down to my old ball and chain, am forced to wear this embarrassing get-up. Because apparently ‘couple outfits’ are obligatory for married people on Halloween. Or at least, that's what Jensen seems to think."
I laugh.
"I can't believe Jensen has a thing for couple costumes," I tell her. "Never would I have guessed that. He’s in a motorcycle club, for goodness sake."
"That's my Jensen," Riley says. "Always full of surprises. Which sometimes include ridiculous costume ideas I'm forced to go along with."
"I happen to think you look cute."
"Yeah, but you look friggin' sexy," Riley says.
She shoots a glance over to our kids as she says "friggin.” And the word “sexy.” Luckily, they are in their own little world, having better things to do than listen to our conversation.
Once Riley reassures herself that no little ears are listening in, she really gives me her honest opinion.
"Your cleavage is amazing, your cute butt is on partial display, and you get to wear makeup that makes you look even prettier, rather than scarier like a lot of those Halloween costumes out there. And maybe you'll get lucky tonight. There's not a guy around who wouldn't want to bang a hot cheerleader like you."
"Oh, I can’t do that tonight. I need to come back and get Caleb," I protest, even though I'd love to get laid.
"Don't be silly. He's fine here. Why waste a perfectly good hotel room and a free pass to get down and dirty with a random fling while you don't have to worry about your child's well-being for one night of the year?"
I quickly laugh it off, but I have to admit that the idea does intrigue me. One night of passion with a random stranger is just what I need before heading home to New York City. All that awaits me there are long hours as an associate at a stressful law firm, not to mention my life of single motherhood without any companionship or sex.
Riley's right. Halloween is for single people to slut it up and have fun. And that's exactly what I want to do. I just hope I find the right guy to do it with.
The idea is kind of scary, but that's what Halloween is about too. I need to face my fears and leap before I look.
Hopefully someone at this party will catch me when I do. Maybe he'll be dressed as a knight in shining armor. And perhaps he'll play the part of rescuing me from drudgery and spicing up my life, if only for one night.
What could be so scary about that? I ask myself. What's the worst that could happen?
I have a feeling I’m about to find out.