He sat on the bed, uncapped the bottle, and sniffed. “It smells great.” He smiled. “It’s about time I changed cologne. Amber bought the Armani for me every birthday and every Christmas. I have three bottles left.”
She took a deep breath. It was now or never. “Brad used to wear Armani. I brought the last bottle with me when I moved back home, and I’d spritz it on my sweatshirts.”
He got a pained look on his face. “And every time we were together, I’d sniff your shoulder and ask if you’d used my cologne. I’m so sorry, Em.”
“You didn’t know. I should’ve told you.” She focused on the bottle in Josh’s hand instead of on his handsome face. “I threw out the last of Brad’s cologne.”
He got up off the bed and came to stand in front of her, tipping her chin with his knuckle, his eyes searching hers. “What are you trying to tell me, Em?”
“That I’m ready—”
“Knock, knock.” Patsy poked her head around the door. “Joshie, Robyn’s here.”
“Mom, just give Em and me a minute. I’ll—”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, sweetheart.” She looked over her shoulder. “He’s here, Cal.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
It was Halloween, and Em had a roomful of witches in her house on Sugar Maple Road. Bri as Glinda the Good Witch, Izzy as Hermione Granger, and Raine as Maleficent had decided to get ready at her place for the All Hallows’ Eve party at the community center. The party would get underway right after the kid’s Halloween Parade on Main Street. The street was closed to cars from five thirty to seven, and all the local businesses handed out candy to trick-or-treaters under the age of thirteen.
Em didn’t believe the three witches were at her place because they thought it would be fun to get ready together. She knew darn well they were here to make sure she wore a costume and didn’t chicken out like she had at Josh’s birthday. As she’d tried to explain to Bri, she hadn’t chickened out. She’d gotten cut off by his mother, who appeared to want him to go back to his serial dating ways, which Em found strange. And then, when half the women attending his party in their sexy costumes kept accidentally falling into Josh’s lap as he played his guitar, Em had had second thoughts about the whole thing.
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t ask him to the All Hallows’ Eve party when you were at his place Saturday night,” Bri said as she fitted the blond wig on Em’s head.
Em was going as Sarah Sanderson from Hocus Pocus. According to Bri and Izzy, Sarah was a sexy witch, and they thought it was time Josh saw Em’s sexy side. They said her sexy cop from his party didn’t count or cut it.
“I wasn’t going to ask him in front of everyone, and he was never alone.”
“Okay, but his party was Saturday, and it’s Tuesday. You had plenty of time to ask him to go to the All Hallows’ Eve party with you, and then you wouldn’t be stressing about what to do on your date,” Bri said.
“I don’t know why you think I’m stressing about it. I just showed you my list of potential date ideas.”
“You showed us your list too,” Izzy added unhelpfully.
Em had also shown the list to Todd, which was a big mistake because she hadn’t noticed Gwen had returned to her desk. Gwen hadn’t been pleased to learn that the date ideas had nothing to do with Neil and everything to do with Josh. And in an effort to soothe her coworker’s hurt feelings and her worry about Neil, Em had promised to help Gwen find him someone to date.
“If you weren’t stressing about it, you would have asked him out already, which is why I’m worried you’re going to chicken out again,” Bri said as she added more shadow to Em’s eyes. Apparently Bri was going for a smoky eye, whatever that meant.
“Hello. It was the lead-up to Halloween,” Em said. “I’ve been a little busy. You may not be aware of this but every house in the Silver Creek neighborhood was TP-ed late Saturday night, and then we had a gang of pumpkin smashers running amok in the chief’s subdivision Sunday night, and last night, someone soaped half the shop windows on Main Street.” She held up her hands as proof that she’d spent part of her morning cleaning windows. “But why are you just harping on me about chickening out? Raine did too.”
Em was beginning to wonder if something was going on with the mothers of thirtysomething-year-old sons because Quinn’s mom had set him up with his date for the party, the same as Patsy had set up Josh with Robyn. Except unlike Quinn’s mom, who did not like Raine, Patsy loved Em. And yes, she was still trying to figure out why Patsy had set up Josh with anyone other than her.
“I didn’t chicken out. This is all Bri and Izzy’s idea,” Raine said, admiring her long black nails. “I don’t know why I should be the one to ask Quinn out anyway. He should ask me out.”
“He has, Mom. Three times.”
“Izzy’s right, Raine,” Bri said. “You can’t expect Quinn to put himself out there again when you keep rejecting him.”
“I didn’t reject him. I… I’ve just been busy. Between my mother’s campaign and getting the trauma center up and running, as well as having a seventeen-year-old daughter, I don’t have a moment to myself.”
“Bock, bock, bock,” Em said, which earned her a pursed-lip look from Maleficent.
“The time for chickening out is over,” said Glinda the Good Witch. “You’re both going to embrace your inner witch. And you’ll have Izzy and me there for support. Izzy, you’ll be your mom’s emotional support person and coach, and I’ll be Em’s.”
“I thought I’d just bring Gus,” Em said.
“Dogs are allowed in the parade but they’re not allowed at the party,” Izzy reminded her. “Someone’s doing a doggy daycare in the park, I think.”
“You and your friends aren’t working it?” Em asked her.
“No, we have other plans tonight,” she said without meeting Em’s gaze. “You need more mascara, Mom.”
“How can she need more mascara? She’s wearing fake eyelashes.” Em crossed her arms. “Izzy, what are you guys up to tonight? And it better not be hanging out at Seaton House.”
“I told you before, Aunt Em, I’m not a narc. But I promise, we’re not going to Seaton House.”
“All you guys could talk about was Seaton House so excuse me if I don’t believe that you’re not planning to go to the local haunted house on Halloween night,” Em said.
“Fine. We were, but Mike told us it isn’t safe. They’ve ripped apart the second floor, and they have propane blowers drying out the place. Drew didn’t want to go anyway.” She bowed her head. Obviously that was a tidbit she hadn’t meant to share.
“Are you dating Drew O’Brien?” Em asked.
“Honestly, Em, I don’t know where you get your ideas.” Raine waved her hand as if swatting away Em’s question like it was an annoying fly. “Of course Izzy isn’t dating Drew O’Brien. She’s focused on school and her friends, not boys. But if she did date someone, it certainly wouldn’t be the son of the man who’s been slandering her grandmother.”