Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Don’t you think I should ... clean up?”
“Hell, no, let everyone know I’ve made out with the devil.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as he grabbed her hand and led them down toward the main parking lot, where his car was. There were a couple of guards waiting, and Diego opened the door for her, and she thanked him as she slid into the car.
The drive was uneventful, as Diego had a few calls he needed to make. Liana looked out of the window, seeing many of the places aglow with some form of Halloween light. It looked so beautiful. Some of them did look scary, but in a kitsch kind of way. She didn’t know why she loved Halloween so much. Her mother had as well, but neither of them had enjoyed horror movies. Liana would never sit and watch one. She absolutely hated them, and most often, she couldn’t get to sleep after watching one.
They arrived at Giovanni’s house, and Liana knew her best friend hadn’t done anything for this party. Yet, the moment they entered the gates, the long driveway was lined with gory props, pumpkin lanterns, and fairy lights. On the front yard, there was a twenty-foot pumpkin, along with several inflatable monsters and ghosts. There was also a graveyard on the lawn. Giovanni had gone all out. Liana was impressed.
Diego climbed out of the car, took her hand, and placed it around his arm. They stepped up into what appeared to be a horror-transformed mansion. There were a lot of guests inside, all of which had stuck to the demand they all dress up.
“Do we think Giovanni is trying to make amends to Mia?” Diego asked.
Liana had an idea he was, just as Diego was doing the same to her.
They entered the main dining room, and she saw a bar had been erected right at the far end, where a man wearing a scary mask was serving. She also spotted Mia, Tatiana, and Clarissa.
“I’m going to go and say hello.” Diego let her go, but it felt like he did so reluctantly.
The only person who was not dressed up in any form of costume was Mia. She wore a pair of jeans and a sweater. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she looked ... miserable. Thankfully, Clarissa and Tatiana were dressed up. Clarissa was a wicked witch, and Tatiana appeared to be in Medieval dress.
“Hey,” Liana said. She gave both her friends who had dressed up a thank you with her eyes, hoping they understood what she was saying.
“Hi,” Clarissa said. “Love the costume.”
Tatiana said the same, and she smiled at them.
“You look amazing, but can you believe what he did? I mean, can you?”
“He made sure you had an amazing party?” Liana asked.
“He called me a damn child!” Mia glared. “You all heard it. He wanted me to grow up and stop organizing themed parties, and what does he go and do? Organize a party that I would have loved to do. I hate him.” Mia slammed her hand against the bar, then got to her feet and ran.
Liana didn’t even think. She followed Mia, as did the other two, and they left the warmth of the house for the cold of the garden. Liana had seen the forecast and it was about to get icy.
The backyard was covered in different games and the house was humming with activity. Mia didn’t stop until they came to the bottom of the garden, where her personal den was. There, Liana saw that Mia was still indulging in what she loved.
Giovanni had given Mia this all-women’s space, for her to escape married life. Liana had loved it for her friend. Now, as she stepped inside and saw it was also a Halloween haunting heaven, she saw that Mia was crying.
She didn’t say a word, just went to her and held her in her arms. Clarissa and Tatiana joined her.
****
The one place that had been off limits to the explosion of gaudy Halloween décor was Giovanni’s office. Stepping inside, Giovanni was sitting at his desk, and across the room, Diego saw that Giovanni was watching Mia’s women’s shed.
“You know, I thought the reason to give your wife space was so you didn’t spy on her?” Diego asked.
Giovanni sighed. “It doesn’t matter what I fucking do, she’s not happy. I turn my house into Halloween hell, and she doesn’t even dress up in the costume I got her. She won’t have anything to do with me.”
“You called her a child.”
“Are you going to defend her now?”
He held his hands up. “I’m not defending anyone. I’m just saying she kind of has a right to feel a little pissed. Everything you have done, you mocked her for.”
Giovanni growled. “Come on, man. We were all talking shit about our wives that we didn’t actually mean.”