Page 70 of The Haunting Plot

Bella: What? There’s no such thing as TMI between friends.

Lucy: True.

Summer: Speaking of candy, what are we doing for Halloween this year?

Bella: Fucking Halloween!

Lucy: Agreed.

Summer: I thought you liked Halloween.

Bella: In theory I do. In my classroom I don’t.

Lucy: When my little goblins are hopped up on sugar and destroying my house? Hard pass.

Bella: Oh, Raven, I’m almost done with Jonah’s costume!

Summer: What’s he dressing up as?

Me: A rooster.

Bella: A cock.

Me: Rooster.

Bella: COCK!

Bella: Does anyone else think it’s funny that cock sounds like the noise a cock makes?

Bella: [sends voice memo of rooster noises.]

Me:

Summer: Bella. That’s not appropriate. He’s only 8!

Bella: You know I’d never make these jokes in front of him. This is my only outlet to get it out. Don’t rob me of this.

Lucy: It’s true. This DM is like her filter.

Me: I’ll allow it.

Summer: So are we going trick or treating together?

Lucy: I’m in, but we may call it an early night.

Bella: I’m in!

Me: I should probably check with Sawyer. Since he’s been spending so much time over here with his kids, mine will probably want to hang out with them.

Bella: I’m so winning this bet!

My phone lights up with an incoming FaceTime call from Summer, and I swipe to answer it.

“Oh my gosh,” she squeals, and I roll my eyes, already knowing what’s coming. “Is it official? Because if it’s not, I still have a chance to win this bet.”

I look off-screen, refusing to meet her gaze. “I don’t know what it is.”

“But you know what you want it to be?”