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“Did you win?” Andy asked as he let me into his apartment after the game Saturday night.

“You know, I’m reading Hamlet for you,” I teased him. “I can’t believe you didn’t come to the game.”

“First of all, you’re reading Hamlet for class.” He rolled his eyes. “Second, you didn’t ask me to come.”

“Well, for your information, we did win, thank you.” It was close though. Too close and Coach Tine was still pretty pissed. Mark and I just couldn’t get on the same page and I finally had to stop throwing to him altogether in the second half to keep from losing. “I brought your costume.”

“You’re not wearing one,” he said, raking his gaze over me.

“Sure I am,” I insisted. “I’m a football player.” I smoothed my hand over my high school letterman jacket.

He narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the bag I was holding out to him.

“If there’s a cheerleader outfit in there I’m going to punch you in the balls,” he warned me, reaching out to grab it out of my hand.

“Damn,” I said. “I didn’t even think of that.” I gave him a wide grin. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fully covered tonight.”

He opened the bag and threw it back at me, a cold, hard look etched on his face.

“What?” I said.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he complained. “I’m not wearing that.”

“You have to,” I insisted. “It’s a costume party.”

“I hate you.”

“I know, Princess.” I shoved the bag back into his arms. “Go change, we need to leave.”

He blew out an irritated sigh but took the costume into his room anyway. The minute his bedroom door closed, the front door opened and his sister walked into the apartment.

“Hello,” she said coolly.

“Hey,” I answered. “Are you coming to the party tonight?”

“The one the football team is throwing?” She shook her head. “I can’t. I’ve got too much studying to do.”

“Ugh,” I complained. “It’s Halloween. Does your whole family have something against fun?”

“No,” she said. “I think we just each have our own definition of it.”

“What are you two talking about?” Andy asked, walking out to join us in the living room.

“What the fuck are you wearing?” Caitlyn asked, her eyes wide as she looked at her brother.

“I didn’t pick it,” he said firmly. “Trevor thinks he’s funny.”

“Trevor’s right,” she said, giggling. “It’s so realistic.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “I decided to spring for the good one. That way you can use it again in the future.”

“Now I hate both of you,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Caitlyn, are you coming with us?”

“She said she has to study,” I told him. “I tried calling her lame, but that didn’t seem to sway her.”

“Excuse me for preferring books to spending the evening with a priest and a…what the hell are you supposed to be?”

“The ghost of Christmas past,” Andy answered her, tugging at his collar. “I can’t believe you bought me a fucking priest costume.”