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He parked the car and jumped out when he saw my mom at my side. He was already dressed in his Thor outfit, looking far too tempting to be meeting one of my parents.

“You’re the cavalry?” I asked as Wes came around the front of his car.

“Apparently.” He smiled brightly before walking straight over to my mom and holding out his hand. “Ms. Grace, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“You too, Wes,” she said as she took his hand.

“How was your trip?” he asked.

“Long, but it was worth it to be here.” She looked his costume up and down as he stepped back from her. “And what are you dressed as?”

“Thor.” He grinned. “Really, I just wanted an excuse to walk around with a big hammer.”

Mom laughed. “Well, it’s very convincing.”

“Thanks. I like your costume too, but Isobel mentioned you go all out with your makeup, so I’ll reserve judgment until I see you later.”

“Just you wait, I’m going to be terrifying,” Mom said, making Wes chuckle.

“Well, now I can’t wait to see it.”

They chatted so easily. I should have known my mom and Wes would get along right away. Wes was so sweet; he was impossible not to like.

“We should get going,” I said. “Cress sounded really stressed in her text.”

Wes nodded. “I’ll see you tonight, Ms. Grace. I’ll do my best not to scream when I see you.”

Mom beamed in response. “I’d be offended if you didn’t.”

Wes grinned before he started over to his car while I turned to Mom.

“He seems sweet,” she said, lowering her voice so she wouldn’t be overheard. “And he’s very good-looking. I like him.”

“I do too,” I whispered with a grin. “Are you going to be okay here on your own?”

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “Besides, I'm not on my own. Matthew is around. I’ll text you when we arrive at the carnival later.”

I lifted my eyebrows. “You don’t mind going to the carnival with Matthew?”

“You’re fussing like a momma duck.” She waved my concern away. “Stop your worrying and run along. I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

I got into Wes’s car, and he grinned as my mom waved us off. “I like your mom.”

“She seems to like you too.”

“I mean, I’m the god of thunder, how could she not?”

I rolled my eyes at him.

“By the way, you’re not a very scary zombie waitress,” he said as he looked me over.

“That’s near-dead zombie waitress to you, and I’m clearly terrifying.”

“Clearly.” He laughed.

“I didn’t have time to do my zombie makeup,” I explained. “You’re not very scary either, you know.”