Page 24 of FWB

Tiegan

I never get a response from Kenny about the selfies I sent.

Maybe he thought it was weird I sent him a picture that was fully clothed for once?

Rob, who is dressed up as a pirate—complete with a fake parrot and eye patch—and I are busy all morning working on the partner project.

I barely have time to check my phone throughout the day.

When I finally come up for air and head to the multipurpose room used for parties and get-togethers, I spot Jerome talking to Elizabeth and another girl I don’t recognize.

She’s dressed up as a very realistic rendition of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz , green skin and all.

I walk over to them and compliment everyone on their costumes.

Jerome is in a homemade mummy costume and Elizabeth is dressed as Tinker Bell.

I finally realize after hearing her voice that the Wicked Witch is Alyssa.

Eventually, Alyssa and Elizabeth get in line to sample the chili brought in for the cook-off. I’m left alone with Jerome.

“Have you seen Kenny today?” I ask when I’m sure there’s no one around to overhear.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t. I think I overheard Max telling Marty that he called in sick at the last minute this morning. Something about a stomach bug.”

“Damn. I texted him earlier, but it’s been radio silence on his end after he told me Happy Birthday. I was worried something happened to him. Maybe I’ll text him again and check on him.”

“I think that sounds very kind of you,” he says with a smirk under his wrappings.

“Don’t get this twisted. I would be worried about you, too, if you were the one ghosting me!”

“I highly doubt he’s ghosting you. He’s probably just puking his guts out right now, and texting people isn’t high on his priority list.”

I sigh. “You’re probably right. I have no reason to think he’d be avoiding me. Especially not on my birthday.”

“Oh, my god! That’s right. Happy birthday! Michelle and I got a sitter tonight so we can come to your shindig.”

“Thank you! And yay! I’m so excited that both of you are going to be there. I had so much fun getting to know Michelle at your game night. We text constantly about books.”

“Oh, trust me. I know. She’s always coming to me saying ‘Tiegan told me I need to read this, so I downloaded it on my Kindle’—using my card.”

I give him a guilty smile and shrug my shoulders. “I can’t help it your wife and I have the same taste in books!”

“Eh, I don’t mind. I end up benefiting from it in the end, if you catch my drift,” he says with a wink.

I laugh. “I think I’m picking up what you’re putting down.”

Jerome and I pick out our samplings of chili and grab two seats with Elizabeth and Alyssa. I shoot Kenny a quick text:

Tiegan: Word around the office is that you’re sick. I guess you won’t be able to come to the party tonight. :( Want me to bring you some of the winning chili and some saltines after work?

I put my phone away and focus on the conversation going on amongst my friends that I’ve grown to care immensely for over these past several months at Kroger.

I see Rob sitting at a table with Larry, who is not in costume.

Neither is the Ice Queen sitting next to him.

Rob and Larry are enjoying their chili samplings, while Patricia nibbles on her salad that she brought from home—dressing on the side, naturally. I roll my eyes.

About fifteen minutes before lunch is over, Larry gets up in the front of the room to announce the winners of the costume contest. I’m gunning for Best Makeup.

I know Alyssa looks great with her prosthetic nose, but I took so much time and put so much detail into my makeup.

I used a white foundation mix-in as my base, then went in with a waterproof liquid eyeliner to draw the spiderwebs on my forehead and chin, as well as the outline of the flowers surrounding my eyes, two holes over my nose to give the illusion of a skull’s lack of nose, and the skull teeth on my mouth.

Next, I got to work on contouring my cheekbones with a light gray eyeshadow, giving the effect of hollow shadows.

Then, it was time for the fun part: eyeshadow.

I grabbed my most colorful palette and got to work.

I used every color of the rainbow and then some, shading each petal of the drawn flower a different hue until there were no spaces left.

Taking a pot of gel eyeliner, I generously applied the black ink over my eyelids, under my lower lash line, and just above my eyebrows.

Finally, I went back to my eyeshadow palette and chose the shade with the most glitter—a stunning black and gold shimmer.

My makeup, plus the adorable skeleton dress I’m wearing with my favorite pair of black heels, should make me a shoo-in for at least one of the prizes.

Larry begins, “Alright, settle down, everyone. We’ll announce the winner of the Chili Cook-Off in about forty-five minutes. Everyone has until one to submit your vote for your favorite chili. But for now, I’m pleased to announce the winners of our annual costume contest!”

There are a few stray “Woo’s” throughout the room in response.

Larry continues, “We have three categories—Most Creative, Best Makeup, and Best Overall Costume. Good luck to everyone who participated. Everyone looks great!” He plasters on his fake smile.

“Alright, first up: Most Creative. And the winner is …” His smile falters slightly. “Jerome Presley dressed as The Mummy.”

The room erupts in applause and cheers as Jerome makes his way to the front to collect his prize, a gold medal with the words “Most Creative Costume” and a cartoon monster etched on the medallion.

“I would like to thank my kids for coming up with the idea–”

“This isn’t really a speech-giving kind of event.”

I snort a laugh, and Larry shoots me a scathing look. I squirm back in my chair.

“Oh, my bad,” Jerome says, shooting Larry his most dazzling smile before coming back to sit at our table.

“Anyways, next up is Best Makeup. And the winner is … Jessica Sanchez!”

I deflate as a girl with very impressive zombie makeup limps up to the front of the room, playing the part. She even pretends to bite Larry’s fingers as he hands over the medal. That gets a laugh out of everyone.

Jerome looks at me and says, “I’m sorry you didn’t win Best Makeup. I voted for you if that makes you feel any better.”

“It’s okay. It’s hard to compete with that, “ I say, throwing my thumb over my shoulder towards Jessica, who is hobbling her way back to her table, pretending to eat the brains of various colleagues as she passes by.

“Yeah, she’s really selling it, isn’t she?” We both laugh.

Larry clears his throat and we return our attention to the hulking figure at the front of the room, still holding one medal. “Finally, the winner for Best Costume and the Grand Prize of a $50 gift card to Assembly Food Hall is … Drumroll, please.”

Everyone beats their hands against the tables, waiting to see who is going to take home the big money.

“Alyssa Price who is dressed as The Wicked Witch of the West! Come on down and collect your prize!”

Alyssa is a pretty shy person, so she slowly makes her way to the front while the whole room claps and cheers. Even though she’s painted green, I can see a hint of a blush on her cheeks.

She accepts the medal and shakes Larry’s extended hand, leaving him green in return.

I huff another silent laugh as he pulls his hand away, trying to hide his disgust.

Alyssa mutters out a quick, “Sorry,” before scurrying back to our table, totally embarrassed.

The rest of the day passes by fairly quickly.

I check my phone every chance I get, hoping to hear something from Kenny.

I get dozens of messages and notifications with “Happy Birthday” well-wishes from friends, but none of them are who I want to hear from right now.

Yes, Kenny texted me this morning, then it’s like he fell off the face of the earth.

He didn’t even tell me he was sick and not coming in today.

I decide to shoot him one more text before my guests start to arrive at the house I rented out for my party tonight.

Tiegan: Hey, I’m really worried about you. I wish you would at least text me back and let me know you’re alive. Please?

As soon as I hit SEND, the doorbell rings. Kiersten is the first to arrive. She’s dressed like a slutty angel. Her husband, Trevor, is right behind her dressed in a Kermit the Frog onesie. I usher them inside and out of the chilly October night air.

As soon as she’s in the door, she wraps me in the fiercest hug. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” she squeals in my ear.

I pull away, afraid of going deaf. “Thank you. And thank you both for coming early to help set up.” I lean over to hug Trevor.

Kiersten and Trevor are high school sweethearts.

I didn’t meet them until my freshman year of college, their sophomore year.

We instantly became inseparable. We even lived together for about a year before they got married the fall of their senior year.

I consider Trevor as much of a brother to me as I do Kiersten a sister.

“Of course! We wouldn’t miss this.” Trevor beams.

“What do you need us to do first?” Kiersten adds.

I give them the task of arranging the food to look aesthetically pleasing and yet gruesome. Because, hello , it’s Halloween! I also put Trevor to work on hanging up the streamers and blowing up the balloons that are to be scattered along the living room/makeshift dance floor.

While Kiersten and I are getting the alcohol set up and the coolers filled with ice, she turns to me and nonchalantly asks, “So am I going to finally get to meet this mystery man you’ve given me breadcrumbs about?”