Up to the Challenge by Snyder Maria V

Author:Snyder, Maria V. [Snyder, Maria V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781946381132
Amazon: B09SP7WPR4
Goodreads: 60474125
Publisher: Maria V. Snyder
Published: 2022-04-01T07:00:00+00:00

Halloween festivities started at midnight. Most citizens gave up sleep for this once a year chance to be outside without a mask and robe. Enzo collected me and we walked through the plazas hand in hand. I’d worried my skittish nature wouldn’t allow me to enjoy the day, but with the streets filled with people without masks, I just blended in. I relaxed.

Jugglers, comedians, and acrobats entertained the revelers. Young children collected candy from those who stayed inside. We sipped wine and ate linguini mixed with a white clam sauce. The sun peeked out from time to time.

By mid-afternoon, we collapsed onto a bench exhausted.

“You’re so fun to watch,” Enzo said. “It’s like all this is new to you.”

“It is,” I confessed. “My father never let me go out on Halloween until I was eighteen. And that first year…” Bianca had told the truth about me.

He laughed over my hiding in a dark corner. “This year is already better.”

Yes. Much better. My life had started and I planned to embrace it.

“Come on.” Enzo pulled me to my feet. “The Harlequins are putting on a show in Piccione Plaza. You don’t want to miss that!”

He was right. I hadn’t laughed so hard…ever. My sides hurt and tears rolled down my cheeks. Afterwards, we ate in a sidewalk café and then headed to Bianca’s party.

Since the rain held off, her family set up in the street outside their bakery. A band played and pyramids of pastries filled the tables.

Bianca squealed when she spotted us. “You came!”

“Don’t act so surprised,” I said.

“I was talking to Enzo,” she teased.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said.

After she introduced us to a few of her friends, Enzo asked me to dance. The evening flew by as we stuffed ourselves with creamy cannoli and burned off the sweets on the dance floor.

Despite the party, I couldn’t completely shake my worries. During one break, I sought Bianca for a private chat, pulling her inside the bakery for a moment.

“Have the Halloween Men asked you about me?” I inquired.

“No. Since I stopped selling your masks no one has asked. Why?”

“Just checking.” Relief raised my spirits. The Halloween Men hadn’t taken any more notice of me since that time when I spilled my cart.

Enzo and I left the party with barely enough time to reach my house. At midnight the Halloween Men would return to the streets. We ran through the city, laughing and jumping over puddles.

Slipping inside one forty-two, we gasped for breath. Mere minutes later, the bell tolled midnight.

“Looks like I’m stuck here,” Enzo said with a sly smile. “I left my mask at home.”

I opened my mouth to remind him I had a dozen of them upstairs, but clamped it shut as he closed the distance between us.

Enzo wrapped his arms around me and kissed me. Heat spiked, shooting to my core and igniting another new, but wonderful feeling. I desired more.

He broke away and gazed at me, questioning.

“Guess you’ll just have to spend the night,” I said.

“Rotten luck,” he murmured, tangling his fingers in my hair.

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