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“Willa, I think your garden witch costume should become part of your everyday attire. You look freaking adorable.”

She laughs at me. “I’m already dodging accusations of being a witch. I don’t think dressing like one is going to help.”

“Are people actually calling you that? Like to your face?” Gwen frowns. She also went with a witch theme for her costume, but she’s got more of a goth-rock vibe to her outfit, which fits her personality. I’m super envious of her black lace-up combat boots. They’re so freaking cute.

Willa softens. “Not in a mean or hateful way. I actually think they’re saying it as a compliment. A couple of people have come in singing my praises for whatever balm they’ve bought from me.”

“Oh, good. I was ready to throw some hands.”

Willa and I laugh at her comment. I hook an arm around Gwen’s waist and hug her to my side. “I am so glad to have you in our corner.”

“Same,” Willa says with a grin.

“Do you have a spot you guys want the s’mores stuff?”

It’s only because I have my arm around Gwen that I feel her stiffen at Emmett’s voice. I point at the end of the table. “Right over there would be perfect.”

He dips his chin in acknowledgment and sets the tray down. He stares at Gwen—who pretends to find the grass exceedingly interesting—for a long second.

Willa squints at him. “What are you dressed as?”

He looks down at his white suit. “A beekeeper, of course.”

The three of us roll our eyes simultaneously, which Emmett gets a huge kick out of as he walks away from the table. The white suit is a little on the nose, given his job. Then I get a look at his kids, Elijah and Emma, who are dressed as bees.

I have to say it. “Okay, that’s kind of cute.”

“Annoyingly cute,” Gwen grumbles.

Willa and I glance at each other before I look back at Gwen. “What’s with the tension between the two of you?”

Gwen tries to brush away my observation. “What? There’s no tension.”

Willa snorts. “Honey, you could cut it with a knife.”

“A super dull one,” I add.

Gwen deflates, knowing we won’t let her wave this away. “Yeah, okay. Things are weird between us. I don’t know how it started exactly, but I’ve made a fool of myself in front of that man more times than I can count. Now when I’m near him, I just get more and more embarrassed. Things are just plain awkward at this point, so I try to avoid him as much as possible.”

“Did he make you feel bad for being a little awkward?” Willa asks, ready to go to the mat for her the same way Gwen was earlier.

“No, not really. Well…he sort of looked at me like I was an insect he couldn’t properly name. But he didn’t make fun of me or anything. Now I can’t even make eye contact with him because I’m terrified I’ll blurt something stupid. The last time I tried to talk to him, I told him I liked his skin. Who fucking does that? It was so weird.”

I roll my lips between my teeth. Willa doesn’t seem to be faring much better in hiding her laughter. “Oh, honey.”

Gwen slaps her hands over her eyes and groans. “I knowwwww.”

“He doesn’t seem to think you’re weird,” Willa says carefully. “I daresay he has the hots for you.”

“He does not.” Gwen scoffs.

“Maybe he’s a little weirdo on the inside too and he likes your brand of weird,” I offer.

Gwen vehemently disagrees. “There’s no way. Nobody who looks like him would find my weirdness attractive. Besides, I can’t even talk to him without something dumb coming out of my mouth.”

Willa and I share a calculating look before I turn back to Gwen. “Okay, honey. Let’s go get you a drink, yeah?”

CHAPTER 24