“Trick or… treating?”

  Taylor looked down at him, hands on her hips. Months ago, she would have rolled her eyes or clucked impatiently. Now, she passively offered him her hand.

  “Trick or treat,” she started, grunting as she hauled Ever up, “is a game that we play where we visit random houses in a street, dressed up as scary monsters, knock on their doors then say, ‘trick or treat’!”

  “...and then?”

  “And then,” she said, dusting herself off, “if the people at the doors say ‘treat’, they give us candy and stuff.”

  “What if they say ‘trick’?”

  “I…” she crossed her arms, looking up at her decorations. “I don’t know. I’ve always taken the candy either way. Could you help me put this tinsel up?”

  Ever acquiesced, stepping up on the short ladder, attaching it to the wall, shifting it along to get it all the way across. It was done in a couple minutes and the two of them moved the tables and chairs back to their rightful places. They took their own rightful places back as well, behind the serving area. Ever looked up at the clock: 10:21.

  “Have any customers come in yet?” He asked.

  “Nope.”

  “It’s been a lot quieter since –”

  “I left?”

  Ever glanced pointed at her. “Since the fall started.”

  “Oh.”

  They stood there for a moment, side by side, not too close but not too far apart either. A customer did come in: several of them in fact. It was a daycare group of a few teachers and their kids wearing neon yellow vests. They came in pairs, holding hands. As if their eyes weren’t already big enough, they became even bigger coming into an ice cream shop decked out in Halloween decorations. It took a good twenty minutes to serve them all, after which they bustled back out to sit on the grass in Ever’s park to enjoy their ice creams.

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  “Chaos would have loved seeing all these kiddos,” Taylor said.

  “He didn’t come back.”

  “I know, Unc told me.”

  “Taylor.” He turned to her. She pressed her lips together, like she knew what was coming. “Why didn’t you come back?”

  “I’m here now, aren't I?”

  “No,” Ever said, shaking his head. “You could have said something sooner.”

  “I’ve been busy.” She crossed her arms and looked away. “You know I’ve been busy. I’m preparing to go to Mexico.”

  He wanted to ask where Mexico was, but it could wait. “Were you going to tell me?”

  “Of course! I just…” she twisted the bracelet - Ever’s bracelet - on her wrist fretfully. “I just needed some time. I was going to tell you.”

  Ever shifted his weight from one hip to another.

  “You’re a bitch.”

  Taylor’s jaw slammed into the ground. “What did you call me?”

  Death gasped in his mind. Be right back, gonna prepare for your imminent return to the Underworld.

  Ever raised his hands taking a step back. “That was what Logan called you!”

  “You,” she stabbed him in the chest with her finger, “just called me that.”

  “Wait,” he grabbed her wrist. She launched her other hand at him, which he grabbed with his other hand. “You hurt me.”

  Her eyes flickered back and forth between his, searching for a lie - and found none.

  “You hurt me,” he repeated, “But I forgive you.” He let go of her hands, which she gradually lowered.

  The door dinged cheerfully again, oblivious to the conversation that had just happened.

  “Welcome to Pagoto’s!” Taylor greeted, all smiles. “What would you like to try today?”