October Kiss Page #5

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Like a really smart smartphone.

I take it you've got your costume?

Are you kidding?

I haven't missed a Halloween

since I was two.

Hmm.

Which was 20 years ago.

- Right.

- I'm super young.

Zoe told me you were 28.

Did she?

I love her.

I'm 34,

in case you're wondering.

Oh, I wasn't.

I googled you.

I googled you.

Well, you had to you're a techie,

you Google everyone.

Well, not everyone.

Ooh, what about this one?

For the front porch?

Uh, yeah,

I kind of like that one.

Whoa.

That one's like a pumpkin

ate a pumpkin.

Hey, go big or go home.

How much do you think it weighs?

Listen,

just 'cause I'm a techie,

doesn't mean I can't

lift a pumpkin.

I can't... lift the pumpkin.

Okay, I'm gonna help you.

I'm comin' in.

Ooh, gosh, it's really heavy.

Right?

I feel like you've got

most of the weight.

I think I do, actually.

Ready?

Yup.

It feels squishy!

Like worms.

Dad, gross!

Are you sure?

I thought you loved eating worms.

No.

Get in there.

Dad...

Okay, let's talk costumes.

Time to get serious.

All right.

I'm going to be a witch.

Good witch or bad witch?

A good witch.

Good luck with that.

Dad...

What about you, buddy?

I'm gonna be a spider.

Really?

Poppy says the best way

to get over your fears

is to face them.

Well, I...

I couldn't agree more.

You're going to make

a great spider, bud.

I'm going to scare everybody.

Except for yourself.

Hey, actually, you know,

there's a costume shop

near where I work. We could...

Costume shop?

That's for amateurs.

We're gonna make our costumes.

Really?

Yeah, my sister does it every year.

Wow.

Okay.

Thanks for making our dad

spend time with us.

Hey, I didn't make him do anything.

You guys showed him

what he was missing.

All right...

Hey, dad?

Yeah?

After we're done carving pumpkins,

can you make your special hamburgers?

That's a great idea.

Um, you know, maybe Poppy

can help with that.

You're going back to work?

No, I've got a...

I've got a dinner thing.

With Abigail?

Y-yeah. How did you...

Italian again?

Hey, why don't we go to dinner?

How does pizza sound?

- Really?

- Yeah!

I know a great place downtown,

and I think the manager likes me,

so we could get extra toppings.

All right, well,

looks like you guys

have things covered here.

Um, I'm gonna go head up

and get ready.

Okay.

All right, let's finish

carving these pumpkins.

I don't like this Abigail person.

You can't dislike someone

you've never met.

But he's gonna marry her,

and she's gonna be our new mom.

Whoa.

It's only their second date.

A lot has to happen

between date number two

and "let's get married."

Besides, no one could ever

replace your mom.

But we don't like her.

Yeah. We like you.

I like you guys, too.

But you can like

more than one person.

You should marry our dad.

Who here likes pineapple pizza?

Hey, our dad likes pineapple pizza.

You could have that

at your wedding.

And gummy worms!

You could have

a gummy worm wedding cake.

You know who could

perform the ceremony, this guy.

He'd be like,

"you may now kiss the bride."

Well, I'm glad

you could make it out tonight.

It's funny,

I feel like I'm still

getting used to

the whole dating thing.

The Cologne tipped me off.

Too much?

Maybe a little.

Hopefully, it will

dissipate by Halloween.

Well, I can wait.

Good.

To be honest,

I haven't really dated

since my wife died.

You know, I think it's really great

that you're getting back out there,

especially with me.

I mean, you don't even

have to worry

about making a good

first impression,

because I'm already impressed.

Likewise.

Look at us,

impressing each other.

You okay?

Uh, yeah, yeah.

Actually, I'm, uh...

I think my kids are a little worried

that I'm dating again.

They probably think

I'm trying to replace their mom.

You know, it's like in business.

When one company

takes over another,

the employees are always worried

they're going to be replaced

with new staff.

Yeah.

I just don't think

it has to be that way.

You know, we just need to show

Zoe and Zach

that nobody is being replaced.

I like the sound of that.

Yeah.

Hey.

Wow, these are award-winning.

How was your date?

Not exactly award-winning.

But, uh, it was okay, I guess.

Oh.

But she wants to go out again.

Oh.

So that's something.

That is something.

Is it?

Yeah.

Because I'm not sure

the kids are gonna like the idea.

Oh, I think that's probably natural.

Yeah?

Well...

Thanks again

for...

Everything.

You're welcome.

For everything.

Oh.

I was getting my keys.

Sorry, I...

I saw you go in for the lean,

I thought you were...

I-I thought we were...

Uh, hugging.

Hug? That's what that was?

A hug?

Well...

It was more, sort of,

hug adjacent.

Yeah.

Which is okay, right?

We're friends.

I mean...

Friends... friends hug.

Yeah.

"Hugs with friends."

Another new app.

There you go.

I owe you again.

Okay, I'm just...

I'm just getting my bag.

Okay, I'll stay away.

Bye, friend.

Bye... friend.

Hugs with friends?

It was the pinnacle of awkward.

Well, did you hug him back?

No, it wasn't romantic.

It was a misunderstanding.

Well, everything

happens for a reason.

Oh, would you not make this

into something it's not?

Because this is

what you do, Poppy.

You run when things get good.

Yeah, what if they're too good?

It means they might end badly.

No, it doesn't have to.

See, this is complicated, Meg.

Like, it's not just about me.

Zach and Zoe want me

to marry their dad.

It's not fair for them to think

that something might happen

between Ryan and I

when it can't.

And why can't it, exactly?

He's my boss.

Temporarily.

He's on date number two

with Abigail,

and date number three is pending.

Oh.

And he asked me for dating advice.

"Oh," again.

You know,

I couldn't ask for a better sister.

But...?

You've been here

for me and the kids.

And I appreciate every minute,

every dragon pillow fight,

and Mac and cheese.

Where are you going with this?

You've committed to us,

but...

We can't be the only

commitment that you make.

Go down a little lower.

Little lower.

Lower.

Oof.

Good.

This is awesome.

Glad you approve.

I do.

Question,

do you think we need

more decorations?

Absolutely,

but then you would need

a bigger house.

Where are the young 'uns?

Uh, they're upstairs

brushing their teeth.

You didn't?

What?

Candy for breakfast?

Oh, it's just one little piece.

Cream, two sugars?

Black, one sugar?

If somebody came in here and saw us,

they'd think we were

some old married couple.

Old?

Super old.

How many decades

have we been together?

Three?

We met...

On a blind date.

On a blind date, yes.

We had a small wedding.

A big wedding,

and we honeymooned at Niagara Falls.

No, see, you thought

it was Niagara Falls,

but that's just because

the toilet overflowed

in the airport hotel

when our flight was canceled.

Ah, I remember now.

Yes, and instead,

we stayed up the whole night

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