Chapter 3October 31
Dan glanced around the living room; there were no fires to put out, no awkward conversations to diffuse. Guests mingled around the first floor of the house, talking and laughing without getting cliquey. The music was set at the optimum volume for mingling and meandering. A sizable dent had been made in the snacks, but nothing had run out or been left untouched. Someone was always near the door when the trick-or-treaters rang, but the bowl or Reese’s cups was still half full.
Everything was perfect, and Dan had never been more stressed.
Of course, Troy hadn’t arrived yet. He’d mentioned to Dan that he would be late, so that wasn’t a surprise. But it did allow Dan more time to ruminate on the many ways things could go south. One of his more annoying cousins might show
