Filed to story: Luci Forrester and Easton Reed: Hockey Romance Story
Not long after I returned home with the two energetic boys on Halloween, Sydney arrived to join us. Their excitement was palpable, and I couldn’t help but feel a rush of joy myself. Cole’s enthusiasm was truly infectious.
We all slipped into our costumes, with Cole and Barrett playfully teasing us for not matching them.
“Um, I match Luci, so it works,” Syd laughed, defending our fashion choices.
I drove us to Hedgewood Estates, parking near the entrance. “Time to walk, guys. Unless Lord Vader can make us float,” I teased, glancing back at Cole.
He flashed me a grin, deepening his voice as he replied, “The Force isn’t that strong today.”
“Ouch!” I exclaimed quietly to Syd, and we both burst into laughter as we hopped out to begin our adventure.
Halloween had always been a favorite holiday of mine as a child. The ability to create your own costume for trick-or-treating meant I could fully participate in the festivities. I recalled the year I went with Sydney and her brother, the very first year we became friends. She had dressed me up as a purple fairy while she was a green one, and her brother joined us as some kind of wizard. We had so much fun, and the memories washed over me like a warm wave.
But then I glanced down at Cole’s beaming face, and the thought of him stuck in a nursery tonight with a nanny and a one-year-old baby made my heart heavy. He was so excited about his costume, and it felt wrong that he wouldn’t get to enjoy the night fully.
I had dressed up every year since Barrett was two when we started taking him along. Banning would join us too if he was home, but this was the second Halloween in a row he had been deployed.
“Luci! Look at all the games and stuff at this house!” Cole exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder.
“This is my old boss’s house, Mrs. Rachel. She loves kids. Come on!” I beckoned, feeling a surge of nostalgia.
For the next thirty minutes, the boys dove into every game Rachel and her husband had set up, laughter and joy echoing around us.
Easton
“Isn’t there any way you can text her to figure out where they are on this street?” Becker questions, his eyes scanning the throng of kids in their elaborate costumes, excitement buzzing in the air.
“Because she’s probably too busy having fun to bother with her phone,” I reply, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice. Cole had mentioned that Barrett was dressing up as Batman, so all we need to do is find a Batman and a Darth Vader. How difficult could that possibly be?
We had decided to embrace Cole’s Star Wars theme for Halloween this year. I had taken on the role of Boba Fett, Jackson donned the armor of a Storm Trooper, Kingston transformed into Chewbacca, and Becker, in a clever twist, opted for Han Solo, complete with an authentic Han mask to ensure his identity remained a secret.
“How are we going to escape from Annalise Floyd’s party?” Jackson murmurs, glancing at me with a hint of concern.
“I’ve got it all figured out. I hired two guys who are about our height to pose as me and Jackson for thirty minutes, then they’ll switch and go as you two,” I explain, feeling a sense of pride in my resourcefulness.
“Impressive work tonight,” Becker says, his tone filled with admiration.
I huff in response, knowing he’s aware of how much this Halloween means to me after the disappointment of last year. Cole had been bedridden with the flu, forcing us to skip the celebration entirely. This year, I had repeatedly pleaded with Coach to let us out of practice early or to schedule it earlier in the day. Each time, he had stubbornly refused, leaving me with no choice but to ensure practice was completely canceled. There was no way I was going to miss out on Halloween again.
Jackson gives me a curious look. “Did Luci dress up for this?”
“I have no idea,” I admit, my curiosity piqued.
Kingston chuckles softly. “I can hear her.”
And I can too. The sound of her delighted laughter rings out, calling Barrett’s name. We follow the sound, leading us to an expansive yard transformed into a Halloween wonderland.
There, we find them near two poles that resemble the start of a race. Nearby, a round tub filled with rubber ducks and another containing apples for bobbing beckon the children. A fire crackles, providing warmth and a spot for roasting s’mores and hot dogs on a table nearby.
In an instant, Cole takes off racing, and I hear Luci cheering for him, accompanied by another female voice. Their enthusiasm is reminiscent of a hockey game, filled with energy and excitement.
I turn to locate her and am taken aback. Luci is dressed in the Starlight costume from the show *The Boys*, her outfit complete with stunning white and gold knee-high boots.
“Wow,” Becker breathes, clearly impressed.
“Who’s her friend?” Jackson asks, tearing his gaze from Luci to the blonde standing beside her.
She’s dressed as Queen Maeve from the same series. “That’s an incredible costume,” I remark.
“Which one?” Kingston grins, gesturing toward a group of boys who are openly admiring the girls. “And check it out-looks like they’ve got some interested jailbait.”
The boys appear to be around seventeen, at best. I watch them whisper and laugh until one of them finally gathers the courage to approach Luci and her friend.
“This should be interesting. She has a way of putting East in his place,” Becker chuckles, a smirk spreading across his face.
As he speaks, I see Luci craning her neck to get a better look at the boy. Finally, she raises her hand to him, sidestepping his advances with grace.
“Cole, please keep an eye on the firepit,” she instructs, her voice firm yet kind. Cole nods, bobbing his head beneath the weight of his Darth Vader helmet.
Turning back to the young Romeo, she says, “Sorry, but I don’t think we’re in your age range. It was nice meeting you, though.”
He looks momentarily taken aback. “I like older women,” he replies, a hint of bravado in his tone.
Her friend, amused by the exchange, chimes in, “Yeah, well, we don’t fancy going to jail for your ‘older women’ habit. There were some pretty ladies in your age range dressed as Black Widow and Supergirl who passed by just ten minutes ago. They were eyeing your group pretty hard. Go check them out, Punisher.”