The dessert table is equally impressive, but I’m more interested in the makeshift bar Seth has set up outside on the deck, where he appears to be serving Halloween-themed cocktails dressed as Gomez Addams.

“I’m going to get a drink,” I tell Scarlett.

“Okay,” she says. “I’ll make us plates and meet you outside.”

There are lights strung up on the deck. A few cocktail tables are arranged around a heat lamp. They’re covered in plastic cloths with fake flickering tea lights and real tiny pumpkins. I walk over to Seth, who I can tell is confused by my costume.

“You look . . .” he starts.

“Ridiculous,” I say. “Scarlett picked it. I’m being a good sport.”

“You look good, I was going to say.”

“Don’t lie to me, Gomez.” I set the bottle of Stoli on the bar. “For you.”

“Salted Karamel. Nice,” he says. “You want this? I’ve got a special menu.”

He points to a small chalkboard on the corner of the bar. In Ash’s perfect script it reads, Dracula’s Blood Orange Spritzer, Poison Apple Bourbon, Black Magic Margarita.

“The bourbon one, please,” I say. “What’s in it?”

“Jim Beam Apple, ginger beer, dash of cider, and a cinnamon stick.”

“Do I have to tip you?” I ask as he mixes my drink.

“No, but you could respond when I text you.”

He’s reached out a few times about how I’m healing, and I’ve either ignored him or replied using only random assortments of emojis.

“I’m fine, Seth,” I say. “A mere flesh wound.”

“Yeah, but—”

“I don’t want to think about it, all right?”

“All right,” he says, handing me my cocktail. “Cheers.”

“Thanks, Doc.” I gulp it down. “May I have another?”

His mouth hangs open.

I raise my bow and arrow. “May I have another, please?”

He closes his eyes for a few seconds. Finally, he says, “You may.”

“Are you stuck out here all night?”

“Not stuck,” he says. “I like playing bartender.”

“Well, then, we’ll be seeing a lot of each other this evening,” I say, accepting my second drink with a wink.

I turn around looking for Scarlett, but she must still be inside. There’s a couple dressed up like pirates whisper-fighting at one of the tables. I avoid them and head to the back of the deck to wait for Scarlett. I lean on the banister and scan the yard. There’s an epic swing set with multiple slides, climbing walls, swings, monkey bars. Ash had it custom built. Scarlett told me it cost three thousand dollars, which seems insane, but I guess I shouldn’t judge. I once spent close to that on a pair of heels.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, and I know it’s not Scarlett because of the size of the hand.

It’s Ian.

He’s in the same clothes he had on earlier, only now he wears a set of alien antennae on his head. They’ve each got a giant eyeball at the end. They’re pretty funny.