You're My Boo: A Friends-to-Lovers Halloween Romance Read online

  You’re My Boo

  A Friends-To-Lovers Halloween Romance

  Frankie Love

  Contents

  About

  1. Noah

  2. Lucy

  3. Noah

  4. Lucy

  5. Noah

  6. Lucy

  7. Noah

  8. Lucy

  9. Noah

  10. Lucy

  11. Noah

  EPILOGUE

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  About the Author

  Copyright © 2020 by Frankie Love

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  About

  You’re My Boo

  A Friends-To-Lovers Halloween Romance

  By Frankie Love

  We’ve had this tradition ever since we were kids:

  Lucy and I pick out matching costumes for Halloween.

  We’re best friends; we go together like peanut butter and jelly.

  Thing is, I’ve loved Lucy since the third grade.

  But she put me in the friend zone a long-ass time ago.

  I want out.

  This Halloween I’m making my intentions clear.

  If she’s the light socket, I’m the electrical plug.

  And it’s about to get charged…

  Dear Reader,

  Screw trick or treating, Noah is the only candy I need!

  This alpha may be a player in Lucy’s eyes, but he’s ready to score the girl he’s always truly loved.

  Grab a sucker from the candy basket and take a lick, sweetcheeks. You deserve it.

  xo, frankie

  Chapter One

  Noah

  Knowing Lucy is going to be ten minutes late, I decide to cross the street to grab us coffees before we head into the craziness that is Costume Corner, made extra crazy today because it's the day before Halloween. When I enter the coffee shop, I immediately regret my decision. Betty is standing by the counter, and the moment she sees me, she rolls her eyes.

  “What are you doing here, Noah? I'm not supposed to be talking to you.”

  “Oh, and why is that?” I ask, knowing full well why I’m getting attitude. That’s the problem with being from the small Navy town of Monday Harbor. Everyone here knows all your business. It’s one of the reasons I was so set on getting out four years ago when I enlisted in the Navy. Being home on leave for the last month means I’m once again hanging out with my high school friends who never left town.

  “Because Natalia says you're on her shit list. You broke her heart.”

  “I did not break her heart. We were hanging out for a few weeks, that was all. She knew the deal,” I say.

  Betty smirks. “Same way I knew it when we were in school?”

  “Are you still holding a grudge because of our one-night stand? We were seventeen.”

  “No,” she says, waving her hands as if it’s old news. Which it is. “I’m just supposed to be mad at you because my best friend is.”

  “Natalia and I were a terrible match. She knows that. I know that. All we did was argue. Picking up old fights.”

  “Oh, so that's the reason, that's the excuse you're using now? The girl is too argumentative? When we were together—”

  I interrupt, “We weren't together. I stayed over one night.”

  “Okay. But the reason you said we couldn't be a thing was because I don't like to travel. And I know you told Shirley that since she'd never read Robinson Crusoe, you could never be together. And the reason you told Tabitha you couldn't go out anymore was because she hadn't memorized the entire Wayne's World movie. Your bar is ridiculously high. No girl is all of these random things.”

  I shrug, not telling her just how wrong she is. There is one girl who is all of these things and more.

  “Whatever,” she says, “Natalia's pissed. Therefore, I am too.” Then she scrunches up her nose and laughs. “But I can make you coffee. What do you want?”

  I chuckle. This town has always been way too small for my liking. I wouldn't be here at all if it weren't for Lucy, my best and oldest friend, the girl who I never had a chance with because she put me in the friend zone back in third grade. “I’ll take two double tall pumpkin spice lattes,” I say, inserting my debit card into the chip reader.

  “Let me guess, you’re getting Lucy’s coffee?”

  “Yeah, we’re meeting up to get our costumes.”

  “A little last minute, isn’t it?”

  I nod, knowing she’s right, and worrying there won’t be any options left for us. It’s weird, because every year since forever, we’ve had a plan for Halloween. Well, every year except last, when I was out to sea. “She’s been crazy busy with finals and work.”

  “But you’ll be at Jake’s Halloween party tomorrow, right?” she asks.

  I nod. “Of course, I’d never miss it.”

  “And you're going with Lucy?”

  I nod. “Yeah. Tradition.”

  “Well, FYI, Natalia is going to be there.”

  “I figured,” I say. “I’m sure the whole crew will be there, right?”

  Betty nods. “It's a small town, too small, especially for you, when you've slept with practically every girl within a five-year age range.”

  “I feel like my reputation proceeds me, and I'm not hurting anyone. I’m just having fun. Everyone knows what to expect.”

  Betty nods. “Sure,” she says. “And what does Lucy think?”

  “Lucy? Lucy is...” I run a hand through my hair, not wanting to discuss the real reason I ended things with Natalia. I’m leaving town again soon and I can’t leave without finally being honest with my best friend. “You know how Lucy is.”

  Betty gives me a sad smile. “Way too good for you?”

  “God, thanks a lot,” I say, taking the coffee then looking across the street at the costume shop, scouting to see if Lucy's arrived.

  “Well good luck with the costume hunting,” Betty says. “And if Natalia asks, we didn't have this conversation. Remember, I'm pissed at you for her.”

  “Right,” I say, “see you later, Bets.”

  “Bye,” she says, waving her fingers at me as I leave the coffee shop, the crisp fall air on my face and the oak leaves crunching under my feet.

  As I cross the street once more I see Lucy round the corner in a mid-thigh black skirt. She's wearing thick black tights printed with skulls and crossbones, Doc Martens with pink satin laces and a pink sweater with a giant black skull across the front. Her pink hair is flowing behind her as she runs toward the costume shop.

  I call out for her. “Hey, Luce!”

  She beams when she sees me. “You got coffee?” She wraps her arms around my waist. “God, I need caffeine, bad. I’m running on fumes, for reals.”

  I'm six foot five, and she's five-two. Despite her small stature, I’ve always held her up on a pedestal. And even though we’ve been best friends since we were kids, the last few years have been hard. I know long-distance relationships are tough — but I never considered the fact a long-distance friendship could be so difficult. I’ve been home a few times, and she came to visit me when I was stationed in Naples, but it isn’t the same. I’ve missed her.

  “One pumpkin spice latte for you,” I say, “and one for me.”

  “Thanks Noah.�
�� She takes a sip, gushing in delight. “This is so good. And to think we have all of November to enjoy the pumpkin goodness that the world has to offer.”

  “If you’re in the mood for goodness, what's up with the skulls and crossbones?”

  She laughs, looking down at her outfit. “Is it a little dark?”

  I grin. “Well, the pink offsets the foreboding Grim Reaper aesthetic.”

  “I just thought it was funny. And lately with work and school, I feel like I'm in hell.” She shrugs, laughing.

  “Have the exams been killer?” I ask, pulling open the door to Costume City, the shop we've been walking into every Halloween since we were eight years old.

  “More than killer. You know how I get with tests.”

  I smile, remembering the SATs. She was such a basket case she refused any social activities for six weeks leading up to them. “I do.”

  “I just don't want to fail,” she says.

  “You're not going to fail. You've been in nursing school for four years. This is your dream. It's going to happen.”

  “You think?” she asks.

  “I know,” I tell her confidently. And I do. Lucy may be nervous about her tests and her test-taking ability, but she's the smartest girl I've ever met, bright and funny and cute and... I run a hand over my jaw. I need to get a grip. I need to tell Lucy the truth.

  “What's wrong?” she asks.

  “Nothing. I just...”

  “Let me guess. You and Natalia are in another fight?” She rolls her eyes as she begins walking down a row of costumes.

  The store is ridiculously picked through, though. And there are hardly any options for us. This is going to be difficult. “Yeah. I got in more than a fight with her,” I tell her, “I ended things.”

  Lucy freezes, her eyes growing wide, and she lifts her finger in the air, ready to say I told you so, but she doesn't. “I'm sorry. Is it going to be awkward?” she asks slowly, as if choosing her words with extra care.

  “What's with this new tone?” I ask. “And why do you care? Natalia has always annoyed you.”

  “I know, but I've been thinking maybe I'm too judgmental. Maybe the reason you've never settled down, the reason you're always playing the field, is because I pick apart every girl you date. Maybe I'm the problem here.”

  “You are not the problem,” I say adamantly, lying. She is the problem, just not for the reason she thinks.

  “Oh really? Because I feel like our relationship threatens every chance you might have to have more than a few weeks of fun with a girl. It's always a fling or a hookup or...”

  I cut her off. “We don't need to talk about my love life. Shouldn't we be looking for costumes?”

  Lucy tenses. “Love life?” she asks with emphasis. “I didn't realize we were talking about you being in love with any of these girls.”

  “I'm not,” I say. “I wasn't, it's not like that. I'm just saying.” I run a hand over my neck, hating that I let fear drive my decisions for so long. Fear of losing her. “Do you really want to do this here? Now?”

  She shrugs. “I don't know. Why don’t you see a future with Natalia? You’ve known her nearly as long as you’ve known me.”

  We flip through hangers of witch hats and black cloaks, nothing jumping out at us. “She didn't work with my list.”

  Lucy smirks. “Oh, we’re back to your magical, ethereal, painstakingly curated checklist.”

  I laugh. “You're in a mood. Aren't you, Lucy?”

  “Yes,” she says, “I am. I've never seen this alleged list you've created depicting the perfect partner, but I hate to break it to you, Noah, this pixie dream girl doesn't exist. Otherwise you'd already have her. God knows you've dated everyone in town and across the ocean.”

  “Lucy, I haven't dated anyone across the ocean. When I'm out to sea, I’m stacked like a sardine on a Navy carrier. It's not exactly the place to carry out illicit affairs.”

  “Maybe not,” she says, “but...”

  “There are no buts,” I say, cutting her off. I pull out a costume. “Clowns?” I ask.

  She shoves it back. “No way.” Then she immediately pulls out an 80s rocker leotard.

  “I'm not wearing that,” I say.

  “Why not?” she asks. “I think you'd look good in Spandex.”

  “Nobody looks good in Spandex.”

  She shrugs. “I don't know. I look pretty good in Spandex.”

  We tense for a moment. I want to tell her she'd look fucking incredible in that costume, because it's the truth. But I don't. Maybe because it's too close to what I really want to say. I want you, I need you. I ended things with Natalia because I'm so over the casual thing when you're the only one I've ever wanted.

  I don't say anything. And neither does she. Instead she shrugs it off, jamming the hanger back on the rack and pulling out a police officer uniform. I shake my head. “No way. I don't think you'd have it in you to get handcuffed by me.”

  Her cheeks turn bright red. “You know what? You have no idea what I’ve got it in me to do.”

  “Okay. Well, why don't you enlighten me, Lucy. What have you been handcuffed to that you haven't shared with me?”

  Her eyes narrow, but if she’s contemplating shock and awe, she decides against it. Instead she drops the topic and changes the subject.

  “I went out last week.”

  I nearly spit out my drink. “With who?”

  “Charlie Ham.”

  “You went out with Sammy Hammy?”

  “His name's Charlie. I don't know why anyone gave him that nickname in the first place. It's really unfair.”

  “And you did some kinky shit with him, he handcuffed you to something?”

  Lucy twists her lip. “It wasn't a date. He was just helping me with my exam. He's a nurse. Did you know that? He finished two years ago.”

  “How did he do that? We graduated high school in the same year,” I say.

  “He did some classes senior year at the community college. And summer school. He was smart about it.”

  “Lucky him,” I grumble.

  “What?” Lucy asks. “You hated school. Now you want to be my study buddy?”

  I'm thinking I want to be more than her study buddy. I want to teach her all sorts of things. The kind of things that she really needs to learn from me and only me.

  “We have to find a costume,” I say, “and we're running out of time.”

  “I'm sorry,” she says. “We should have met up a few weeks ago.”

  “We would have, but you were too busy with Sammy Hammy.”

  Deadpanning, she answers, “Fair point.” Then she smiles and adds, “I'm so glad you're in town this year, Noah. I've missed you. Last Halloween was the worst one of my life.”

  I smile. “I'm here now.”

  “Not long enough though, right?” she asks.

  She’s right. Next week leave is over, and that means leaving her. Again.

  It breaks my heart thinking about leaving again. But as much as I hate that I’ll have to leave her again, the idea of leaving without her knowing how I truly feel is even worse. The truth is, after twenty-two years of not having the girl I love, I can't really imagine going off to sea without her again.

  Chapter Two

  Lucy

  I continue flipping through the clothing rack of costumes, totally in check with my body language, but inside, I'm freaking the fuck out.

  Noah is single.

  He ended things with Natalia and he is back on the market.

  But if there is a momentary flush of excitement at the potential of me being the one to get him off the market, I remember that he doesn't think of me like that at all.

  Otherwise, sometime in the last, oh, fifteen years, he might have made a move. Just one single move. Any sort of move at all.

  But instead I have been permanently planted in the friend zone, the best friend zone, which, while it isn't the worst place to be, is not where I want to be. Not anymore. This past year, when I went ten month
s without seeing him, proved to me that I love Noah. Not like a friend — like forever.

  But if he knew that… he might reject me… and not having him in my life, not being his best friend, would devastate me. He's my person and I am his.

  I’m just not his romantic person. He finds other people for that fix.

  I know that would throw a lot of people off. Making them think he's just some player. Believe me, I've thought about it. A lot. Why should I hold out for Noah when he hasn’t been holding out for me?

  But I think that if I had any sort of sexual confidence, maybe I would be doing the same thing. Maybe I would be out on the prowl, hunting down my next lover instead of studying with Sammy Hammy. I can’t be jealous of Noah’s sexual conquests. Besides, I could have been doing the same thing.

  I groan. “There's nothing here, Noah,” I say, spinning around. He's holding up a Stormtrooper costume. “No,” I say. “We’ve already been Han Solo and Chewbacca.”

  “But you could wear some Princess Leia bondage getup.”

  I roll my eyes. I guess it would make up for the fact that I was the one dressed as Chewbacca. I was head to toe fur that year. No wonder I can't get a boyfriend. “I always wear the least appealing half of our duet.”

  “That's not true,” Noah says, laughing.

  “Yes, it is. You're always the cool one. I'm always the awkward half.”

  “Like when?”

  “Well, you got to be the alien and I was the UFO,” I say back at him.

  He crosses his arms, smirking. His shoulders are wide and his muscles tense, and my belly flip-flops. Noah has always been fit, but the bicep situation ever since he joined the Navy is next level. And it is working. Well.

  “If I remember correctly, you were Red Riding Hood and I was the Wolf,” he says.