October Kiss. Kristen Ethridge

washed over Poppy. He wasn’t hitting on her. He was just talking about his job again. For once, she was grateful that Ryan was a workaholic. “Sounds kind of amazing. Better than Food with Enemies.”

      “Oh, that’s my next app.” They both laughed at the same time. “Anyway, this company, Yamoharo Global, is considering buying us, which would expand us into foreign markets.”

      Poppy grabbed a marker and began to label the lunch bags. She could almost feel Ryan’s enthusiasm for his product. “So, it’s kind of huge?”

      “Yeah, my big presentation for it is next Friday night.”

      “Halloween?”

      “Yeah…” A frown crossed Ryan’s face and he suddenly lost all traces of the confidence in his product that had been there only moments before. “I forgot about that. I don’t think the Japanese celebrate it.”

      “Well, we do celebrate it here.” Poppy felt that, for the kids’ sake, she needed to remind Ryan. Without any decorations anywhere in the Larson home, it seemed like fall and Halloween didn’t even make it on the calendar.

      Ryan’s phone beeped. He looked at the phone and swiped. His eyes scanned whatever had popped up on the slick screen. “I’ve gotta run.”

      “Here!” Poppy handed him a brown paper bag labeled “Ryan.”