Page 107 of My Last Dance

“You scared me,” I said sheepishly. I scrambled for my phone to flip on my flashlight, illuminating a shocked looking Kappy with new cat scratches on his face.

His shoulders heaved with a breath. “The power went out, I was making sure you were okay.”

“You didn’t knock,” I said weakly. “How was I supposed to know it was you?”

His eyes bulged. “Uh, because I’m staying here? I thought you were sleeping, I didn’t want to wake you.” He touched his cheek, then inspected his hand for blood.

The adrenaline left my body, and I couldn’t help it, a giggle popped out of me.

“You’re laughing? Great, real great,” he deadpanned. “I feel concussed.”

“I’m sorry. I really am,” I offered, biting my lip to hold my emotions.

He shook his head. “Yeah, yeah.”

“Wait, the power went out?” That explained the TV shutting off, but that wasnotgood news. It was already a cold November night. Without power, my apartment was about to become an ice box.

“What should we do?” I held Carl tighter.

He eyed my cat with uneasiness. “Weshould not be near that wild animal.”

I couldn’t necessarily argue with him, seeing as he was sporting new claw marks. Cringing, I deposited Carl in his favorite sleeping place and pushed Kappy from my room.

Following him out, I watched Kappy move in my kitchen like he owned the place. Pulling a lighter out of a drawer, he lit my favorite fall candle and busied himself making two bowls of Captain Crunch.

Balancing one bowl in the crook of his arm and a spoon hanging out of his mouth, he brought the candle and two bowls over to the living room and placed everything on the ottoman.

Instead of plopping on the couch, he took a seat on the ground and stretched out his long legs before digging into his cereal.

Taking the bowl he made for me, I slowly sank to the floor.

Watching him over the little flicker of light, a laugh popped out of me, making him arch a skeptical eyebrow. “Sorry, it’s just…we’re having a candlelit dinner,” I explained, pulling a blanket off the couch to wrap it around myself.

He nodded while enjoying his bite. “Sorry it’s not more impressive.”

With a small smile, I ate a few bites of my cereal. “You have any ideas for our Gala routine?”

He scratched his cheek. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okay.” Tension flew into my chest. Skating was our safe topic. I was honestly afraid to wade into anything else with him.

He ate another bite, and I waited for him to chew. “Tell me something about the last few years,” he finally said.

“What do you want to know?” I dropped my spoon, appetite now gone.

He shrugged. “Did you date anyone?”

My heart picked up speed. “Did you?”

He stared out the window opposite me, contemplating for a second. “No one seriously. You?”

“I tried,” I said with a snort. “Many times. Never worked.” I pulled my knees up and hugged them to my chest.

His brow furrowed. “Why not?”

“Well, the last guy cheated on me,” I supplied.

“Bastard,” he swore with a mouth full of cereal, making me stifle a laugh. “How’d you find out?”

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