Page 59 of With Us

Actually, I think even Death is afraid of her.

She tore her gaze from Theo. “Yes, well, uhh…” Looking down, she saw the stack of papers in her hand. It must have reminded her why she was out in the lobby because some of the outrage went back into her voice. She pushed the flyer in my face, shaking it. “Have you seen this beast?”

Pulling back, I checked out the image. “Fifi? Mr. Jacobson’s dog?”

“Yes. That dog is a menace. Running wild through the hallways.” She put her wrinkled hand to her chest. “It tried toattackme.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to point out to Mrs. Giovanni that Fifi was an elderly and arthritic Maltese who weighed barely five pounds soaking wet. Knowing it would only drag me into a forty-minute lecture about the ‘beast’, I kept my mouth shut.

Mrs. Giovanni’s eyes darted to Theo and then back to me. “Well, just keep your eyes open.”

“Okay…” I said to her retreating back. Once Theo and I were in the elevator, I filled him in on Fifi, much to his amusement. “I mean, she’s always been a little out there, but it’s like she’s knitting with one needle lately, you know?”

“Maybe Fifi really does have a vendetta against her.”

I nodded as the elevator doors squeaked open. “If there was anyone that loving pup could hate, it makes sense that it’d be her.” I turned to him as we approached my apartment. “Do you want to come in?”

“Not tonight,” he said, two seconds before lowering his mouth to mine. Moving me until my back was pressed against my front door, his hands went to either side of my doorframe. He kept his body away from mine, though.

After a couple minutes, I pulled my head back just enough to ask, “Why not?”

“You’ve gotta go to bed,” he whispered against my mouth.

“It’s early.”

“What time do you wake up tomorrow?”

“Around four.”

“Go to bed, gattina,” he said, his mouth taking mine once more. With a low groan, he stepped away and dropped his arms.

Knowing he was right, I unlocked my door. “Night, Theo.”

His voice held the same reluctance as he returned, “Night, my gattina.”

I closed and locked the door behind me, flicking on the light. As I got changed and ready for bed, my mind was restless. My whole body was. I spread out in bed and tried to read, but I couldn’t stay focused or still.

I kept thinking of the dream. Of being alone. Of my mom’s advice.

Bringing up Theo’s number in my phone, my finger hovered over the button for a moment before I touched it. It rang twice before he connected.

“Is everything okay?” he asked by way of greeting.

“Yeah, it’s fine. How far away are you?”

“Not far. Why?” There was an alert edge to his voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I said through a small laugh. “Are you too far to turn around and come back?”

“I’m never too far to get to you.”

Although his answer made me smile, I began to doubt my impulsive decision. “Never mind—”

“I’ll be there in fifteen.”

It was less than that when my buzzer went off, and I hit the intercom. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” Theo’s voice said, crackling through the ancient system.

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