Page 125 of Fish out of Water
“When did this happen?”
“Today.” She drank down some of her milk before looking toward the door. “Where is she with that Kahlua?” Sylvia marched toward the door, glancing at Collette as she passed. “She’s out cold.”
Collette was wrapped up in the fluffy blanket I kept draped over the back of the sofa for the nights when fried rice andFriendsreruns took me out before I made it to my bed.
Ugh. My bed.
I didn’t even want to sleep in the thing.
It sucked.
And that wasn’t just because my mattress might as well be filled with rocks after sleeping on the ones in Grant’s house.
It was because Grant wasn’t in my bed.
He was at home. In his.
Alone.
Sylvia pulled the door open, leaning to look outside, her head swinging each direction. “Where’d she go?”
I tipped my head to one side, leaning to look at the outside of my brand-new door. “Sylvia?”
“I was really looking forward to planning some parties with her.” Sylvia turned my way. “Is she always a flake?”
I pointed to the piece of paper taped to the steel just beside her.
Sylvia yanked it free. “Holy shit.” Her eyes lifted to mine. “Vito’s back.”
“What?” I rounded the counter, going to snag the sheet from her hand.
It was on the same kind of paper as the directions he’d given me for feeding Penelope and the handwriting was the same scratchy slant.
Julia,
Thank you for taking care of Penelope for me and collecting my mail. Please bring it by when you have time.
Mr. Frazier
“I’m going to go kick his ass.” Sylvia slammed her milk onto the table and took off, arms cranking at her sides as she went.
I glanced at Collette. I wasn’t supposed to leave her alone, but it seemed like right now Sylvia was the one who needed supervision more.
I plopped my milk next to Sylvia’s, sloshing some out in my rush to chase after her.
She was surprisingly fast and managed to make it down the stairs and halfway to Vito’s building before I caught up with her.
“Maybe we should call Grant.” It seemed like the best plan all around, and not just because Vito was back.
I wanted Grant to come back too.
I wanted him to stay with me in my terribly uncomfortable bed.
I wanted him to call me Banana Pants and feed me hot dogs and teach me how to play Warhammer.
Sylvia didn’t slow down until she reached Vito’s door, one skinny fist coming out to bang on the steel.
It immediately opened.
