Page 48 of Fish out of Water
The minute her eyes snagged on me she smiled, lifting one arm in an exaggerated wave. “Grant.”
“Sally.” I tried not to notice Julia wasn’t sticking as close to me as before. “You’re out early this morning.”
“I wanted to get your uncle’s apartment cleaned up as fast as we could for you.” She beamed up at me. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
“I appreciate that.” I nodded at one of the men as he passed on his way to the van parked right in front of Vito’s place. “Let me know what the fee for this will be. I’ll make sure it’s paid before I leave.” Vito was on a pretty strict budget, and I was positive he wouldn’t have the extra. Especially once the money from his mailbox was handed off to its rightful owners.
Sally waved me off. “It’s no charge. We try to take care of our residents here.”
“That’s really nice of you.” I leaned to peek inside. They already had the aquarium gravel cleaned up and were working their way across the rest of the floor with a ShopVac. “If there’s anything you need from me just let me know.”
“How long do you think you’ll be apartment-sitting for your uncle?”
It was the excuse I always used. Made it seem like I was a good nephew and Vito wasn’t a part-time criminal. “I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, be sure to tell your uncle we can’t wait for him to come back.”
“I’m sure he’ll love hearing that.” I turned toward Julia’s apartment. “I think we’re going to head back.”
“You should take a walk down to the pond.” Sally leaned in. “I hear the swans had babies.”
I wasn’t particularly interested in seeing swan babies.
But I was interested in dragging out the last of the time I would be spending with Julia.
Because this was probably going to be it. Once Vito’s place was cleared out I had to go back.
And this time she wouldn’t have a key.
We walked up the side of Vito’s building, heading toward the pond that sat just behind it. “So there are swansandalligators in here?”
“Usually just the swans.” Julia wrinkled her nose. “But occasionally also alligators. Until the swans run them off.”
“The swans run the alligators off?”
Julia’s arm came across my chest, stopping me in my tracks. “Don’t move.”
“What? Why?” I glanced toward the pond, doing a double take as the scene in front of us registered. “Oh shit.”
Julia nodded. “Yup.”
“She looks mad.” I grabbed Julia and started slowly backing away from the bird glaring at us across the heads of her herd of fluffy babies.
“Yup.” Julia started to move a little faster as the swan’s head dropped and she let out a screech of a honk. “We should probably run.”
I pushed Julia in front of me right as the giant bird started after us, flapping her wings for added momentum.
Turned out swans could run fast as hell.
Fast enough she managed to grab a hold of my right ass cheek and twist, craning her neck to cause maximum pain.
Enough pain that I swung without thinking, my fist connecting just beside the beak attached to my ass.
I punched a swan in the face.
“Did you just hit her?” Julia tried to look behind us, but now that I was free of the mamma bear of the bird world I wasn’t stopping for God or anyone.
“If you stop you’re on your own, Banana Pants.” I didn’t slow down until we reached the steps leading to her place. Even then I took them two at a time.
