Page 15 of Death

I laugh. “Thank you, Daddy.”

Mom raises a sharp brow but says nothing.

* * *

Istop at the end of the driveway with Dina’s shoes hooked in one hand. After a brief check left and right, I hop off the curb and walk across the street toward her house. Cool winds blow orange and brown leaves around me as I make my way up onto the front porch. I smile at the now rotting jack-o-lanterns. The spirit of Halloween lingers on.

I ring the doorbell and wait for an answer.

Within seconds, the door whooshes open and Dina stands there with her hair in a messy, just-woke-up bun.

Before I can get a word out, she gasps. “Tell. Me. Everything.”

I hold out her shoes. “Thanks for the shoes. They were very uncomfortable but looked nice, just like you said they would.”

She snatches the shoes from my hand and tosses them to the floor with a groan. “Not the shoes, nimrod. Ari! Is he a good kisser?”

I screw up my nose. “How would I know that?”

“Tannis, he walked you home.”

“So?”

She blinks twice. “A tall, handsome, Greek stallion pulls you out of harm’s way and you thank him by… literally letting him walk you home?”

“Well…” I stutter. “Yeah. We walked. We talked. I thanked him. He left.”

“No kiss?”

“Was I supposed to?”

“Did you get his number?”

I wince. “… No.”

She deflates. “What the hell are they teaching you at that college?”

“Iambic pentameter,” I say.

“Gross.”

I laugh. “I’m heading to the bookstore. Want to come with?”

“Nah,” she says. “Riley’s on his way over. He’s getting some brownie points with Mom today by helping her clear out the storage in the basement. I plan on watching.”

“Good man,” I say with a nod. “Anyway, I’ll see you later.”

“Bye, Tannis.”

“Bye.”

I turn around and toss my hood up as I hop down to the sidewalk. It’s not nearly as cold as it was last night but it’ll get chilly fast. I keep a quick gait, igniting heat in my legs as I make my way out of the neighborhood toward the center of town. My thoughts wander as I walk the same road as last night. Phantom footprints walk with me and I almost look to see if he’s here beside me.

Seeing her standing with him like that… I’m not ready.

My mother knew him. Last night, she looked at Ari and she knew him. My father, too.

Neither am I. But that was the deal we made.

---