Page 11 of Loving Leo

“You did not!” I cry, my eyes wide.

Asher nods and then slaps a hand on his forehead so loud that the neighbor turns his dark gaze toward us, his eyes meeting mine through the hole in the door.

“Oh my, he’s hot in a murdery way,” I say and then Asher takes my spot, standing on his tiptoes and peering through the peephole.

“He’s just standing there.”

“You accused him of being a murderer.”

“Yes, well…he’s grinding things…bodies up in his tub.”

“There goes your fucking imagination again!” I nearly shout and then slap a hand over my mouth to keep myself from screaming.

I cannot believe him, writing a note like that. I expected him to invite him over for dinner, not accuse the poor dude of being a criminal.

“He’s not moving.”

“Well, go out there and apologize!”

“I’m not unlocking the damn door.”

“I can see you,” a deep voice says through the door and Asher gasps, nearly falling on his ass.

“The murderer has a sexy voice.”

“He does, oh my god. You have to go out there and blow him.”

“I do not!” Asher says and bursts out laughing. The sound of him sets me off and we both stand there, holding our stomachs and wheezing. Tears track down our cheeks until we are finally able to compose ourselves.

“Is he still there?”

Asher peers through the peephole and shakes his head. “No, thank god. But the note is missing.”

He pulls the door open and grabs the paper which is now taped to our door.

“Oh shit,” he says as he slams the door and stares down at it.

“What’s it say?” I ask and he hands it to me, fear and excitement in his eyes.

“He wants me to come over.”

“Oh my god! You can’t go.”

He shakes his head. “I have to. I’ve accepted my fate.”

“Asher,” I groan and he sighs.

“I’ll make sure you’re home when I go.”

“I better be. I won’t let you be chopped up and stuffed into the air ducts.”

“I don’t want that either.”

We stare at each other and Asher gestures to the fridge.

“Time to drink, I think.”

“Agreed.”

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