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He’s going to say I love you.
For a brief moment, my thoughts raced inside my head. Was it too early for us to say it? I didn’t think I was ready—not after a few weeks. And I wasn’t the kind of person who would say it back without meaning it. Which meant he would say it, and then I would have to say something other than that magical phrase, and our relationship would be emotionally lopsided and uncomfortable until I did say it, putting awful pressure on each of our dates…
But Andy surprised me by saying, “I am very fond of you, Nadia. I’m glad you were the one to answer our Tinder profile.”
I smiled with relief and happiness. “Don’t be so sure. There’s probably some much hotter, smarter girl out there you guys could’ve landed.”
“I don’t mind settling.”
I cocked my head at him. “Why, Andy. If I didn’t know any better I’d say that was another joke.”
He adjusted his glasses. “Enough time has passed since my last one. It felt right.”
I pointed back the way we had come. “Seriously, though. Keep an eye on Ryan or he will make up a story about spirits or demons. Keep him straight.”
Andy unlocked the door and opened it for me. “Easier said than done.”
I stepped outside, and froze.
There was a shadow moving up the wall above us and to the left. Climbing the fire escape to the roof.
I stared, dumbfounded. “Uhh.”
“Changing your mind about being walked to the train?” Andy joked from inside. I grabbed his arm and yanked him outside, then pointed up.
The shadow froze on the wall.
“I don’t…” he began, then trailed off. He pulled out his phone and whispered, “I’m calling the police.”
As if the figure had heard us, it suddenly began climbing back down, feet banging on the metal fire escape. When it was halfway down it leaped over the railing and plummeted the rest of the way, landing softly on the ground like a cat.
Then it sprinted down the street away from us.
“Hey!” I screamed, suddenly giving chase. “Come back here! Stop them!”
There were few people on the street, and those who were there weren’t in any mood to help. Wearing pajamas and comfortable shoes, there was no way I was going to catch them. I slowed to a stop as they disappeared around the next corner.
“Fuck!” I shouted. “That had to be the saboteur!”
Andy had put his phone away. “What’s that?”
I looked where he was pointing. An envelope like a birthday card lay on the ground where the figure had landed. I reached down, carefully picking it up by the edges so my fingers wouldn’t touch the surface.
I held it up to the light by the door to the theater. A single name was written across the front in flowing cursive script:
Tatiana
40
Andy
I was going to tell her I loved her.
Hugging Nadia by the door, I was ready to say it. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue, waiting to be set free into the world. To forever change the new relationship Nadia and I were building.
But something held me back. A look in her eyes, perhaps. Maybe she wasn’t ready. My instincts told me it wasn’t time.
Which was probably for the best, because if I had said it, we would have delayed in front of the door longer, and might not have seen the saboteur trying to access the theater via the fire escape.
