Page 71 of Shhh…It’s A Killer Story

Our eyes met for the briefest moment. Then he was gone. His truck disappeared down the road, swallowed by the pines.

The moment my front door clicked shut behind me… I squealed. Actually squealed. I spun once in the middle of the living room, laughing at myself before collapsing dramatically onto the couch.

"Oh..."

I buried my face in one of the cushions.

"Oh, this is bad."

Frank appeared on the mantel with the slow, disappointed look of someone witnessing a public embarrassment.

"I knew it."

Gerald folded his tiny arms.

"She's gone."

"I'm not gone."

"You're smiling into upholstery."

"I'm having a moment."

"You've had six moments since breakfast."

"I've counted."

"You can't count."

"I absolutely can."

"You once counted me twice."

"You walked past twice."

"That's not how counting works."

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

"He said he'd see me around."

Frank groaned.

"It was basic politeness."

"It was destiny."

"It was a sentence."

I hugged the cushion tighter.

"He's going to be mine one day."

Both gnomes stared. Gerald looked at Frank.

"Should we be concerned?"

Frank sighed.