be able to sleep before she gets home.
“See, I knew you’d say that! Totally. You are as easy to read as a book. I always know what you’re thinking and just what you’ll say. Always. You’re the best.”
My smile began to feel strained. “Thanks.”
Kylie jumped off the bed and headed towards her walk-in closet. “I’m really too nervous and excited to eat, but I’m sure my mom stashed the fridge with tons of stuff for us. You don’t mind fixing yourself something tonight, do you?”
No, I always wander around houses that aren’t my own and help myself to their kitchens. “Sure.” Suddenly, I didn’t want to play my typical role of Barbie consultant. I figured Kylie was a big enough girl to get herself dressed without asking my opinion on every outfit. Besides, she’d just given me the perfect out. “Well, I’m a little hungry—I’ll go head downstairs and see what there is.”
“Okay.” Her reply came out a bit muffled.
She was probably picking out the shoes first. I hurried down to the kitchen.
After poking around a bit and finding enough stuff to make a decent sandwich, I went to work. In a few short minutes the mess was cleaned up and I was carrying my miniature Dagwood-sized sandwich and tall glass of ice water to the family room couch. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, then scrolled through the channels until I came across one that featured comedy reruns. Perfect. Laughter is the best medicine. I was just getting into a really funny rerun of Third Rock from the Sun when Kylie came downstairs, looking as gorgeous as ever.
“Wow! You look pretty.”
“Thanks. Did you eat something?”
“Yeah, I made a sandwich.”
“Okay, good.”
“So when’s Gregory coming?”
“He said he’d be here in about five minutes. Are you sure I look okay? I mean these shoes aren’t too much, are they?”
For a moment I centered my thoughts on her red high-heeled pumps that peeked out from under her skinny jeans. “They look great.”
The doorbell rang. I froze, wishing I could hide. Technically, the family room wasn’t anywhere near the entryway, though, so he couldn’t see me from here. I just hoped Kylie wouldn’t think it was important to bring him back to say hello.
Obviously the thought never crossed her mind.
“Well, bye, Amanda. I’ll see you later.” She leaned over the couch and gave me a hug. Her sweet Jennifer Lopez perfume wafted all around me. “Oh, and if you get creeped out being here alone, I’ve got my cell, okay? I’m just a phone call away.”
“Okay.” Creeped out? Yikes.
A few seconds later, I heard Kylie greet Gregory and then the front door close. I waited a couple of minutes to make sure they had gone before I walked through the dark, silent house and locked the door. By the time I made it halfway back to the couch and the safety of the cheerful television, I’d started to run. I literally jumped on the couch, having made it there in record time, and then laughed at myself for being afraid of an empty house. I’m such a dork.
The rest of the evening was uneventful and very safe. Actually, thanks to the wonderful world of television, I didn’t even realize how late it was until I heard the front door unlocking and voices drifting behind me through the still house. Voices? Yep, definitely plural . Ah! You’ve got to be kidding me. Gregory came in with her. I instantly straightened in my seat and ran my fingers nervously through my hair before I noticed the throw blanket and threw it on my lap to hide my shaking hands. Just in time. I turned and smiled up at Kylie.
“Hey, Gregory was right.” Her smile was tight. He was just behind her. “He said you’d still be up. I told him I didn’t believe it, but look, here you are.”
I didn’t know quite what to make of her speech. She was almost too bright in her mannerisms, too nice. Obviously, she wishes I was in bed. I answered hesitantly with a faint “Yep, I’m here.”
Gregory’s behavior
“See, I knew you’d say that! Totally. You are as easy to read as a book. I always know what you’re thinking and just what you’ll say. Always. You’re the best.”
My smile began to feel strained. “Thanks.”
Kylie jumped off the bed and headed towards her walk-in closet. “I’m really too nervous and excited to eat, but I’m sure my mom stashed the fridge with tons of stuff for us. You don’t mind fixing yourself something tonight, do you?”
No, I always wander around houses that aren’t my own and help myself to their kitchens. “Sure.” Suddenly, I didn’t want to play my typical role of Barbie consultant. I figured Kylie was a big enough girl to get herself dressed without asking my opinion on every outfit. Besides, she’d just given me the perfect out. “Well, I’m a little hungry—I’ll go head downstairs and see what there is.”
“Okay.” Her reply came out a bit muffled.
She was probably picking out the shoes first. I hurried down to the kitchen.
After poking around a bit and finding enough stuff to make a decent sandwich, I went to work. In a few short minutes the mess was cleaned up and I was carrying my miniature Dagwood-sized sandwich and tall glass of ice water to the family room couch. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, then scrolled through the channels until I came across one that featured comedy reruns. Perfect. Laughter is the best medicine. I was just getting into a really funny rerun of Third Rock from the Sun when Kylie came downstairs, looking as gorgeous as ever.
“Wow! You look pretty.”
“Thanks. Did you eat something?”
“Yeah, I made a sandwich.”
“Okay, good.”
“So when’s Gregory coming?”
“He said he’d be here in about five minutes. Are you sure I look okay? I mean these shoes aren’t too much, are they?”
For a moment I centered my thoughts on her red high-heeled pumps that peeked out from under her skinny jeans. “They look great.”
The doorbell rang. I froze, wishing I could hide. Technically, the family room wasn’t anywhere near the entryway, though, so he couldn’t see me from here. I just hoped Kylie wouldn’t think it was important to bring him back to say hello.
Obviously the thought never crossed her mind.
“Well, bye, Amanda. I’ll see you later.” She leaned over the couch and gave me a hug. Her sweet Jennifer Lopez perfume wafted all around me. “Oh, and if you get creeped out being here alone, I’ve got my cell, okay? I’m just a phone call away.”
“Okay.” Creeped out? Yikes.
A few seconds later, I heard Kylie greet Gregory and then the front door close. I waited a couple of minutes to make sure they had gone before I walked through the dark, silent house and locked the door. By the time I made it halfway back to the couch and the safety of the cheerful television, I’d started to run. I literally jumped on the couch, having made it there in record time, and then laughed at myself for being afraid of an empty house. I’m such a dork.
The rest of the evening was uneventful and very safe. Actually, thanks to the wonderful world of television, I didn’t even realize how late it was until I heard the front door unlocking and voices drifting behind me through the still house. Voices? Yep, definitely plural . Ah! You’ve got to be kidding me. Gregory came in with her. I instantly straightened in my seat and ran my fingers nervously through my hair before I noticed the throw blanket and threw it on my lap to hide my shaking hands. Just in time. I turned and smiled up at Kylie.
“Hey, Gregory was right.” Her smile was tight. He was just behind her. “He said you’d still be up. I told him I didn’t believe it, but look, here you are.”
I didn’t know quite what to make of her speech. She was almost too bright in her mannerisms, too nice. Obviously, she wishes I was in bed. I answered hesitantly with a faint “Yep, I’m here.”
Gregory’s behavior
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