Kock, knock... who’s there?
THERE WAS A KNOCK?at the door, and both Glen and I jumped at the sound. We’d just settled onto the sofa to watch another chick flick after the horribly misshapen dinner. Most of it ended up in the rubbish bin and very little in my stomach. I was telling the fat there that we were fasting, but that didn’t get the grumbling to stop.
We shared a glance as perfect quiet replaced the knocking. “Did you order anything?” I whispered while Glen shook her head violently.
“No,” she hissed as if I’d accused her of something atrocious. “With what money? I’m saving like you told me to.”
It was too quiet after that until the knock came again.
Glen nudged me. “Go check who it is.”
I nudged her right back. “You go, this is your flat.”
She shook her head again, her red hair falling out of the bun high up on her head to slap her across her face with each movement. “What if we’re being evicted.”
“We are not being evicted,” I snorted. “Your bills have been paid.”
“But what if—” A longer knocking sequence stopped her mid-sentence, and she gulped.
“They are adamant, that’s for sure.” I jumped off the sofa, surprised Drixie didn’t react to my sudden movement, but a quick glance around the room showed she wasn’t here. I tiptoed past the armchair she was usually lying on and into the short hall, Glen right at my heels.
“Be careful,” she whispered.
Instead of opening the door right away as I’d been preparing to do, I peeked through the spyhole first.
“Ohhhh.” All breath wheezed out from my lungs at that one word as my heart jumped to my throat.
“Oh, what?” Glen hissed. “It’s the eviction crew, isn’t it. I knew it!”
My hands felt clammy, and my cheeks heated up, but I pulled the door open anyway.
“Luke,” I breathed, my voice still quiet from whispering with Glen.
He looked even better without the glass to distort his features, though he’d dressed down to sweats and a regular T-shirt. His green eyes searched mine as a small smile played on his lips.
“I found Drixie here at my door,” he said, and my eyes fell to my cat snuggling in his arms. She was rather content on staying there, too. She gave me a hooded-eyed look, as if mocking me for not rushing to be hugged by Luke right away, since that was naturally the best place to be. Almost convinced, I took a step closer to find out for myself.
“Luke?” Glen’s voice brought me out of my momentary daze, and she bumped into me while trying to get to the door to confirm it was really him. “With offerings!” she exclaimed, her eyes not on Drixie but a bag dangling from Luke’s hand.
I dragged my eyes away from the man to look at Glen, instead. “How did Drixie get out?”
She gave me a wide-eyed, innocent look. “It wasn’t me, I swear.”
“You’re the one who emptied the waste.” Right, because if I kept arguing with Glen I could pretend Mr Umbrella was not standing behind our door staring at me as if I was looking gorgeous again, or something.
He did not let me forget about his presence. “She’s back where she belongs now, no harm done.”
I swear she purred when Luke spoke, and my cheeks heated further.I get it, Drixie. We like the man.
“Ah... Um, thanks,” I stuttered, trying to find something else to say. Anything would do. “Love the outfit.”
