“Aw, thank you.”I caved at her never ending cheerfulness. She was starting to grow on me already, which was quite a feat. I’d never met a kid I enjoyed.
“When I grow up I wanna dress just like you,”she said, looking at me as we passed a dim light.“You dress fun and you’re really nice.”
“You can grow up to be nice, but don’t dress like me. You really shouldn’t.”
“But you’re like one of my dolls. She’s a ghost doll from a school with ghosts and vampires and all the fun Halloween things! You’re not wearing as many clothes, but what you have on is what she would wear. But you’re in half as much. Her skirt would be here,”she pointed to mid thigh,“and her shirt goes longer to here.” She pointed to the waistband of my skirt. “And higher! Up to this bone.” She touched her collarbone. “But I like yours better.”
“Thanks, I guess?”I pulled my skirt down, suddenly self-conscious of how skimpy it was.
“Mymom doesn’t like the dolls very much, butthey’re my favorite. I like spooky things.”She peered at me, taking in every detail.“You’re kinda spooky. But not as spooky as my doll. Probably because you’re not a ghost. But your eyes are a lot like hers! Except they’re darker. And your hair is really long with purple, too! Except yours is darker. And your makeup is almost the same.”She squinted at my eyes.“Except darker.”
I laughed at all the‘except darker’s she kept having to add.“Is that all?”
“Yes.” She skipped before spinning to face me. “Do you like colors? ‘Cause I can’t tell. You kindadolook like a ghost, I think—”
“How old are you?”I interrupted. This conversation was starting to go from cute to a little insulting.
“I’m seven and three quarters.”She spun again and pointed to an upcoming house.“That’swhere I live.”She ran ahead and I fell into a light jog, careful to keep an unsuspicious pace. We stopped at a blue house near the park where I’d first met Dennis. She marched up the steps and started digging through the pockets of her jeans, then turned to me with wide eyes.“I think I locked my key inside.”
“Hold on,” I said, patting myself down in search of something useful.“Can I use one of those?” I pointed to Mikaila’s hair.
“This?”She touched a decorative pin. I nodded.“Sure.”She unclipped one and handed it to me.
“Perfect. Thanks.”I bent it out of shape, then squatted to examine the lock at eye level. Iinserted the pin and strategically moved it around. A few seconds passed before there was a quiet click. I stood and pushed the door open.“All done.” I fixed the pen and gave it back to its awestricken owner.
“How’d you do that?”she asked, re-clipping her bangs to the side.
“Magic.”I smiled as she continued to stare.“Can you do me afavor?”
“Anything!”
“Promise you won’t go on anymore nighttime walks?”
“I pinky promise.”She held up a pinky.
I hooked mine through to seal the promise. I normally only did these with Ari, but this girl was so cute and sweet I’d make an exception.“If anyone asks, you had your key,”I added.
She dropped my pinky and squeezed me in a hug. I laughed and hugged back. She barely reached beneath my chest.“Thank you, Emy.”She pulled away and beamed.“I won’t tell anyone. And if they ask, I had my key.”
“Kay, good.”I waved as she went inside and shut the door. I waited until the lock clicked in place before walking down the steps.“Who knew kids could be cute,”I said, glancing over my shoulder. I faced forward and jerked backward. “Jesus fuck!”
“Did I scare you?” Dennis asked as I clutched my heart. “I thought you heard me following.”
“No, I was busy talking to Mikaila. I think I need to drink soon.” I licked my lips. The craving was starting to come back.
“Normally I’d go to the bar this late, but I’m not in the mood to run into Kiro again. Thereisa heartbeat up there…” Dennis seemed torn.
“What?”
“There’s a heartbeat up there,” he repeated cautiously, “that would be a quick meal. I don’t know why he’s lingering, though. There’s nothing to do over there.” He ruffled his hair, frowning. “If you’d rather go back to the bar, we can do that. I’ll deal with Kiro if he’s still there.”
“Let’s see what’s up there. If it’s a bad situation we can handle it, right? It can still be a quick meal.”
“Sure.” He shrugged and we headed toward the heartbeat.
“Can I go alone? That way we don’t scare the person and cause a scene or anything?”
“If you want.” He slowed to a stop. “Shout if you need me.”
