Moving into the apartment, I keep an eye on the meter as I make my way toward the alarm.
When I see that the battery light is flashing, I scoff and toss the pointless meter aside. There’s nothing poisonous in the air.
With a twist, I release the alarm from it’s position high up on the wall and flick the switch on the back to silence it. Tugging off the mask, I glance over my shoulder to find Lila fidgeting awkwardly in the hallway.
“You can come in,” I tell her.
“I’m not going to die?”
“I just took my mask off, didn’t I?”
“Well, you’re, like, made of tougher stuff. Or whatever.” Still, she steps inside and closes the door behind her, timidly approaching the silenced alarm resting on the countertop of her tiny kitchenette.
“You’re supposed to change these batteries once a year, Lila.”
“What? According to who?”
“According to the fire captain telling you to your face right now. Also, according to common knowledge.”
Lila frowns up at me. “That’s not common knowledge. I thought they lasted, like, ten years.”
“It’s not a watch battery. It’s an emergency detection system. It’s imperative that it’s operating all the—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Lila sighs, prodding the dead alarm with her fingertip. “Everything is a learning experience, I guess. At least I gained some knowledge today, huh?”
I huff out an incredulous laugh. Again, people and their optimism.
Then, with a jolt, I realize where I am.
I’m inside Lila’s home. And we are alone.
And she, as always, looks beautiful.
Feeling suddenly out of my element, I glance around. Her place is small, just a modest studio with a bedroom alcove, but the furnishings she’s chosen are so quintessentiallyherthat I almost smile at the sight of it. Everything is soft pastels and frilly edges, lace curtains and enough throw pillows to cushion the entirety of the floorspace if she wanted.
Even quiet and empty, it’s still so much more inviting than my place. I suppose that’s what I’m missing. A feminine touch.
I snort softly.
“What?” Lila frowns, following my line of sight. “It’s too girly for your taste?”
“Well, yes, but… I like it. It suits you.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
I slip my mask and the monitor back into my pocket, at a loss for words. “Uh…”
“Also, thank you for coming here. I would have felt so embarrassed if the fire department rolled up just to tell me that my batteries need to be replaced. I really hope I didn’t interrupt something important.”
I shake my head. “I wasn’t on duty.”
“There are other important things besides work, Hale.”
I love the way she says my name. I love the way she gazes up at me with those round eyes, the way she chews on that pouty bottom lip.
“Like what?” I ask.
Lila tilts her head to the side. “I don’t know. Like… a date?”
