Page 8 of Dead Pretty

“Okay. Well, I’ll just go get her.”

God, I’m acting even more awkward than normal.

Remember the days when you used to be a normal person, Audrey? And also when you didn’t talk to yourself in the third person?

Oh, those were the days.

Sigh.

I retrieve Eleven, as I now know her to be named, from the sofa. Holding her to me, I walk back to where Jack is waiting for us in the doorway to my apartment.

“Here she is.” I hand her over to him.

Jack’s hand brushes mine in the exchange. A zing of heat shoots up my arm, and my pulse increases in tempo.

It surprises me. Enough that I step back away from him.

I’ve never had such an instant physical reaction to a man before.

And I shouldn’t be having one now.

I wrap my arms over my chest.

“Thanks,” he says. “I hope she wasn’t too much trouble.”

“Not at all.”

“I honestly have no clue how she got out of the apartment,” he tells me.

“I did check for a collar on her,” I feel the need to tell him. I don’t want him thinking I go around, taking in stray pussies.

And thank God I didn’t just say that out loud.

“Yeah, I gave up on collars a while back. She always gets them off and ditches them. She is chipped though.”

“Clever cat,” I muse.

“Too clever. I’m going to have to check the apartment, find where she escaped from. Whereabouts did you find her?”

“In the hallway. She followed me to my apartment. When I unlocked my door, she walked on in. I knocked on everyone’s door on our floor, but no one knew who she belonged to. Well, except Chloe said she thought she might belong to you. I did try knocking on your door, but you weren’t there. Obviously. I was going to try later …” I trail off, realizing I sound like a complete moron.

“I fed her too. I hope that’s okay. It was just a can of tuna. It was all I had.” And yet, I just can’t seem to stop.

He smiles. It’s warm and friendly. “That was really nice of you.”

I shrug, turning my gaze down.

“Well, Eleven and I appreciate it,” he adds.

“I like her name,” I say, feeling like I should say something.

“Stranger Things,” he says.

“Stranger things?” I echo.

“The TV show. Eleven is a character from it.”

“Oh. Of course. Yes, I have heard of the show, but I’ve never watched it.” I shake my head.