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Our eyes met for the briefest moment. Then he was gone. His truck disappeared down the road, swallowed by the pines.
The moment my front door clicked shut behind me… I squealed. Actually squealed. I spun once in the middle of the living room, laughing at myself before collapsing dramatically onto the couch.
"Oh..."
I buried my face in one of the cushions.
"Oh, this is bad."
Frank appeared on the mantel with the slow, disappointed look of someone witnessing a public embarrassment.
"I knew it."
Gerald folded his tiny arms.
"She's gone."
"I'm not gone."
"You're smiling into upholstery."
"I'm having a moment."
"You've had six moments since breakfast."
"I've counted."
"You can't count."
"I absolutely can."
"You once counted me twice."
"You walked past twice."
"That's not how counting works."
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
"He said he'd see me around."
Frank groaned.
"It was basic politeness."
"It was destiny."
"It was a sentence."
I hugged the cushion tighter.
"He's going to be mine one day."
Both gnomes stared. Gerald looked at Frank.
"Should we be concerned?"
Frank sighed.