“You have?”
“Did the bottles not show up?”
The glass bottles…
“…Broken and swept into the trash—oh Gil, I had no idea! I was worried you—”
“Forgot?” His palm comes up to cup my cheek. “Oh Splenda, I don’t forget anything,” he drawls, and heat rushes to my face at the sudden contact. “When you said you were scared, I was worried.”
“That was never about us… I mean, I am because of course I am—but all I meant was I was worried I wouldn’t get there in time for Grams. She’s the only family I have.”
Until I met you.
The thought is loud and unspoken but nonetheless true. When you know, you know—the words echo along with the old song. Now that he’s here, I can’t imagine ever being apart.
“I should have been understanding,” he says. “I hope I didn’t mess things up.”
An airhorn of a snort echoes from my nose as I bark a laugh that startles both Clawrece and Gil. Does he really think that was bad?
“It’s going to take more than one grumpy response and swiping away my phone notifications to get rid of me,” I say, pulling him close as we walk. Our sides knock into each other, and his smile radiates as warm as sunlight. “And I was pretty panicked myself.”
“Still—I won’t make it a habit.”
“Me neither.”
But there’s something to knowing if we do get into a misunderstanding again—we still have each other.
We walk down the street with Clawrece, hand in hand, getting comically funny looks as we head back to Grams’ apartment building.
I want to take him out to eat somewhere—but I can’t think of a single place that would allow a gator, and the Halloween excuse is only going to get us so far. So I’m hoping I have something in the pantry to offer him.
The front desk is normally unmanned during the weekends. Most of the folks will be on an outing, Grams included, so if we’re careful, we should be able to sneak up no problem.
A few of the ladies from Grams’ poker club catch a glimpse of us, and honestly, I think they’re more excited to see me with a guy and his “elaborate costume” than they are bothered by our unconventional animal companion.
“Happy Halloween, ladies,” Gil greets, and the pair giggle like they’re the ones in their early twenties and swooning.
“I’ve seen some things in my day—but never this.” Beth sighs after we exchange a few pleasantries.
“Service animals are stranger every day—did I tell you about my daughter-in-law’s cousin with the emotional support snake?”
“You’re kidding!”
We rush past the rest of the doors down the hall until we reach Grams’ place. Barreling through the door, we crash on the couch laughing ’til our sides hurt.
“Oh!” I say, running past Clawrece, who’s already made herself at home on the plush rug. I snag the drawing that’s comically been displayed on the fridge the past few weeks and proudly present it to Gil.
“Look familiar?”
“Wow.” His voice is low and sweet. I watch as his claws trail the shapes, and a grin spreads across his face.
When he laughs, I can’t think. It’s sheer utter happiness rising from every part of me. His arms wrap around me, the drawing still carefully held in his hands. I always thought the idea of love was the world falling away while you danced in a crowded ballroom—a prince saving the damsel from a dragon. Maybe it’s a scaly swamp man saving you when you go too far off path, being held and safe and chosen.
“I love it,” he says, and we make no attempt to move apart from each other.
I love you. I think.
Moments pass inside Grams’ apartment. It’s nothing compared to his beautiful house on the water, but still, I like him being here. And I can’t wait for Grams to return from her outing with the rest of the seniors to meet him.
