I worked to make my tread sound slow and unexcited as I walked up the stairs to my room. I shut the door loud enough for him to hear, and then sprinted on my tiptoes to the window, unable to keep in my excitement any longer. I threw it open and leaned out into the night. My eyes scanned the darkness, the impenetrable shadow of the trees...
"Fredward?" I whispered, feeling completely idiotic.
"Yes?" The quiet, shadowed response came from behind me.
I whirled, one hand flying to my throat in surprise, as though it were a turkey neck.
He lay, smiling hugely across my bed, his hands behind his head, his tongue hanging out of his mouth; a picture of perfect ease.
"Oh!" I breathed. He pressed his lips together, trying to hide his amusement.
"Just give me a moment to restart my heart." I stumbled over to my dresser, pulled open the second drawer, and took out the ladies' defibrillator I had purchased last week. Where was the instruction manual?
He sat up slowly, so as not to restartle me. Then he leaned forward and reached out with his long arms to pick me up, gripping me under my armpits like I was a toddler. He sat me on the bed beside him.
"Allow me to be here for you," he suggested, putting a cold hand on mine. "How's your heart?"
And then I realized I had completely forgotten about my heart.
We sat there for a moment in silence, both thinking about my heart.
"Can I have a minute to be human?" I asked.
"Certainly." He gestured with one hand that I should proceed.

298

Chapter 14

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