by myself."
A pregnant pause grew between us.
I saw Toby's hand tentatively move toward mine. I made no motion to stop him. I could hear the pace of his heart quicken. As his fingertips brushed against the back of my hand, I felt an electric spark run up my arm. “Rose,” he said quietly.
I brought my gaze up to match his.
He looked at my face as though he had never seen it before. “I apologize.” He took a deep breath. “It's all so overwhelming."
"I know.” I smiled. “But we can do this." Toby smiled, even though I knew it was just for show. "Are you two done? I'm gonna be sick!"
I looked up to see Karl watching us from the kitchen making pretend retching noises as he grabbed his stomach. He was worse than having a toddler around. “Shut up, Karl." "Rose and Toby sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” the Goblin sang mockingly. Worst of all, he was starting to dance, shaking his so-called glorious green ass. “First comes love, then comes marriage—" I snatched a pillow off the couch and flung it at him. The stuffed projectile hit him and knocked him into the sink. I heard him hit with a dull thump. I looked at Toby with wide eyes. I hadn't meant to kill him.
Before Toby even stood up, I was off the couch, across the living room, and into the kitchen. Tossing the pillow out of the way, I lifted Karl out of the sink. I pushed a stack of junk mail out of the way and set him gently on the counter. “Karl?"
"Woo-hoo!” The Sprite laughed from the blender jar. “Nice shootin'!" The Goblin slowly opened his green eyes. He tried to look at me, but couldn't seem to focus. He pointed his finger accusingly at the empty space next to me. “You'll be hearing from my attorney.” With that, his head fell limp as he passed out.
At least he wasn't dead. Slipping him into my arms as though he were my infant, I walked back into the living room and set him in the recliner. “Where did you find this guy?” I asked Toby as I put a blanket on Karl.
"We play poker on Tuesday nights,” Toby replied. "Nice.” I looked down at the Goblin. He looked like a favorite doll tucked neatly in the chair. “Since Karl's sleeping here tonight,” I turned back to the wolf, “I think you should stay too. You can sleep on the couch. There are blankets next to it." "Thanks.” Toby peered over the arm and found the blankets. Grabbing several, he dropped them on the
A pregnant pause grew between us.
I saw Toby's hand tentatively move toward mine. I made no motion to stop him. I could hear the pace of his heart quicken. As his fingertips brushed against the back of my hand, I felt an electric spark run up my arm. “Rose,” he said quietly.
I brought my gaze up to match his.
He looked at my face as though he had never seen it before. “I apologize.” He took a deep breath. “It's all so overwhelming."
"I know.” I smiled. “But we can do this." Toby smiled, even though I knew it was just for show. "Are you two done? I'm gonna be sick!"
I looked up to see Karl watching us from the kitchen making pretend retching noises as he grabbed his stomach. He was worse than having a toddler around. “Shut up, Karl." "Rose and Toby sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” the Goblin sang mockingly. Worst of all, he was starting to dance, shaking his so-called glorious green ass. “First comes love, then comes marriage—" I snatched a pillow off the couch and flung it at him. The stuffed projectile hit him and knocked him into the sink. I heard him hit with a dull thump. I looked at Toby with wide eyes. I hadn't meant to kill him.
Before Toby even stood up, I was off the couch, across the living room, and into the kitchen. Tossing the pillow out of the way, I lifted Karl out of the sink. I pushed a stack of junk mail out of the way and set him gently on the counter. “Karl?"
"Woo-hoo!” The Sprite laughed from the blender jar. “Nice shootin'!" The Goblin slowly opened his green eyes. He tried to look at me, but couldn't seem to focus. He pointed his finger accusingly at the empty space next to me. “You'll be hearing from my attorney.” With that, his head fell limp as he passed out.
At least he wasn't dead. Slipping him into my arms as though he were my infant, I walked back into the living room and set him in the recliner. “Where did you find this guy?” I asked Toby as I put a blanket on Karl.
"We play poker on Tuesday nights,” Toby replied. "Nice.” I looked down at the Goblin. He looked like a favorite doll tucked neatly in the chair. “Since Karl's sleeping here tonight,” I turned back to the wolf, “I think you should stay too. You can sleep on the couch. There are blankets next to it." "Thanks.” Toby peered over the arm and found the blankets. Grabbing several, he dropped them on the