I’m not sure what possesses me to speak again, yet I can’t help myself as I ask, “See you around?” My heart hammers against my rib cage while I wait for her reply. She stops at the stairs leading up to the porch. “Why?” “I’m curious.” “I hope you’re not planning all the ways you can torture me already.” Her half-hearted tease lacks any oomph. “Torturing you is my favorite pastime.”
