SYNCHRONICITY (The Lone Wolf)

8

Topher bounded up the wide staircase to the top floor where a large white door was cracked open.

He peeked through the crack in the door to find his best friend curled tightly beneath a handcrafted quilt and a crocheted afghan. He was all set to pounce on the bed, but then he thought that he saw a pair of heads, not just one. He grimaced and tiptoed backwards through the door.

He knocked this time. "INCOMING!"

Sebastian sat up, his eyes wide opened, only barely remembering where he was. He looked down at the athletic female body that had whined as she pulled the quilt over her head.

Topher pointed and mouthed, "who's that?"

He looked over again and smiled. "This would be, you know...Alison." He snuggled right back beneath the quilt as she rolled over, sliding her leg up across his hip and he pulled her toward him again...

Sebastian's watch chirped pleasantly and he felt his eyes flutter open. "Ah hell's bells...why did I agree to take this job?"

He sat up in bed and folded over the blanket to reveal...no one. He was alone and he chuckled...he was behaving exactly like he was supposed to be; but he could still feel her phantom caresses and he smiled. "Jesus, what a dream!"

He plugged in the percolator and shuffled to the bathroom to begin his day. With Sonny's permission, he had carpeted the floor so that it wasn't so cold first thing in the morning. He poured his coffee and looked out the window over the bay, watching her running down the beach with Spot running behind her. He wondered why she seemed to make a point of staying up all night, then going to bed during the day like some kind of vampire.

She barely made a sound as she entered the building, moved up the stairs, the dog having bound up before her. She opened the door and then closed it.

Soon, he could smell bacon cooking, causing him excessive salivation...it really smelled amazing...he opened his door and walked one flight down and knocked on the door. He heard the chain and then the deadbolt and another lock by the door knob. Finally the door opened and she peered out.

"Oh hey! Hang on..." Alison closed the door, disengaged the chain and opened the door. "Hey there, good morning," she chirped. "Did ya need something?"

"Just came down to see how you were doing? I never get to see you anymore."

She stepped to the side and invited him in. "I'm okay. Just got in from a run with the pooch."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know."

Her brow rose. "Are you spying on me?"

"No, nothing like that. I always look out the windows first thing. You just happened to be out there today."

She nodded. "Working today?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"It's my day off. Paula and I are going to go pick up tickets for Adam Ant. Hey, do you want to come too?"

He laughed as he watched her turn over the bacon. "No, it's okay. I'm actually not into Adam Ant, but thanks all the same."

She frowned. "Oh okay. I just thought that y'all could make it a date or something?"

He looked thoughtful, then shook his head. "Don't wanna feel like a third wheel."

"So take my ticket. I'm only going because she likes him."