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"You say that like it’s not my best quality."

"I mean, it’s up there. Alongside the suspicious number of rings."

"I’ll take that as a compliment." I tilt my head. "Also, suspicious? Or charmingly roguish?"

She pauses. "It’s a fine line."

Pickle lets out a small bark, tail thumping, like he’s voting "roguish" with extreme enthusiasm.

I reach down to scratch behind his ears. "See?” I tell him. “She likes me."

"He likes roadkill and mud puddles," she says. "You’re in excellent company."

I give her a faux wounded look. "Wow. Brutal. I thought we were bonding."

"We are," she says dryly. "In the way people bond during disasters."

"You wound me, Fletcher."

"Good."

I sip my coffee, watching her over the rim. She’s got that wild, sleep deprived sparkle in her eye. The one people get after surviving a toddler sugar crash or a failed IKEA build. I like it. I like her. Too much, probably.

"You know," I say casually, "you’re welcome to swing by for a less chaotic visit sometime. Preferably not at full sprint with Pickle foaming at the mouth."

She snorts. "And do what, exactly?"

"Sit in the tattoo chair," I say, winking. "Could even offer you thespecial experiencepackage. No leash required."

There’s a half beat of silence. Then her entire face rearranges itself.

Brows up. Mouth open.

She stares at me, frowning in that way people do when trying to reverse engineer a life decision.

I watch it hit her in real time.

She tilts her head.

Squints.

Then…

"Wait," she blurts, eyes widening, "areyouthe one I slept with?"

The words land like a record scratch across the room. Even Pickle lifts his head in alarm.

"You look so alike and it was dark that night and…"

I choke. Literally choke on my coffee.

Then I start laughing. Loud, wheezing, delighted laughter that echoes off the walls.

"Oh no way," I manage between fits. "No. Nooo. Definitely not."

She goes rigid, face going scarlet.

"I mean… thanks?" I add, still cracking up. "I’m flattered. Truly. But no. That would’ve been Mitchell. Giant broody vibes. Great with shading, terrible with feelings."