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“Really?”

“He was amazing.” She puts the bag of pastries down on the entry table and actually fans herself with one hand. “Like, I don’t even know how to explain it. He was so sweet and so funny on the way back to my place, and then we got inside and he just?—”

“Carla,” I warn.

“I know, I know, you don’t need a full play-by-play. But I have to tell you something. Who knew that shifters could move like that?”

I take a long sip of my cappuccino to give myself something to do with my face.

Right. Who knew?

“And the stamina,” she goes on, eyes wide. “The stamina, Robyn. I mean, I’ve heard things, but I didn’t think they were actually true.”

Oh, they’re true, alright.

I can confirm that the things are very much true. I swallow another gulp of coffee.

“Oh…um…really?” I lift my brows.

“Really. I hit heights I?—”

“I get it.” I snicker.

She sighs. “He was gone when I woke up, though.” She pulls a little face, the corners of her mouth turning down. “I kind of hoped he’d at least stay for breakfast. Or leave a note. Something.”

Yep, gone. Bed empty. All signs erased.

I feel a little disappointed myself.

I nod. “I’m sure he had to be somewhere.”

“Maybe.” She hitches one shoulder. “I really liked him, Robyn. That’s the thing. I know it was just a one-night thing, but I kind of wanted it to be more.”

Oh, honey. You and me both.

I press my lips together on the thought and give myself another mental shake. Because that is exactly the kind of thinking I’m not going to let myself do. I had a great time. It was what it was, and now it’s over. I remind myself of how a relationship can be. About all the drama.

I don’t want drama.

It’s better this way.

“Don’t do that,” I tell her, and I mean it for both of us. “It was never going to be more. We went out, we had fun, you proceeded to have a good time with a gorgeous man. It’s a new day. We didn’t drink enough to get hungover. There’s that too.”

She laughs. “You’re right. I did have a good time.”

“We both did,” I tell her.

I had suuuuch a gooooood time.

She still looks a little flat, though. A little subdued under the glow. I nudge her with my elbow.

“Come inside. Stop hovering in my entryway. You know you want to spend the afternoon with me.”

“I do.” She pouts.

“Thought so.”

I turn and head for the living room, and the first step has me biting down on the inside of my cheek because I feel him there. A sting with every step. I try hard to walk normally, but…I’m tender.