Page 51 of Paws & Order

From the bathroom comes a muffled:

"Go away."

Margo beams. "No."

I shut the door and prepare for the worst.

Margo takes one look around the apartment. Then she looks directly at me.

"Oh my God."

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Margo.”

"Oh my God."

"Margo.”

Her grin widens. "You kissed her."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

Liza emerges from the bathroom looking suspiciously well-rested.

Margo points at her. "You kissed him."

Liza immediately betrays me.

"Twice."

I close my eyes.

Traitor.

Margo makes a sound usually associated with lottery winners.

"I have waited years for this."

"Years?" Liza asks.

"Everyone has."

I groan. "Please stop."

Neither woman listens.

Naturally.

The next few days settle into something unexpectedly easy.

Not normal.

Blackthorn Bay gave up on normal decades ago.

But easy.

Liza stops pretending she doesn't want me around.