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Trixie lifts one eyebrow. “I can answer for myself.”

Bitter nods immediately.

“You can.”

Her mouth twitches. “Better.”

He looks at me one more time.

Then steps back.

That is it.

No request. No Sweet, say something. No expectation that I walk across the garage and reward him for finding honesty after using lies as a weapon.

The room stays quiet.

Boogie finally raises his hand.

Hyde closes his eyes. “What?”

“Are we allowed to breathe?”

“Against my better judgment.”

Everybody exhales at once.

The spell breaks.

Trixie walks toward me.

I brace automatically.

She stops close enough to talk without making the entire garage part of it.

“You okay?”

“No.”

“Good answer.”

I almost laugh.

She glances toward Bitter. “There. Same room. Same people.”

I know exactly what she means.

“He didn't have to do that.”

Trixie gives me a look. “Yes, he fucking did.”

Fair.

“He didn't have to do it without asking for something back.”

“That part is new.”

We both look at Bitter.