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“Lady’s clearly a catch-”

“Ugh,” she gags and leans into her Misfit’s hold, “you need that creative writing class if you’re gonna drop lame, lake Dad jokes like that.”

“But I’d throw her ass back.”

At that, she smirks.

“That’s ‘cause,” Dive shifts the drinkware from my grip to his, “she’s not meant for you.” He immediately has a swig. “She’s meant for me.”

Against her own volition, Lady blushes prior to meeting my gaze again. “Now, stop being super dumb and go be super smart and get the one who’s meant for you, Dock.”

Chapter 16

Hogan

“Dock”

I feel dumb.

Again.

Maybe I shouldn’t be here?

Maybe I should take off my cut?

Maybe I shouldn’t have stopped for these?

Fuck.

Maybe I should’ve actually thought about what I wanna say or should say before just showing up at her door like this?

Yeah.

That would’ve been smart shit.

Should I wait to ring the doorbell?

Think of something witty or clever or romantic now instead?

“You are being ridiculous, Noodle!” Emaline squawks from the other side of the closed door. “There’s no one here! And I didn’t order pizza!”

“Mooooowwww,” effortlessly pierces the solid barrier informing this is happening whether I’m ready or not.

Metaphor for my whole fucking life, apparently.

Just hope the Gods of hogs have my back.

“FortheloveofMissMuffetandherfuckingtuffet!” my future Old Lady squeaks split seconds before turning the knob and swinging it open. “S-” instantaneously becomes, “eeeeeeeeeeeek!”

“Moooowwww,” he smugly states in tandem with lifting his golden chin high into the air.

“Ohshushhh,” she huffs before dropping him back inside. “You thought he was the pizza guy!”

“I could eat a slice,” I cheekily announce on a crooked smirk.

“For the last time,” her eyes mirthfully narrow as she struggles not to smile, “I didn’t order pizza.”

“We could.” Nervousness has me wishing I had had that second smoke at You Make Me Daisy, the local flower shop. “Or we could order something else.” Her lack of usual input prompts me to sputter on. “Or…I could cook?”