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She points the pillow at me. “Do not start.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“I was.”

“I know.”

I like that she does. For a moment Laura stays beside me instead of getting up. Her fingers smooth a wrinkle in the sheet, then stop.

“This was a very strange way to spend a Wednesday morning.”

“Did you like it?”

“Yes.”

She answers immediately.

Then she pushes herself up and reaches for her clothes. “Come on. We have an entire day to waste.”

“You took the day off.”

“I’m aware.”

We get dressed. I discover I like that too. Not as much as being undressed, but the quiet rhythm inside me does not disappear when our clothes go back on. Laura is still here. The rest of the day is still here. There are places I have not seen, food I have not tasted, things I have not touched or heard yet.

And she has chosen to spend all of it with me.

Sex was not the thing she took the day off for.

I was.

Chapter Twelve

Kell

When Laura asks again what I want to do, I already have an answer.

“I want to see Locke’s workshop.”

“Give him a call and see if that works.”

I scroll through my phone and find his picture, which is not hard to do since there are not many people I know. I recognize my own name now and a few short words Laura has shown me, but faces are still faster. Locke answers after three rings.

“Kell.”

“Are you home?”

“Yes.”

“I want to come to your workshop.”

The line stays quiet. I wait, no longer wondering whether he heard me. Locke takes time when he needs it, and I’ve learned there’s no reason to fill that time for him.

“Okay.”

“Now?”