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I made a gagging sound, turning back to Lindsay and resting my head on her shoulder. “You’re the only one left who I still like. The only bastion of goodness in a terrible, cruel world.”

She planted a kiss against the side of my head, and suddenly nothing bad existed anywhere in the world anymore. “Explains why you refused to let me leave.”

“Well, yeah. You leave me alone and I get bored and start breeding lizards. You know, I considered taking up model rocketry when you first moved to New York…”

“Guess it’s a good thing you found me, or Bayview wouldn’t be left standing.”

Priscilla gave Lindsay a hug and a quietI know we’re not acknowledging this, but congratulations again and I can’t wait to read iton her way out, and Annabel caught us in the entryway as we were getting ready to head out for the long trek over to my house six steps over. Lindsay rolled her eyes with a dry smile as Annabel just looked at her, ignoring my plight where I was fumbling getting my shoes on.

“Just spit it out,” Lindsay said.

“Say hypothetically you had just finished the draft of a book,” Annabel said. “What would be your next steps from here?”

Lindsay laughed. “What a fantastic question.”

“Always have been the type to go unrelentingly after something. Whether it’s for someone else or for yourself.”

Lindsay looked away. “How much has Priscilla told you about, anyway?”

“You know Scil doesn’t share secrets. I just know you pretty well… know theother girlsthing wasn’t really the whole reason we ended.”

I folded my arms. “Are you talking about having dated my girlfriend right in front of me? While I’m full up on lethal energy and cake?”

Lindsay dropped her gaze, softening against the wall. “Sorry things were… messy. I feel like I gave you a complex.”

“Hey. Things happened the way they did, and they led me to Scil. I’m happy. And I’m happy for you.” She glanced over at me with a sly smile before looking back to Lindsay. “Especially because you two seemveryhappy.”

Lindsay brushed her hair back, giving Annabel a sweet smile. “I, ah… I’m a lucky woman like that. Fell in love with the one woman who wouldn’t let me self-sabotage by running away.”

I put my hands up. “Sue me if I know what I want and I go after it.”

Annabel nudged my shoulder. “Hey, you look happy, too, Pais. Bakery life treating you well, from the looks of things.”

“I mean, now that I have every morning shift covered and I don’t have to wake up at four in the morning anymore, life’s good. Now, I am taking my pretty girlfriend and going, especially since your girlfriend is shivering in the cold outside and you probably have another girl at home right now waiting for you.”

“Oh, you know. Just a couple.” She raised a hand as she headed out the door. “Catch you later, you two. Coming to the show on Sunday? Nancy won’t forgive you if you don’t show up. She’s been talking about it ever since she got out of the hospital.”

“Oh, crap, I forgot about the show,” I said. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Unless I forget again.”

Lindsay nudged me. “I’ll remind her. We’ll be there.”

“See you then,” she said, shutting the door behind her. Lindsay headed out the door not long after, but Emberlynn caught me in the doorway while I was fumbling with my coat.

“Hey, Pais,” she said. “I know this is a rushed time to ask, but… are you feeling better?”

I blinked at her. “Nah, still got the tuberculosis. Been hacking up blood all day. I only got a little bit in the soup, though.”

“Don’t say that. If anyone actually would, it’s you.” She leaned against the wall, giving me an odd smile. “Just… you switch between glasses and contacts a lot.”

Oh, we were doing the veiled language game, huh? I rolled my eyes, turning away with a dry smile. “Yeah, yeah. I look good in both.”

“You look… fine.”

“You’d better be glad I’ve sworn eternal allegiance to our sisterly blood bond. Otherwise I’d break you over my knee for insulting Lindsay’s girlfriend.”

She laughed. “So, when you two getting married?”

I stuck out my tongue at her. “Oh, you know. Could be tomorrow, could be the day after.”