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Riley wasn't amused.

“Okay,” Fallon conceded defeat. “I’m trying to understand. I am. Real friendships are pretty hard to ruin, Riley. Trust me on that. What could you possibly do? Shrink one of my sweaters in that laundry you promised to help with?”

Riley sighed.

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” Riley replied. “The point is that we don’t know each other that well. Who knows what I might do to make you uncomfortable?”

Fallon laughed.

“That’s funny?”

“Kind of.”

Riley’s gaze hardened.

“Oh, come on, Riley. Think about it.Youoffendme? You’re staying in the token lesbian’s house; who owns the token bar in town? Don’t you think it’s me who should worry about offending you?”

Riley’s expression softened. “Unless you plan on forcing yourself on me, I don’t think you need to worry about that. At all. I don’t care about that, Fallon. I have lots of lesbian friends.”

Riley’s revelation didn’t surprise Fallon. Riley had taken Fallon’s disclosure about her sexuality in stride. She had neither raised the point nor avoided it. It lingered on Fallon’s mind. She could be an incurable flirt, even when she meant nothing by it. Riley was right about one thing: their friendship was new. The last thing that Fallon wanted was to offend Riley or make her uncomfortable in any way. She was relieved to clear the air. Maybe she had avoided Riley a bit. It was funny; she looked forward to seeing Riley and talking with her. Their conversations flowed easily and honestly.

“I get it,” Fallon said. “I want you to stay,” she said. “It’ll give us a chance to get to know each other. If you don’t end up thinking I need professional help by the time your roof’s done, I’ll consider it a huge win.”

“You mean like needing a maid?” Riley teased.

“Is my house that messy?”

“Only your laundry.”

Fallon laughed. “So, you’ll stay?”

“You promise. If I...”

“If you drink all my coffee, I’ll throw you out in the snow.”

Riley rolled her eyes.

“Fawon!”

“See? Owen knows a good thing when he finds it.”

“Are you trying to hold up the wall?” Riley asked, never turning from her task.

“You know,” Fallon began lightly, “I’ve been thinking I need to help more around the house.”

Riley’s hands stilled on the cotton shirt she was folding. A smile tugged at her lips, but she didn’t look up. “Oh really? And what brought on this sudden domestic awakening?”

“You always say turnabout isforeplay.” Fallon pushed off the doorframe and sauntered into the room. “I thought maybe I could help with the laundry. You know, share the load.”

This time, Riley looked up, her eyebrows raised. “Laundry? The same woman who once turned my favorite white blouse into a lovely shade of pink wants to help with laundry?”

“That was one time.”

“And shrunk your own sweater so small it fits Owen.”

“Okay, twice.”