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"Beat it yourself," she spat, pretending to jerk off her invisible dick.

I laughed and folded my arms across my chest. "You love acting like a fool."

"It's my favorite hobby." She mimicked my posture. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. We tried to go out, and everything was going well, then Nora had a panic attack. She's okay."

"She is. But are you okay?" she asked, then snagged two sodas from the fridge.

"Yeah. I'm fine." I accepted the can when she offered it to me. "Where's the beer in this house?"

"It's a sober dorm, bubba." She cracked open the drink and took a swig. "Thought you knew that."

"Keep forgetting."

The laughter of Nora, Maggie, and Harper radiated into the kitchen and brought a smile to my face. Sali and I both watched them through the open door.

"Where's Ollie?" I asked.

"With Katie. Ben's been staying there more often while they work on the house."

"Miss them?"

"Yeah. For sure. But I don't miss having to hide my wife's naked ass while I fuck her in the kitchen."

"What about Harper and Moreno?" I smirked at the mental image her description formed.

"They know when it's safe to show up. Twin-tuition, as Harper calls it. Sounds like I have to pay her each semester for twin classes or some fucking shit." Sali rolled her eyes and, again, I laughed at her.

"You're ridiculous."

"Yeah, well, it makes you laugh." She gestured to the kitchen table and I sat down with her.

"Are we avoiding getting bombarded with girly shit?"

"Totally. But also, you think you hide your shit well, but you don't. Know how I know?"

"Nope." I sipped my soda. "Don't care though."

"Liar. I know because you stop talking and only speak when I ask shit directly at you. What are you thinking about tonight while your girl has a blast with mine?"

"That tonight was hard on her. She'd been doing so well, getting back to herself. But she has a hard time being out in public now."

"What else?"

"And that in less than two weeks, I have to go back to work and leave her home alone. She gets so scared when the panic hits her. I don't want her to be alone." I set my drink down and pulled my foot up to fuck with the laces of my boot. "Ever."

"She won't be. We already have a plan, don't we? Nora will stay with me and Maggie while you go to work."

"Yeah. Anita said the same… If not the two of you, then her."

"Hmm." Sali stroked her chin. "Anita."

"Awkward for you?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes it's more awkward being a patient than anything else."

"I get it."