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I still would’ve come.

Interviews with well-known reporters be damned.

Overall, Andreas held up well under the scrutiny.Without being overt, he made it clear he was the aggrieved party.And that he was happy to come out now—not that he had any choice—because he believed in living his authentic life.Just before, he’d believed that meant escorting costars to charity events and keeping his private life exactly that—private.

The reporter also had a brief conversation with Norah—to assure the world that the young woman really was okay with all this—and then everyone had pretended to move on with their lives.

Until, as I’d been walking out the door, an alert flashed that an LAPD source had dropped Omar’s name in connection with Andreas.Between that tidbit and the black eye, things had spiraled out of control.I’d be cleaning up the mess likely until Andreas went to Vancouver.Possibly longer.But we’d hit the end of the line tonight, and nothing short of my bed would be enough at this point.

Well, except seeing Phillip taking care of Raphael, himself, and Wally.

I hadn’t asked why everyone was wet.I figured my nibblet’s insistence on a bath every night had something to do with it.

After finishing the sandwich, I wiped my hand on a napkin, put the plate in the dishwasher, and headed upstairs.

As I’d assumed, Thaddeus was fast asleep.He’d tossed off his blankets, and I engaged in a ritual I enjoyed so much—I tucked him back under the covers.

I found Raphael in their bed with a towel on their pillow and their nose in a book.

“Would you like me to blow dry your hair?”

They shook their head—which I’d expected.They never enjoyed the sensation of hot air being blown on them.

I was grateful it appeared they’d managed to stay dressed today.Although I somehow suspected Phillip would’ve coped.

His willingness to just step up and do whatever was necessary warmed me.I didn’t know how much experience he had watching children.The good news was that Raphael would’ve been just bossy enough to ensure the house ran smoothly.

Or chaos might’ve ensued.Things could’ve gone either way.

“I love you,” I told my precocious niblet.

They rolled their eyes.“Duh.”

Which was often their way of expressing their affection toward me.Sometimes I got anI love you.That was rare, and therefore even more treasured when it happened.

Thaddeus loved to run around hugging everyone and telling them that he loved them, from his mom to a stranger in the park.Cute in a three-year-old, but would likely get him into trouble later if he didn’t become more discriminating.

I waved to Raphael before moving to the room Phillip was using.Everything was organized, so packing up took mere moments.As I’d known, Wally’s stuff took up more space in the bag than my human friend’s.

Friend.

Yeah, that fit.My being attracted to him didn’t diminish the friendship.His willingness to help my sister only amplified my feelings for him.He’d survived an evening with the nibblets—not all the people I knew were capable of that.

Marcie admitted, once she’d calmed, that she’d thought of about a dozen other people she could’ve called.But she’d chosen Phillip and hadn’t wavered in her faith he could do the job.Hadn’t wanted him to think she didn’t believe in him.

I snagged the bag and Wally’s stairs and headed back down to Phillip.I found him putting the wet towels in the washing machine.His shorts were still clearly damp, and Wally wafted eau de wet dog, but they appeared undamaged.I cleared my throat.“Do I want to know how Wally got wet?”

Phillip offered a weary smile.“Apparently climbing step stools and jumping into eight inches of water is a talent I didn’t know my dog possessed.I did my best to clean up all the water.”

“I’m certain it’s fine.”

“Raphael directed me.”

“They’re good at that.”

“Yes, they are.They talked me into making the grilled cheese.I resisted the urgings, from both children, to bake cookies.”

“Do you know how to bake cookies?”Only after I asked the question did I hear how it sounded.