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“You don’t have to sound so stunned.”

“I am. He stares down the mailman every single day.”

“Maybe he knows I’m not a threat.”

“Maybe.” She looks at me, and something in her expression shifts. “Or maybe he’s starting to trust my judgment.”

The words hang in the air.

I should respond to that. Acknowledge what she just admitted—that she’s opening a door she’s kept locked for a long time, and she’s opening it for me, which means?—

Instead, my phone buzzes.

Dean:Got Rex home. Jo’s making dinner if you want to come. Also your car is still at my place.

Right. My car.

“I should go,” I say, standing. “My car’s at Dean’s.”

“Right. Of course.”

“But maybe...” I hesitate. Every alarm in my headis going off. Don’t do this. Don’t open a door she’s going to walk out of. “Maybe Rex could come visit Ruffy sometime. Officially. Instead of breaking and entering.”

Delilah’s mouth curves. Not quite a smile, but close. “I think Ruffy would like that.”

“Cool.”

“Cool.”

We’re both terrible at this.

Ruffy follows me to the gate, not guarding now but...escorting. Like he’s making sure I leave properly.

“Bye, Ruffy,” I say.

He huffs.

“I’ll take that as progress.”

Delilah’s still on the porch when I close the gate behind me. She lifts her coffee mug in a small wave.

I wave back.

Then I walk to Dean’s house with the wedding song finally taking shape in my head.

She crashed into my life like chaos in a storm,Made me want to open doors I’d sworn I’d keep closed...

It’s not finished. It’s probably not even good. And I’m trying not to thinkabout the fact that I just described Dean and Jo’s love story using words that fit mine and Delilah’s just as well.

But for the first time, it’s honest.

And that’s a start.

Even if that’s the most dangerous thing I could be right now.

NINE

DELILAH