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Amanda laughed as she got under the roof after Loki, who shook himself, spraying water all around him.
Gene covered the pizza box as much as possible with his body, but he still got drenched.
“Pizza’s good. Me, not so much.”
He was glad to see the laughter on Amanda’s face. It warmed his chilled body.
“We’ll put the clothes in the wash.” She unlocked the door. “Shoes stay outside.”
“I’m gonna drip all over your floor,” he warned.
“Easy enough to dry, but…” She scanned him. “Here, take Loki and give me the pizza. Take off your T-shirt and wring it out over the edge of the porch. I’ll be right back with towels.”
Amanda popped back out when he finished wringing his T-shirt as she’d instructed. She gave his chest an appreciative scan before throwing him a towel, then crouched down to dry her dog.
Gene rubbed the towel on his hair with a smirk.
“You realize you’re throwing fuel into the gossip, don’t you?”
“What?”
He side-eyed the next door unit without turning his head. Amanda followed his direction to Miss Lydia’s window.
“Hi, Miss Lydia!” Amanda waved. “How are you today?”
The door opened and Miss Lydia showed up at the threshold with a grin.
“I’m fine, dear. It looks like you’re having a good day.”
“We are actually.”
“You’re gonna get a chill standing around out here like that, young man,” Miss Lydia warned Gene, though the smile on her face was far from disapproval.
“I am feeling a little exposed,” Gene grinned.
“We’re about to head inside and have dinner,” Amanda said, finishing with Loki and allowing him inside. “Have a good night, Miss Lydia.”
“Have fun,” the old lady said, throwing them a cheeky smile before closing her door.
With a shared quiet laugh, Amanda and Gene rushed inside Amanda’s unit. Loki was already busy eating his dinner from the automated feeding bowl.
“The washer is straight down the hall.” She led him straight toward the back. Amanda pulled open an accordion door to the washer and dryer set and pulled a cord for a light. “Drop your clothes in,” she instructed. “I’ll be right back.”
Gene stripped his wet clothes and wrapped the towel around his waist just a second before Amanda emerged from her room in a bathrobe. She added her wet clothes in and started the machine. But instead of moving away, she just stood there watching the water filling the tub.
“What’s on your mind?” Gene asked, sensing her change of mood.
She gave out a small chuckle. “Sorry. I can’t get those kids out of my mind.”
Gene stepped closer to stroke her arm.
“We’ll find them. You feel it in your gut, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Your feelings are never wrong. You told me that.”
She nodded, this time with more vigor.
