February had been too eventful for Frank’s taste. Having to be in lock down when it wasn’t even a full moon, and then for the full moon, it was almost more than he could handle. If he had been irritated and angry with Laney, it had slowly waned as time went on. Valentine’s Day had been... interesting.

When he could help Akiva, he did. She had it rough. She was still his best friend! So after he’d recovered from the full moon and finished some work, he’d invited her (and Gabe) over. Frank attempted to have her over at least once a week, or stopped at hers with take away. It was important to him, to be there for her when she was going through so much.

The popcorn was popping while he rocked Gabe, glancing over a few random photos he had up. Smirking as he came across one from just out of Hogwarts, with Akiva, he glanced over his shoulder towards the kitchen where she was. The little boy was all ready fast asleep; Frank was warmer than he used to be and it made for the perfect baby rocker.

Her choice of movies were on the coffee table. The upside to having a muggle apartment was the electricity and muggle comforts he enjoyed from his childhood. If it meant he couldn’t use his wand as often, that was fine. His bare feet moved himself around, back towards the kitchen where the popping was drawing out. Smiling warmly at Akiva, he made a motion with his head towards the sleeping babe. He whispered loudly, “I’ll put him down.”

As if his normal voice was any louder than the popcorn being made. Frank shuffled back to his room, putting the tired guy down in the little basinet. Making sure he was warm enough, Frank backed out of the room, pulled the door to, and made it back to the living room. Sitting down on the couch, where his cold butterbeer was waiting, he stretched himself out. “Chocolate’s in the fridge.”

Truth be told, Akiva didn’t watch many movies.  She and Dree did not own a television – or really have electricity in the muggle sense, and though she had always liked movies growing up, she found the wireless could be a good substitute, and she’d always enjoyed reading.  She didn’t really miss it, per se, but when Frank asked if she wanted to come watch something, she couldn’t say no.

She didn’t want to either.  With everything in her life, she needed time with her friends.  Raizel and Frank provided two very different types of friendships, but both were extremely valuable, and it hadn’t taken Kiv more than a day or two to get over seeing what she’d seen last time she was at Frank’s to agree to come over.  Though, not without a well-placed jibe about hoping he’d disinfected everything before she and Gabriel came over. 

She didn’t really mean it, but it’d be funny, and she took every opportunity she could to laugh. 

Right now though, she was making popcorn (couldn’t trust him to do it without burning it) and Frank was having some bonding time with Gabriel.  They were quiet, the only sound was the popping kernels (sometimes she missed having these appliances), until Frank came in with a very sleepy Gabriel, announcing in a rough whisper that he’d put him down. 

Kiv thanked goodness for the joys of shrinking charms and bottomless bags, being able to bring the necessities for Gabriel with her, and nodded with a fond smile as Frank disappeared from sight.  She turned back to the microwave and took out the bag, shaking it to make sure the kernels were all popped and then gingerly peeled it open, being sure to keep her hands away from the steam. 

Satisfied, she shook a little extra salt over the popcorn and laughed as Frank announced where the chocolate was.  “Oh, I’m serving you now?” she asked with a happy lilt to her voice, “I thought I was the guest here.”  Not that it stopped her from moving to the  fridge to get it.

It was understood that Akiva now had something she could easily tease Frank about. And he was allowed to feel the burn of humiliation in his face when she did. It seemed better that it was Akiva, though, as opposed to either of his sisters. If he didn’t give in to her quips about the cleanliness of his apartment, it was more due to the fact that he didn’t like to lie. He had cleaned. Just perhaps not in the bleaching expectation that one might have had after such an experience.

Because, really, it had been a few weeks since then. There had been more areas covered than just the bedroom and balcony.

From his place on the couch, he smirked at her question. He rubbed at the calf of his left leg absentmindedly. Sometimes when it was cold out, the spot that someone had stuck a silver dagger into him burned and ached like something awful. Frank tried very hard to forget those memories. "I just want chocolate." Yes, he was whining.

“Guest?” Making a face that she couldn’t see, Frank scoffed. “I just cradled your son to sleep.” Smirking to himself, he sunk back into the couch a little more. “You’re like a roommate who has their own flat.” Picking up the movie options, grunting out a breath as he leaned over to grab them, he lifted them up. “Which one do you want to watch?”

The smell of popcorn wafted into the living room. It was going to be a delicious afternoon, he could all ready tell. Moving both movies to one hand, his other rubbed at his belly in thought as he stared off into space. So much had happened in the last couple years of their lives that it was weird to think they could still hang out as if none of it had happened.

“You sound like me five months ago,” Akiva teased at the whining demand for chocolate.  Remembering things about being pregnant seemed surreal.  It hadn’t been that long ago that she’d been resigned to the couch, too bloated and filled with back pain to even get up and demanded things from Dreogan from across the house to now having a rapidly growing and developing three month old. 

Gabriel kept her sane though, with his bright, brown eyes and newly appearing smile.  She loved it, especially when he shuddered with his first giggles, or grabbed something, or even when he pulled at her earrings and hair.  All of it was a way to ground her.  If not for him and her friends, she’d have been hopeless. 

Sauntering into the living room, Akiva laughed.  “I don’t just have a flat, dear,” she corrected, “ I have a house.”  She placed the popcorn, and chocolate, on the coffee table and dropped onto the couch next to him, not even hesitating to intrude upon his space, since he decided he was going to stretch out anyway, Akiva was the sort to curl up in anyone’s space, as long as they would allow it – and thankfully, Frank wasn’t the sort to shirk away. 

Looking at the movie options, Akiva laughed.  He was such a dork.  She appreciated it.  “Fellowship of the Ring or Iron Man… choices!” she threw her head back in mock horror, her hand splayed over her forehead with distress, though quickly wiped away by a laugh. 

“Since we’ve watched Fellowship maybe… a thousand times,” not really, but it felt like it, “Iron Man sounds good.  My dad liked it,” she plucked the movie out of his hand to examine the box and take the disc out.  She hadn’t seen any movies in so long and then scooted so he could move, “You put it in,” she ordered, holding it out to him.  “And, since you’ll be up, grab me a butterbeer?” she grinned, crossing her legs and grasping her ankles on the couch cushion.   

“Maybe that’s what I’m trying to sound like.” He mumbled it to himself, more of an outspoken response but not expecting her to hear it. Drumming his fingers on the arm of the couch, a foot bounced in the air as his leg laid half over the cushions. When she came over, he only moved a little bit to allow her space; it wasn’t as if they hadn’t been friends for what felt like forever.

Besides, she knew too much. She had seen too much. What was his leg in her personal space really going to do? His eyes rolled while he smirked. “I have a house.” Perhaps hanging around with Laney had made him more annoying and childish. Mocking wasn't the most adult-like responses. Once she was settled, he put his leg over hers and stretched out further. A handful of popcorn later, and he waited as she admired his movie selections.

If it could make him laugh or had enough action and story to keep him interested, then Frank was interested in it. He didn’t shy away from romantic comedies either, but that seemed... inappropriate for the day. “Hey! You can never get enough of Frodo falling down all the time.” Honestly, the amount of times he collapses throughout the series was astonishing. Eyes rolled again and he laughed. “Well, if Mr. Katz liked it, then so should his daughter.”

When she held the movie out to him, he let out a groan of displeasure. Even so, he took the movie and stuck his tongue out at her. Another groan escaped him as he shifted himself, pushing up as he pulled his leg back. “Yes ma’am.” He put the disc in before stepping back behind the couch and towards the kitchen. “Couldn’t you have grabbed it while you were in the kitchen?” Smirking as he pulled a couple out of the fridge, just in case they needed another one, he made his way back over.

Frank offered her a cold bottle after climbing back onto the couch. He held his own up, clinking them together. “Don’t go all fan girl on me over Iron Man.” Frank took a sip of the frothy liquid. With the popcorn bowl in his lap, one arm stretched out behind them on the couch while the other rested on the sofa arm.

“I watch you fall all over your face enough for ten Frodos,” she teased, wrinkling her nose at him.  She might have been a true to form adult in so many ways, but Frank had a tendency to bring out the still sometimes alive teenager in her.  That meant any and all teasing was completely warranted.  His clumsiness was a well-known part of him – much more than anything else that Akiva had… recently learned about her best friend. 

There were just some things you didn’t want to know about the people you loved deeply.  Clumsiness was one thing… the alternative uses for a balcony was an entirely different story. 

That was something to be put out of the back of her head, however.  Haunted memories of that didn’t need to creep into a nice afternoon.  “You should know Doctor Katz has very good taste,” she added, thinking of her dad with a happy sigh. 

She returned the tongue-stuck-out gesture as he removed his leg and managed to get up without taking a spill before taking the disc.  “I could have, but I was too busy getting your popcorn and chocolate,” she returned with self-satisfaction, turning to watch him as he went toward the kitchen. 

He was quick, grabbing the bottles and then coming back.  She reached out and took her bottle, happily uncapping it with the corner of her sweater.  “I make no promises,” Akiva grinned over the top of the bottle, “there’s science involved – you know how I feel about science,” she giggled, and toasted with him before she resumed a comfortable space underneath his extended arm and up against his side, her knees pulled up under her. 

Perhaps he should’ve known where the comment about Frodo would go... It wouldn’t have mattered either way, though; the flush of his cheeks was immediate. “Well, yes, I guess... you probably do.” He laughed, somewhat embarrassedly, before focusing on his comfort right then. And it wasn’t just the memory of the recent balcony unbalancing, though that was the cause of most of the red tinge of his face.

In his time, he had had quite a few good spills. The coffee table had been replaced once before after he’d fallen on the previous one. This one was sturdier. It also meant that if he did stumble into it or his toe decided to catch him on it, that it didn’t budge very much. He had had a few good bruises from it.

With her dad brought up, he merely laughed and shrugged. “I should.” There were times Frank liked her dad more than his own.

“And the popcorn smells delicious. You can’t have any, because it’s mine.” He pointed at her as he walked past. “Don’t even think about it.” Frank loved the way it permeated the air long after it was done popping.

At the mention of science, he barked out a laugh. He drew his legs up and over the top of the coffee table, crossed at the ankles as he lounged out. His arm snaked around her to draw her in closer, hand loosely hanging out in the air as the previews started. It didn’t matter if Frank had seen them all before; he loved trailers.

“If that was true, you would’ve gone with the Fellowship. The potential for debating the science behind that could’ve been endless.” He talked throughout movies to the dismay of some. His little sister couldn’t deal, and often threatened to dump his drink on him if she had to hear one more thing out of his mouth.

Akiva wasn’t Isabelle, thank goodness. Tucking his bottle between his thigh and the couch, his newly freed hand dug into the popcorn. When her hand came near, he slapped it playfully away. “You should make your own if you want some.” With that, he grinned, leaning forward enough to grab the remote to hit play. Once settled back, he drummed his fingers lightly on her upper arm. “I wish they would do an Avengers movie. Hopefully they do. .”

Grinning at the thought, he tilted his head against the side of hers. If he had read a few of the comics in his time, that was just trivia.

The satisfaction of being able to get Frank to blush was overwhelming sometimes.  She had never really had anything to tease him about so… readily before.  It was embarrassing for both of them, of course, but Akiva had been entirely innocent in what had happened, thus, making it open season. 

“Are you struggling with food aggression?” she asked, trying to suppress her grin, “you can be trained out of that.”  Obviously, making light of his condition wasn’t always appropriate, but in this context, Akiva felt it was not only appropriate – but wise – to make a joke.  He could pretend all he wanted, but she knew the truth. 

He was as harmless as they came, and when he tugged her closer, Akiva happily obliged.  When she had grown up without siblings, Frank had become a surrogate brother, and even though he already had, she just made the family a tiny bit bigger.  Rolling her eyes at his suggestion about the Fellowship, Akiva snorted.

She shook her head and pursed her lips.  “There is very little science at all in Lord of the Rings,” she corrected, “It sounds more like an old History of Magic lecture than something I’d have heard at King’s.”  Two very different  types of education, to be sure, but both equally as important to her.  One became far more useful than the other in short order, but if she hadn’t gone to King’s and the wizarding war had not ended favorably, she probably would have been a waitress or something of the sort now.  Not that that would be a bad thing, but Akiva had things to be happy for now, and things she’d never want to give up.

Reaching over to grab some popcorn, Akiva gasped as he tapped her hand.  “I should say the same to you,” she chided and darted her hand back into the bowl.  “You’re lucky I’m forgiving,” she looked at him sideways, before very purposefully putting a handful of popcorn in her mouth. 

Chewing, Akiva rolled her eyes, once again.  “You are such a nerd,” she declared after swallowing, and then took another sip of butterbeer.  “But that’s okay.  That’s why I love you,” she added leaning up to brush a kiss against his stubbly cheek and then leaned her head back, creating a counterbalance to the weight he put on her.  “What are the Avengers?”

“Food aggression?” Was she making a joke about him dealing with his embarrassment? Then it clicked, and he made a face before letting out a breath of a laugh. “I’m not your Pavlov Dog.” Even though he was teasing her with the food, that comment made him want to deny her the snacks even more. Honestly, comparing him to a dog! It wasn’t as if he had fleas or anything. And he was perfectly capable of intelligent conversation.

Usually.

“Maybe that’s why it’s a favorite.” Frank loved history. Anyway he could get it, he would gobble it up and ask for seconds. History of Magic had been his favorite class by far, and he still had many books he read regarding the history of wizard and muggle. The way that they coincided and yet were so different and secluded from one another... it was fascinating. And that was a topic he could geek out about as well.

Which was probably a good reason to stick away from the hobbits and their quest. He had theories, after all, about whether Gandalf was based on a famous wizard from the early 1900s.

When she got a handful of popcorn, he looked at her in feigned shock. “I need to get bowls with names on them.” Picking up his bottle, he took another swig to wash down some of the saltiness in his mouth.

“You love me because I’m amazing.” Still, he accepted the kiss with a grin and raise of his eyebrows. “I love you, too.” If he rolled his eyes at the words, he knew he still meant them. He let out a surprised noise at her question. “What are the Avengers?!” Letting out a practiced exasperated sigh, he shook his head (against hers) slightly before groaning. “You have a son, Akiva, you need to learn this stuff.” Still, he grinned. “It’s a group of superheroes that include Iron Man. Like the Justice League, but for a different comic publication. I think there’s a movie in the works for another of the characters, Thor. He’s a god.”

He opened his mouth to explain more about the group when the action started; explosions began and his muscles tightened as he pulled her in a little closer. Adrenaline started to pump, and he forgot about the Avengers for a few minutes.

If she had to hear about his Gandalf theory one more time, Akiva would probably give him a smart hit on the shoulder.  She knew he loved history, and the ring books, and they were all well and good, but they definitely had different tastes in some things.   

“I don’t know how,” Akiva sighed.  “Binns was terrible.”  He wasn’t a mean spirited ghost, but he was… not engaging.  Akiva could enjoy reading as much as she wanted, but in class… just no. 

Akiva’s favorite subjects had always been a toss-up between charms, astronomy, and arithmancy.  She liked the familiarity of the latter two, and the wand work for a purpose in the first; transfiguration had also piqued her interest. She’d regretted never finishing her studies, in some ways, but it all worked out, in the long run… mostly. 

He was just making things too easy today though, and Akiva grinned putting her hand back in the bowl.  “I think I saw some at the pet shop when I was going to buy Lady’s food,” she noted, popping the popcorn in her mouth with a look of utter triumph.  Another win.

Of course, his feigned shock was probably more like an inward victory for him as well, talking about his comic book things.  “I have a three month old,” Akiva stressed.  The importance of his age in this was crucial.  She didn’t have to know any of that yet.  “Besides, it sounds like you know enough that Uncle Frank can be the generous giver of all superhero knowledge,” she grinned. 

She liked the idea.  Gabriel needed a lot of people in his life, a lot of consistency.  There was, of course, their immediate family, but people beyond that were important.  Roots were necessary. 

Apparently though, explosions were starting and Akiva, with a sudden jerk, was pulled into him, and then laughed. “Definitely going to have to wait until Gabriel’s older to watch these though,” she assessed, explosions in the first couple of minutes of the film did not bode well for something less... violent. 

Frank couldn’t disagree with her assessment of Binns. But the content was what had grabbed Frank, not the teaching style of a ghost who couldn’t be convinced he didn’t have to teach dry anymore. Or teach at all, for that matter. That was dedication to a degree that Frank couldn’t connect to. “Come on, the Troll Wars? They were amazing.” There were parts of history that bored him. Like the whole nomadic beginnings.

It wasn’t as dry as muggle history; there were fantasy elements to the wizarding history that captivated a young wizard at Hogwarts. Another reason he enjoyed things such as Lord of the Rings. It was a mixture of human wizards and magical creatures.

He didn’t realize how easily he let her make fun of him. It showed on his face as it fell. He didn’t even have a proper response to it. “Well, Lady- well. Hm.” She caught him on that one. Frank had left himself wide open for it, too! He stuffed his mouth with popcorn, crunching on it loudly and turning to her ear to do it, as if that was the best response he could come up with. He grinned before closing his mouth and chewing his snack like an adult.

If she wasn’t invested in her sons education by three months, when would she ever be? He had been generous enough to supply her with onesies of his two favorite superheroes. “He needs someone to take him under their wing. His mother is no help.” He nudged her a little while smirking. “We’ll start with comic bedtime stories and move on from there.”

For a while, he focused on the movie, the occasional comment thrown in here and there. He was so focused on the action that he hardly gave other actions any thought. He sipped his drink, rubbed her shoulder as if he was comforting her during the rough encampment Tony Stark was undergoing, and tsked and groaned when irritating things happened.

Even if he had seen it a couple of times before.

Pulling away from her as he leaned forward, arm arching over her head, he grabbed the chocolate and lightly tossed it in her lap, flexing his toes as his legs made their way back to the coffee table. “I still don’t get the appeal. Pepper, on the other hand, I understand."

 Hah! Catching him was her favorite part.  It was probably entirely unexpected, coming from her.  Akiva was, for the most part, all sugar, no spice, and everything nice.  She did, on occasion, like to surprise people. 

Putting her hand under his chin, she figured she might help him close his mouth, as he chewed like an animal.  “Much better,” she praised as he finally stopped chomping and chewed like a person. She rolled her eyes and adjusted a little bit to fit better in the crook of his side. 

“I suppose comic books and pictures books aren’t entirely different,” she allowed, not desirous of touching the first comment, for fear of being a downer.  Books were easy to talk about, and that was something she was doing right, for sure.  She’d been reading out loud to him since before he was born, and did so much of the day, even narrating the basic things she was doing.  She’d read that the more you talked, especially not in baby talk, the more language they learned.  Exposure was, apparently, key. 

They settled into quiet though, and Akiva watched with surprisingly close attention.  She didn’t know if she’d like it – sometimes her father’s recommendations could be suspect… she figured whatever this Avengers stuff was, he and Frank could talk about it for hours together, if they really wanted to.  It was interesting though, and surprisingly funny at points.  She liked a movie that didn’t take itself so seriously. 

Plus, there was something weirdly attractive about Tony Stark.  He was a jerk, but there was something there.  She was definitely enjoying this movie.  She could even manage to ignore Frank’s ridiculous reactions.  He had obviously seen this movie before. 

Just as she was really getting comfortable, Frank decided to move.  She groaned – only sated, a tiny bit, by chocolate that flew into her lap.  “What do you mean you don’t get the appeal?” Akiva asked, incredulous.  “Millionaire, smart, reckless – really good hair,” she loved good hair. 

Putting a piece of candy in her mouth, she snorted.  “Your current… girlfriend…" if that’s what they were (she didn't want to offend him by not saying so - but also didn't want to force labels if they weren't - it was complicated), “is not a Pepper, Mr. Pratt.”

The more he tried to resist her insistent hand, the harder it was to chew and think at the same time. So he finally closed his lips and chewed not quite so amazingly. A half grin slipped on his face. If she could catch him in his stumbles, he could enjoy annoying her with his questionable habits. Lucky he was more interested in the movie than in trying to gross her out.

“No they’re not, especially if you do different voices.” Not that Frank had practiced that while reading them in the comfort of his empty flat. Frank didn’t realize his first comment might have been offensive, thinking he was keeping things light hearted and away from other topics that would turn the smiles into frowns and sobs real quick. He would be her shoulder in a heart beat, but if they could laugh and enjoy each other’s company instead...

Talking about Tony Stark made Frank a little grumpy. “The only difference between him and me is the money! Why are the ladies not throwing themselves at me?” As if to reiterate his point, he messed his hair up by tousling it himself. In all actuality, he couldn’t handle any more than Laney. She wore him out whenever she was over, or he was with her, or they were in the same vicinity of one another. Her energy level was much higher than his.

Damn kids. “Plus, look, I can grow facial hair I can trim into something cute.” Pointing to his face, he waggled his eyebrows at her before laughing. Perhaps reckless was not a word to normally describe Frank. Ever since his transformation, it seemed more appropriate. At least compared to prior Frank.

Letting out a breath, he eyed her out of the corner of his eyes. “No, she’s not.” That was true. “I can have different types, can’t I?” He shifted against her as he readjusted his butt on the couch; no need for it to go numb. It was not a subconscious reaction to thinking of his girlfriend. “She’s more like... Tony Stark. As a woman.” And he smirked at her, feeling a little triumphant.

In all reality, he didn’t know how to describe Laney. “I was hoping to introduce her properly...” Frank had been tossing around the idea of having her for dinner at his parents house. “Molly didn’t know about her.” He gave her a slightly accusatory look as he finished his butterbeer.

Frank’s assertion about Tony Stark was ridiculous.  Of course, his question, probably meant to be rhetorical was even slightly more ridiculous. “I don’t believe,” she started, “that you are having any difficulties in finding a girl to throw herself at you.”  It was a true enough assessment, though even saying it made her cheeks burn a little bit as well. 

He was like her brother.  No one wanted to think about his or her brother in that light. 

She really didn’t like whatever facial hair he was currently wearing either.  “You… need to get rid of that,” she wrinkled her nose, very serious on the point.  It didn’t look bad, per se, but it was strange.  It made him look even older, and though Akiva would never say anything to him about it – but Laney was clearly very young.  It… didn’t help him when he stood next to her to have that. 

There was no good way to say that though, and edging on politeness, even with him, she couldn’t very well say that.  “Very different types,” she agreed, and then laughed at his assessment of Laney.  She didn’t know her well, obviously, but she did (now) now that the girl played quidditch and had a reputation of being… tough. 

“As long as you’re happy with her, it doesn’t matter what type she is,” Akiva finally agreed with herself on saying.  She truly believed that.  She wanted Frank to be happy and the relationship, as strange as it was for her, clearly had something in it for Frank to continue seeing her.  He wasn’t the type to get involved with a girl that he didn’t care at least a little bit about.

Of course, his accusatory look was enough to make Akiva now sit up straighter and look at him, incredulous.  “How was I supposed to know Molly didn’t?” she responded with a gasp.  Sure, it had been sufficiently awkward when she’d jotted it down in one of her letters and then found out… but it wasn’t something she figured was a secret. 

“How long have you been seeing her, anyway?” Akiva asked, since they hadn’t really had the time to talk about it, maybe it was time now, despite the movie going in the background.  She’d see how evasive he was about it before she forcibly took the remote and silenced it.  “She seems like an interesting person.” 

She realized of course, after that came out of her mouth, how it might have sounded.  But, she hoped Frank’s mind didn’t go there, and she smiled.  Forgiveness after, if he did, she figured. 

Frank could only grin, chuffed really thinking about how he had bagged Laney. Or had eventually given in to her constant advances. Either way he looked at it, really. He supposed he wasn’t having trouble finding a girl to throw herself at him. The grin wouldn’t leave, either, and he rolled his eyes as he glanced away.

But then she was taking an interest in his facial hair. Making a face, his fingers found the mustache and smoothed the hair down as he considered. “Laney likes it...” And perhaps that was the problem. If he had realized it made him look older than he was... He probably would have tried waxing to keep the hair off. “I have to shave twice a day sometimes. I still end up with a five o’clock shadow.” If it was around the full moon, a beard was normal to wake up to. He was constantly trimming and shaving and cutting his hair.

All over. Still, Laney liked him older. Which Frank wasn’t completely sure about, and he still felt awkward being so much older than her. Especially now that people knew about her in his family (Akiva included). She was different than any other woman he had dated, mostly because that sort of age difference much younger would’ve been illegal. That dropped his smile a bit.

“You could’ve asked...” Frank didn’t really hold it against Akiva for spilling the beans to Molly, who, Merlin bless her, was too curious for her own good. If she had had it her way, there would’ve been a dinner all ready. He really didn’t know if he wanted to introduce Laney to his family.

“How long have you been seeing her, anyway?”

Frank stilled as he considered her question, closing his mouth and pursing his lips a little. To be honest, he didn’t want to tell her. Shrugging a bit, he kept his attention on the movie as if he’d never seen it before and didn’t want it interrupted. “Not... well. It’s more on and off.” Fingers drummed into the arm of the couch as he shifted once again on the couch. “She is.” One of the more colorful people he’d ever met, that was for sure.

Whatever he might have inferred in her statement went right over his head; it was as true a statement as could be said. Laney Irving was interesting.