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“Oh hell, did I wake you up?” I shake oldfish do synchronized backflips in aze sweeps over his slouchy jeans and snug-ish white undershirt

He brings a hand up and pushes at the curls over his left eye His face is still that quiet neutral

Silence stretches out between us I s He blinks, his eyes a little wider

“No,” he says belatedly, as if he’s only just now processing He shakes his head His lips press together God, his eyes are serious Probably because he’s wondering what it will take to get rid of htly “Do you need so?"

“Uive you—” I hold out the Tupperware box “Chocolate cake It’s the traditional Southern new neighbor offering Post-assault, of course”

After a brief hint of confusion in his brows, his htly on one side I pass the cake container to him

He blinks a few times down at it, then looks up at me His face is serious and stark, as are his words when he says, “Thank you, Gwenna”

I nod Now go My feet don’tof you In a totally non-stalker way” Stalker

His eyes widen Is that supposed to be an answer? My hand lifts of its own accord “Can I see it? Does it look okay?”

He leans his head down I step closer and push a few curls aside with ers

“Oh…yeah It does look like it’s healing”

He lifts his head He smiles, but it looks strained Or maybe tired I think of how our last encounter ended and I draw a deep breath of chilly air

“I wanted to say one thing…about the other day That is: my dad was in the Army I have a lot of respect for combat vets Honestly I just act like a dolt around you I was tactless and I’m sorry”

“I don’t think I’d say that” He looks down at his left arm, where a watch would be When he looks back up, his face looks pained “So your father Army?”

Aard He’s trying to make small talk, but he definitely seems uncomfortable now