“You know, I for one am embracing it?” Trick propped his hands on his hips. “I’m not saying I go for the grizzled prospector look, but I’m all for some well-maintained beardage. It looks good on you.” Trick pursed his lips, his face thoughtful. “You know, I take it all back. There’s probably someone out there who can really work the grizzled prospector look. I’m going to keep an open mind on it.”

I followed him as he led me into the living room. “You’re a man of hidden depths.”

Trick flipped me off without turning around. “I’m all about depth. And if you turn that into a ‘that’s what they said’ joke, I’ll…well, I’ll probably laugh, to be honest.”

I laughed, feeling light and happy. Being around Trick always made me feel better. He was just one of those people.

“Welcome to my evil lair.” Trick waved vaguely at the house around him. I examined my new home and took comfort that while some things do change, they can change for the better. Though Trick’s taste was the same, it had matured with him. He still had vintage monster movie posters hanging up in the living room, but he’d framed them instead of stapling them to the wall. A large, deep blue sectional anchored the room, a skull-print throw blanket draped over the back. The bookcases and dining room table were a nice cherry wood, and all together the aesthetic was stylish but comfortable and still one hundred percent Trick.

I waved a hand at a tall metal cage. “New decoration?”

Trick perked up. “I made that today, actually. Lou’s bringing home my new familiar.” He walked over to it. “I’m going to make another tomorrow for in here—this one’s going in my room. Can you help me? It’s not heavy, but it’s awkward.”

While I helped him get it situated in his bedroom, the wolf in me lifted its nose, pulling in scents. There were a lot in the house, and I was trying to parse them all. Many of them were animal scents, which was unusual. Before I could spend too much time on it, we’d moved our tour into the dining area and kitchen.

The kitchen had an open floor plan, with barstools pulled up to one side of the counter, the only thing separating it from the dining space. Several pictures done with finger painting and crayon were stuck on the fridge with magnets.

“This is a real nice place, Trick.”

“Surprising, isn’t it?

“A little bit.”

“You’re an asshole, and I missed you.” Trick opened the fridge. “Well, the roommates bring my mortgage down nicely, making this place actually plausible financially.” He held up a bottle. “Beer? I figured after the last couple of weeks and the drive up, you might want one. Or we have wine. I have a wine cellar, actually.”

“By ‘wine cellar,’ do you mean a shelf full of Boone’s Farm in the pantry?” I nodded a yes at the beer, noting with some satisfaction that it was a lager from Wulver Craft Brewery, even if the sight of it made my chest ache.