“You have to tell me.”

He half-smiled. “You know you didn’t start the fire. You’re going to get your full claim.”

“I know, but you know what these companies are like. They’ll take everyone and their mother to court to make sure it’s guaranteed.”

“True, but the source of the fire was in the laundry room, believe it or not.”

“Are you serious?”

Noah nodded, leaning forward on the table. “From what we’ve been told, one of the appliances overheated and short-circuited. It’s all hearsay and not guaranteed, but that’s the working theory right now.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. Those things were old.”

“They’re still waiting on final results, so don’t tell anyone I told you that.”

“I won’t,” I promised. “Honestly, I’m not sure what to do now. Living with my parents is my worst nightmare, but I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

“What about your friends? The ones who saw you in the hospital?”

I shook my head. “Halley—she’s the blonde—is dating my brother, and I’m not interested in hearing them get dirty whenever he stays over. Ava, the other one… Well, shit, we just couldn’t live together.”

“Why not?”

“Because friendships are weird.”

“You’ll have to explain.”

“People say opposites attract, and sometimes that’s true for friendships, too. Halley is the mayor’s daughter; she’s the local librarian and a total bookworm even though she’s strong-willed and a ridiculous animal lover to the point there’s a pregnant raccoon living under her back porch.”

Noah raised his eyebrows.

“Exactly,” I said. “Ava is a reluctant runner who works in a café on Main and is a serial dater despite her endless failures with long-term relationships. She’s emotionally shut off and in perpetual denial about said relationships even though she’s a raging romantic. That said, she’s the sweetest, most supportive person you’ll ever meet.”

“And what about you, Dr. Reagan? Where do you fit into the friendship?”

“Me? I’m the resident asshole. I’m the one who doesn’t have a filter and will tell you you’re a goddamn idiot while simultaneously accepting my own stupidity and ignoring it. I’m a huge pessimist who refuses to see the best in people because then nobody can ever disappoint me.”

“Wow.” Noah pulled his water toward him and sipped. “Sounds like you’re the walking reality check.”

“My apartment building just burned down and I’m living with my parents and crazy great-aunt. I think I’ve earned the right to be a pessimist at this point.”

He grinned. “You’ve had a rough few days, I’ll give you that.”

“You think? One week ago, I woke up to some weirdo’s penis in my texts, and now I’m having lunch with him.”

Our server paused at the end of our table.

I bit the inside of my cheek and looked down as she quickly walked off in another direction.

“Thanks.” Noah met my gaze. “That was exactly how I was hoping to be introduced in a new restaurant.”

“You’re welcome.” I grinned. “So, the check?”

“You’re not paying, by the way.”