“Sense? Since when do feelings have to make sense?” Miri shook her head. “Maybe she said that because she’s just as scared.”

Anja wanted to object. Susanne was the epitome of confidence, never afraid to take risks and make the hard decisions. But then she thought about it. Maybe that was just business Susanne. Maybe private Susanne was different. She remembered the discouraged slump of Susanne’s shoulders when she had told her she could barely make a relationship work even if she lived in the same city as her girlfriend.

She jumped up from the bench, nearly stumbling over Gino in her haste.

Miri stared up at her. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No. I think you said something very right. Do you mind if we cut this walk short?”

“Uh, no.”

“You’re the best.” Anja bent and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for kicking my butt.”

Miri clapped her shoulder. “You’re my best friend. Ass-kicking is included in the package. Now go get your woman, tiger!”

Anja rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. She tousled Gino’s shaggy fur, waved at Miri, and fell into a jog as she headed for the nearby streetcar stop.

Susanne trudged through her apartment, which felt even emptier than before. She had tried to settle down with her laptop and work on a blog template for Paper Love yet couldn’t focus on it. She called her uncle to see if he needed anything, but Ulrike assured her that she was taking good care of him.

Grunting, she stalked to the kitchen and filled the electronic water kettle to make some tea. Maybe that would help with her restlessness.

Once the kettle clicked off, she grabbed it and dumped some water into a mug, promptly spilling half of it all over the counter.

“Dammit.” Disgusted with herself, she grabbed a dish towel and mopped up the water. God, she felt as if she had a hangover—just without the fun of getting drunk first.

Well, she had felt drunk on Anja’s kiss.

Oh great. There we go again. Her brain started the mental slideshow of that kiss in the hallway. Anja had barely touched her, yet she could still feel her everywhere. How was that possible?

Tap-tap-tap. “Meeeooow?”

This time Muesli’s let-me-in concert was a welcome distraction. She left her attempts at making tea behind and went to the living room.

The sight of Muesli staring at her from the other side of the glass was starting to become familiar. The red streak on top of his head was new, though.

Oh, right. She had forgotten all about getting the lipstick off his fur as soon as Anja’s lips had touched hers. And afterward, they had rushed off to the ER.

Sighing, she opened the French door so she could clean him up.