I looked blankly at Jenks, and he laughed.

“Your new bo-o-o-oyfriend,” he drawled.

My lips pursed at the amusement in Ivy’s eyes. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

Jenks hovered over the open jar of honey, pulling glistening strands up and into his mouth. “I saw you with him on that bike,” he said. “Um, this is good.” He took another handful, his wings starting to hum audibly. “Your tails were touching,” he mocked.

Annoyed, I flicked my hand at him. He darted out of reach, then back. “You should have seen them, Ivy. Rolling around on the floor, biting each other.” He laughed, and it turned into a high-pitched giggle. I slowly tilted my head as he listed to the left. “It was love at first bite.”

Ivy turned. “He bit you on the neck?” she said, deadpan serious but for her eyes. “Oh, then it’s got to be love. She won’t let me bite her neck.”

What was this? Pick on Rachel night? Not entirely comfortable, I pulled another piece of bread out to finish my sandwich and waved Jenks off the honey. He bobbed and weaved erratically, struggling to maintain an even flight as the sugar rush made him drunk.

“Hey, Ivy,” Jenks said as he drifted sideways and licked his fingers. “You know what they say about the size of a rat’s tail, don’t you? Da longer da tail, da longer his—”

“Shut up!” I cried. The shower went off, and my breath caught. A surge of anticipation brought me up straight in my chair. I flicked a glance at Jenks, giggling-drunk on the honey. “Jenks,” I said, not wanting to subject Baron to an intoxicated pixy. “Leave.”

“Nuh-uh,” he said, scooping up a handful. Peeved, I recapped the jar. Jenks made a small noise of distress, and I waved him up into the hanging utensils. With any luck, he would stay there until he threw off his drunk. That would be about four minutes, tops.

Ivy walked out, muttering about glasses in the living room. The collar of my robe was damp from my hair, and I tugged at it. I wiped the honey from my fingers, fidgeting in what felt like blind date jitters. This was stupid. I’d already met him. We had even had a rodent’s version of a first date: a resounding stint at the gym, a brisk run from people and dogs, even a bike ride through the park. But what do you say to a guy you don’t know who saved your life?

I heard the bathroom door creak open. Ivy jerked to a stop in the hall, her face blank as she stood with two mugs dangling from her fingers. I pulled my robe over my shins, wondering if I should stand up. Baron’s voice eased past her and into the kitchen. “You’re Ivy, right?”

“Um …” Ivy hesitated. “You’re—uh—in my robe,” she finished, and I winced. Great. He had her smell all over him. Nice start.

“Oh. Sorry.” His voice was nice. Kind of resonate and rumbly. I could hardly wait to see him. Ivy seemed positively at a loss for words. Baron took a noisy breath. “I found it on the dryer. There wasn’t anything else to wear. Maybe I should go put on a towel. …”