“Always,” I replied with a smile, knowing my tactic of talking until she made me leave would make her forget about my swearing.

Merry and I shoved out into the hall and she pushed my back. “What’s wrong with my cooking?”

I laughed. “Absolutely nothing. So, Thursday? You in? I was thinking of that café with all the vintage stuff, on King Street.”

“Oooh, I love that place. And after your comment about my cooking, you’re paying.”

I laughed. “Deal.”

The bus was crowded and Hennessy gave me an apologetic shrug when I locked eyes with him, because there was a guy in the seat next to him. “It’s okay,” I mouthed.

But then the guy nodded at me and rolled his eyes and smirked before standing up. “I can find another seat,” he said. “I’ve been telling my wife about you guys, and if she ever found out I was the reason you couldn’t sit together, she’d kill me.”

I tried not to turn too red, but well, it was awkward and I was the king of that shit. “Thanks,” I said. “And tell your, uh, wife I said hi?”

I sat next to Hennessy and he was looking a little bewildered. He whispered, “He told his wife about us? What does that even mean?”

“I don’t even know. Apparently our lives are now like The Truman Show meets Cocoon.” I cleared my throat. “I’ve stopped questioning the weirdness.”

He laughed. “You look great today. Love the purple. Very ace.”

“Ace? Oh.” Ace, as in asexual. I freaking blushed again and looked down at the offending purple scarf. “Thanks.”

“So Thursday night dinner? Are we still on?”

“Yes, for sure.”

“I’m looking forward to it. Tell me again, Angus is okay with it?” He made an adorable face like he was freaking out.

I grinned at him. “I told you last night on the phone. He’s more than okay with it.”

He let out a relieved breath. “I know. I’m just nervous.”

“I know, and it’s utterly ridiculous to me that you would be nervous about anything.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re the cool one, and I’m the one who is definitely punching above his weight.”

“Cool one?”

“Ah, yes, with the cool name, like Hennessy who is paid to be an internet ninja.” Jeez, did I have to spell it out for him?

He snorted. “Says the guy who has the best dress sense and can name and quote any literary reference off the top of his head.”

“I’m not sure that’s a qualifier.”

“Well, I disagree. And you’re not punching above your weight, I assure you.”

“We’ll let Angus be the one to decide that.”

His mouth fell open; a look of horror crossed his face. “Oh God. No pressure then.”