SHE LEANS FORWARD, resting her arm on the railing like she’s manning a drive-through and not stitching my heart back together with every breath. She doesn’t hate me, and I can’t help but smile at that. It’s not much really, not in the grand scheme of things, but it’s a start. My toes are wedged under the railing, my free hand supporting nearly all my body weight, and this . . . does not feel great. But I’ll dangle here all night if it means she’ll kiss me again.

“Peak,” I say, but that ends in a yelp when my hand starts to slip and I nearly lose my balance.

“Shhh.” She giggles as she takes a step back and motions for me to follow her.

“Can I . . . ,” I start, forgetting the words at the sound of her laugh. I clear my throat and try again. “Do you think we could go inside and talk a little?”

She nods and tiptoes back over to the sliding glass door. It’s dark inside, but HP seems to be gone, or possibly just lying in wait somewhere in the shadows. I never did trust cats.

I climb over the railing, coming up behind her as she slips the door open. “Shhh,” she says again as we step inside. “Take off your shoes.”

“Jubi?” someone calls out, and I realize it’s Vera. I have one shoe off and one shoe on and no idea what to do.

“Crap.” Peak shoves me into the little alcove behind her table. I hop backward on one foot, nearly knocking over a rack of plants in the process.

“What’s up, Vera?”

I hear feet pad across the linoleum to where Peak is standing. Three more steps and I’m busted. I hate sneaking around—it feels like more lying—but I also just really want to talk to Peak, so.

“How’s HP?”

“Good, she came in without any trouble.”

“I thought I heard her yowling out there.”

“Oh, that. That was a stray.”

“Okay,” Vera says, but I can tell she doesn’t totally believe her. Vera takes another step, leaning forward so I can see just a little of her head. I shove myself farther against the plants, wincing when they rustle.

“Um, Vera, if you and my mom aren’t going to sleep after all, can I practice more?”

“It’s not that I don’t love it when you play . . . ,” Vera says, heading back the way she came. She’d better love it. It’s the most fantastic sound in existence.

“Right,” Peak snorts.

“Good night, Jubi.”

“Good night,” Peak says, dragging out the last word.

I take a step forward, but she holds up her finger, standing completely still until Vera’s door clicks shut down the hall.