“But some people are being awful? Hateful? Scared? All my life, people have been that way. For a long, long, looong while, everyone was like that,” Kenzie said. “If five million people watched that, and one in thirteen people that care enough to say something about it are saying something nice? That’s a times-infinity improvement. And Breakthrough had my back.”

“Got it,” Natalie said.

“Infinity times six,” Kenzie said, sounding almost like she was falling asleep. It was nine o’clock at night, so she wouldn’t have been faulted, but Natalie knew she usually stayed up well past that point.

A long day, in other ways.

“Infinity plus five, maybe. Chris sucks sometimes, and he didn’t really help. But then there’s you and you’re part of Breakthrough, and you have my back?”

“Yes,” Natalie said. “I don’t know if I’m part of it, but I will have your back. Best I can.”

“And it’s not just because you’re getting paid?”

“No.”

“Or because you get to see more of Tony?”

“No idea what you’re talking about.”

“It’s Thursday tonight. He’s staying over. He’s your boyfriend, isn’t he?”

“He definitely isn’t,” Natalie said. “And don’t—don’t try playing matchmaker.”

Oh please God, don’t try playing matchmaker.

“No promises. My current score is infinity and six. I think that’s pretty amazing. Who wouldn’t be psyched to have someone with that good a record giving them some help?”

“I—”

“Right?”

“No, not right. Kenzie, it’s complicated. I like things the way they are now.”

“But he’s not your boyfriend.”

“Not exactly.”

“And you want him to be your boyfriend.”

“Yes, but. It’s weird and it’s fragile and I don’t want to ruin a good thing by trying to shoot for a maybe-great thing.”

“I like that. It’s a good way of putting it.”

“Thank you,” Natalie said. The drive remained quiet, the lights sweeping through the car, the traffic denser closer to the broken portal in Norwalk, but still manageable and polite. All the same, her heart was pounding.

“I’m mostly teasing, by the way,” Kenzie said. “I know I’d be the worst relationship doctor.”

“Please don’t tease me, Kenzie,” Natalie answered, gripping the steering wheel, her heart still racing. “Today has been stressful enough, and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”

“We’re okay,” Kenzie said. “This is all according to plan.”

“You think so?”

Kenzie nodded, serious, before hugging the blanket tighter to her body again. The car wasn’t even that cold anymore. The girl’s expression was solemn.

“You’re really okay? You’re happy with this outcome?”

“I told you!” Kenzie raised her voice, blanket falling from her shoulders to fold across her lap. She was indignant, adding, “I said!”

“Okay, okay!” Natalie replied.

The trip continued, with idle chatter, and no mention of Tony, thankfully.