Kenzie’s neighborhood was dark, her home illuminated by flashlights, lanterns, and candles, by the look of it.

“No power, ugh,” Kenzie said. “I won’t be able to build tonight, or check on things.”

“That’s not a complete tragedy. You might get a full night’s sleep,” Natalie said.

They let themselves in.

“Hi Tony!” Kenzie called out.

“Hi!” the call came back. “Did you eat?”

“A while ago. Do you have snacks?”

“I’ll put something together. Get yourself ready for bed, okay?”

“Is Dave still around?”

“He left a while ago. The game you guys were playing is still where you left it. Your move, apparently.”

Kenzie carefully put her bag down, kicked off her shoes, and bounce-skipped to the living room. Natalie took her time getting her jacket off, boots off, and putting away Kenzie’s shoes. She was relieved in a way to see Kenzie being a bit messy and normal.

When she looked up, Tony was there, at the door to the living room. Natalie felt a bit of trepidation as she joined him. Seeing what Kenzie was up to meant standing right beside Tony.

He was intimidating. Doubly so by candlelight. He was growing out his red hair, and it was long enough that locks curled around the tops and to the backs of his ears. His red hair and beard looked amazing in the warm light, and the play of light and shadow made the shape of his face, his neck and his Adam’s apple very noticeable. He wore a long-sleeved t-shirt, what might have been silk pyjama bottoms, and slippers.

Approaching to stand closer meant she wouldn’t stare at him, but now she could smell his body soap, shampoo, and whatever else it was he used. He’d just showered recently.

“Laser chess,” Tony said, by way of explanation. The corner of his t-shirt sleeve at his bicep brushed her shoulder as he raised a hand to point.

“Kenzie mentioned it on one of our car trips,” Natalie replied. “Hard to visualize, hearing about it.”

Kenzie moved a piece, then hit a button. A visible laser reflected across the various pieces, leaving the board to stab toward the easel where Kenzie’s mother had once had her paintings.

“Move decided?” Tony asked.

That got a nod.

“Good. Get ready for bed,” Tony said. “I’ll get your snack.”

Kenzie ran off to do just that. Tony and Natalie didn’t move from their positions, looking into the now-unoccupied living room.

“You’re better at the kid-handling than I am,” Natalie said.

“I raised my littlest brother. You’ve crossed paths with him. When you were at my apartment?”

“Oh. Yeah. I thought that was your roommate.”

Tony shook his head, but the way he shook it—not just because she was wrong.

“Today was kind of a holy shit day,” Tony said.

“You watched the show?”