"Active virus?"I suggest.
"Incurable infection."
"That's disgusting and romantic."
"Like goat yoga."
We're both laughing now, Buttercup adding her own commentary.
By the time we stop, my cheeks hurt from grinning so hard.I slide my fingers into Luke’s shirtfront, inhaling the scent of his skin—all warm and spiced and masculine perfection.
I nearly feel physical pain when my hands finally fall from his skin.
"So," I say eventually."What now?"
"Now?"Luke adjusts his glasses in that way I've missed desperately."Now you tell me about your nephew.And I tell you about threatening your ex.And we figure out how to be together without any more hacking."
"But I'm so good at hacking," I protest.
"Sage."
"Kidding.Mostly."I lean into him, feeling his arms come around me."James David Hill.Seven pounds, eight ounces of perfection.Already judging everyone."
"Takes after his aunt."
"Rude.Accurate, but rude."I pull back to look at him."You really threatened Derek?"
"I may have implied his financial future depended on never speaking your name again."
"That's...weirdly hot."
"I also shoved him against a wall."
"Luke Sterling!"I gasp."Violence?You?"
"He insulted you.And, by extension, Buttercup.It was instinct."
"My hero."I mean it as a joke, but it comes out sincere.
"No," he says seriously."Partners.Equal partners in chaos and code and questionable goat-related decisions."
"Speaking of which."I look down at Buttercup, who's made herself comfortable on Luke's foot."You adopted her?"
"Technically you adopted her.I just facilitated.With bribery.And promises of goat yoga participation."
"You're doing goat yoga?"
"Apparently.Melody was very specific about energy exchanges."
I kiss him again because I can't not.
Because Luke Sterling is going to do goat yoga for me.Because he coded us into permanence.
Because he's here at 3 AM with messy hair and my goat, being perfectly imperfect.
"I love you too," I tell him."In case that wasn't clear."
"It was unclear.Very ambiguous.Might need more data."
