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Roman is going to lose his fucking mind.

Then everything goes black.

48

ROMAN

Alibi loses his fucking mind when I open the front door.

His nails scrape across the floor as he tears around the corner, tail going so hard his whole body moves with it.

I barely get the door shut before he's jumping at my legs. “Yeah, yeah.”

I bend and scratch behind his ears. He immediately tries climbing me.

Smoke enters in behind me. “That the dog?”

“No. It's a fucking giraffe.”

Smoke snorts.

Alibi abandons me and trots over to investigate him.

Smoke crouches. “Hey, buddy.”

Alibi's tail moves faster.

Smoke rubs both hands over his sides. “He's cute.”

“I know.” The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.

Smoke looks up at me.

I straighten. “Don't.”

A grin spreads across his face. “I didn't say anything.”

“You were going to.”

“I really wasn't.”

“You were thinking it.”

“That isn't illegal.”

“Could be.”

He laughs.

I grab Alibi's leash from the hook Callie stuck it on yesterday.

She's been here a handful of days, and there are already dog toys under my couch, her shampoo in my shower, a toothbrush beside mine, and a leash hanging by my front door.

My house doesn't look like mine anymore. And the most fucked-up part? I don’t hate it.

I grab Alibi's food, shove some of it into a bag, then add the treats Callie bought.

Smoke watches me.