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“What?” he rasped

“You kno tomatoes are actually fruit? Are there fruits that are really vegetables?”

He thrust out the pizza box “Take this?”

“Oh, sure”

I sucked the candy cane back into my mouth so both ht it and re-tucked it aroundthe box Etienne bent to take off his boots He fiddled with the them on a mat by the door When he stood, his face was beet red

“Pineapples are fruit” He took back the pizza, turning to the kitchenette “Want to watch so?”

“Sure” I turned on the TV sitting on top of the dresser across fro T-shirt fro it to the left side of the bar so Etienne would knohich one was mine

The cabin sroaned appreciatively as I got settled on the bed “Ho-ho hell yes”

Etienne laughed weakly and passed arlic dipping sauce he’d known to order for

It was also our usual pizza order—regular crust, extra sauce, extra cheese, sausage, has years ago and never deviated It eirdly co

As I flipped channels, ed into his PJs When he was a kid, his fa holiday paja normal flannel bottoms and a ratty Skate Canada tee

It was so worn around the collar that it was stretched out of shape and dipped below his left collarbone The wiry ends of his chest hair brushed the dip below the bone

“Don’t you sleep naked anymore?” I asked for some weird reason

Etienne stared “Um, yeah When I’m by myself or…”

“Right, right” The bed squeaked as I fidgeted

“You want to watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?”

“Huh?” I turned aze fro, and we both exclaimed, “Yes!” when I hit pay dirt

John McClane was tapping the ancient screen in the lobby of Nakato her own name