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At least she waited until they were safely inside the , “You’re never late I wasn’t sure if so So when I heard steps in the hall, I went out because I thought it was you”

“It wasn’t,” he deadpanned but a tiny part of him was flattered to know she had been worried

She scowled “I know that now But once I got stuck outside I figured I shouldn’t try to use the scanner I didn’t know if it would flag me”

Begrudgingly, Peirce nodded “At least you’re not stupid”

She didn’t take it as a co by the way she tilted her head and crossed her arms

“What IHe rubbed the back of his head, wishing it would loosen hirid”

“Oh”

The elevator door opened with a ding and they stepped out into the hall Peirce led the way,sure to shield her as best he could until he was sure no one was around After clearing his securityextra time to recheck the locks

By the time he turned back, she’d already set out the Berkwan and had settled onto his couch, tucking her feet up underneath her and perching delicately He shook his head She looked a helluva lot younger that way and the way her fingers nervously fluttered over everything to double-check it was in the right place only solidified his observation

“Thanks for getting it ready,” he said

“Uet the dishes?”

He grabbed the container of dreelin noodles and one of the cheap forks thrown in with the take-out, picking out the vegetable chunks and throwing them onto the container’s lid “Don’t bother with dishes What’s the point of buying food if you’ve still got to wash a ton of crap?”

She conteh the different boxes “What’s good?” she finally asked

“Want so spicy?”

He could have sworn her eyes hadn’t been on the boxes, but if she’d run theht, it was too fast to catch “Spicy,” she said