I'm smiling to myself as I drive along the wooded roads on the edge of Ketterbridge.

The first night, and then the first day at the house - they were everything.

The atmosphere of them has put a glow in my heart that I can almost feel right through the fabric of my flannel. The thought of our first night fills me up with love. The thought of our first morning does that, too, but it also makes my cheeks visibly start to burn, so I’ve been trying not to think about it too much.

Not, like, super successfully. I caught myself lost in a stupor of sweet, sexy memories more than once during my shift at the shop this morning.

My happiness was definitely showing in my work. Every bouquet and arrangement I made was bursting with it. Bright, colorful, wild. Kent very casually told me he thought they were fine, but then took a bunch of pictures and said something to himself about updating the photos on the shop's website.

I'm glad he was happy with them, because I needed to make them. I needed some way to release my happiness.

I just can’t stop thinking about how it feels to be in that house with Aiden.

The deep bass of his laughter in the warmly-colored rooms. The way he kept stopping at random, closing his eyes, and standing there in helpless silence. Listening, smiling.

The new kind of Heliomancer light he made, a miniature lightning storm snapping and shining around our intertwined bodies like pure electricity. I remember looking down to stare at it, but instantly forgetting about it when I caught sight of Aiden’s staggeringly beautiful body moving against mine. His graceful muscles tensed and rippling, the rich bronze of his skin, his heat spilling through me. His heavy eyelashes over his hazy, half-open eyes…

The house - and everything that's happened in it - has been a dream. Stepping out into the real world again this morning was strange. I half forgot it was there.

But even that wasn’t bad. Aiden and I got to have breakfast together with Luna. We walked hand in hand through the bright green passageway to get to my car. I got to drop him off at work, and get a kiss goodbye before he left.

I’m so damn happy, and I can tell that Aiden is, too. I'm determined to keep him that way. I plan to treat every day like I don’t have Aiden yet, like I’m still trying to win his heart. I want every day and night in that house to feel as special for him as the ones we’ve had so far.

I'll make that happen. I'll happily give it everything, all the love I have in my heart.

I miss him already. But I've got an hour before I can pick him up from City Hall, and - I've got something to take care of.

Now that Aiden and I are settled into our new house, there's someone who needs our address.

~~~~

I stand at the end of the long gravel driveway, fidgeting anxiously with my sleeve. Staring up at Ralph’s house.

I've come to realize that Ralph's business must be much larger and more complex than I'd thought. My phone call with Calla more or less confirmed that suspicion. In certain circles, Ralph is a known entity with a serious and formidable reputation. He’s known for playing the game perfectly. For never getting caught.

That's part of why I’m nervous to go talk to him alone. He’s too fucking smart. All I can do is hope that he hasn't gone backwards since we last saw him. That he won't lie to me or try to manipulate me. That I'm right to believe he truly is changing.

I have a good reason to think he is. One that Calla gave me.

Ralph's plant is flowering, which means he must be taking good care of it.

I take a deep breath, then set off up the gravel driveway.

I hear voices from within the house when I stop on the porch. I hesitate, not sure if I should knock, or go away and come back later. It sounds like Ralph is talking to someone with his phone on speaker.

“No,” he’s saying firmly. “Fucking forget it.”

“Come on, boss,” the voice on the other end of the line pleads. “We could be rolling in cold hard cash, if this deal goes right-”

“If,” Ralph repeats sharply. “And I don’t care. I don’t even sell that shit, and neither does anyone who works for me, including you. I sell people recreation, I don’t ruin their fucking lives. You really want to be responsible for giving someone that kind of addiction?”

“But the money-”

“It’s not your job to decide on deals like this," Ralph cuts in. "It’s mine, and all you’re doing right now is proving that’s how it should be. You didn’t even ask if I was alone before you started talking about this. I’ve had someone eavesdropping on me this whole time.”

I startle outside of Ralph’s door, then look up to find Ralph watching me through the window, leaning a shoulder against the wall. He’s been there this whole time, apparently. He rolls his eyes at me, like it’s very sad that I thought I was being sneaky.

You’re shameless, he mouths at me.

"I wasn't doing it on purpose!" I protest, pressing my fingers to my burning face.

The guy Ralph is on the phone with tries one last time. “I really think-”

Ralph’s voice suddenly grows frigid, blistering cold. “Are you arguing with me?"

There’s a silence.

The guy answers in a very small, terrified voice. “No."

"That's what I thought," Ralph says, slowly and icily. "One more thing. If I find out that you made that deal and moved that weight by yourself, behind my back... I’m going to be seriously angry. Understood?”

"Yes, understood. I'm so sorry, boss, and I - I won't - I swear I won't-"

“Good,” Ralph says, then ends the call and disappears from the window.

I take a step back on the porch when he opens the door. He stops and leans against the doorframe, folding his arms over his chest.

His grey-green eyes are difficult to read, but - they're also a tiny bit more unguarded, more open than usual. And there's no nasty, dismissive grin on his face. If anything, Ralph looks a little frayed, exhausted. His shoulders are slightly bowed, and the skin around his eyes is softly bruised with tiredness.

But overall, I'd say that he looks better.

The change in his expression goes a long way, and he’s better groomed than he used to keep himself, but it’s not just that. It’s like he’s gotten more fresh air, or been eating healthier, or - I don’t know. His eyes are bright and clear, his complexion almost imperceptibly warmer.

“Really, Jamie." He arches an eyebrow at me, unimpressed. “If you're gonna eavesdrop, do it better.”

I make a face at him like I'm not embarrassed and I don't care. He drops his skeptical gaze to the blush in my cheeks, then snickers softly when I make a very rude gesture at him.

He hesitates, then tosses his head towards the house. Turns and leads the way inside.

I'm caught by surprise. I didn’t expect Ralph to invite me in, but I follow after him.

The house is much cleaner than it was the last time I came over. The air smells like hazelnut coffee, with a very faint hint of tobacco. 

“I’m sorry, man,” I tell Ralph, as he leads the way across the living room. “I honestly wasn’t here to listen in on your phone calls. Although - I’m glad you didn’t agree to whatever that was. Sounded like a very bad deal.”

“I don’t make bad deals.” Ralph runs an irritated hand through his white-blonde hair. “He said if the deal goes right. I don’t do if.”

My confusion only grows as Ralph leads me into his kitchen. Is he, like - about to offer me a cup of coffee, or something? No, I seriously doubt that. But if not that, then-?

I stop still in the kitchen doorway, my eyes having fallen on the plant that I gave Ralph.

It’s placed on the windowsill, rising from the new pot that Ralph got for it. The sunlight dapples down on the leaves, which are unfurled and vividly green.

And there, nestled in the leaves, hanging lightly from a delicate stem -

“Oh,” I breathe, pressing my fingers to my mouth. “Ralph! Look at that!”

Soft white petals, with the faintest blush of purple at their tips. They swirl out into a fragile, graceful, airy formation, like the wind blew them together. Ethereal as a cloud, as spun sugar.

The flower is beyond beautiful.

“Wow,” I sigh happily, then whip around to face Ralph, pointing at the plant. “Holy shit, man! You know what this plant looked like when I got it? Do you remember what it looked like when I gave it to you, even? Look at it now!”

Ralph shrugs, taking a sip from the mug of coffee he just picked up from the kitchen table. “I know, alright? Big fuckin’ deal.”

Liar, I think, biting back my giant smile. I already know how excited you are. Calla told on you.

“Well, I think it’s fucking amazing.” I take another look at the flower, then straighten up, beaming at Ralph. “You should be proud, dude. You took care of something.”

Ralph tips his head back and lets out a heavy, aggrieved sigh.

“Come on, let’s go,” he says, gesturing at the coffee like it was totally the only reason that we came in here.

I follow him back out into the living room, smiling to myself. I can’t wait to tell Aiden about this. Ralph cared for something. He was attentive, giving, and gentle with something. He grew something. Who’d have thought?

I blink in surprise when Ralph heads for the stairs. I follow him up, but again, I don’t know what we’re doing.

“Surprised to see you here,” he tells me, over his shoulder. “I’m not your usual guy.”

“My-?” I realize what Ralph means as we step into his bedroom, and he heads for the cabinet where he keeps his inventory. “Oh - I’m not here to buy, man. I’m all good.”

Ralph stops and turns to face me, one eyebrow raised. “Oh. Then - what are you doing here?”

“I was just-”

I stop mid-sentence, gazing around at Ralph’s bedroom. I've just noticed that it looks different in here, too. Last I was here, the bed had one thin blanket and a half-crushed pillow. Now there’s what looks like a brand new bed set, complete with two new pillows in cases.

I know that Ralph has money, but I don’t often see him spend it. And this looks expensive.

I turn to him, arching a questioning eyebrow. He rubs his jaw, then shrugs his shoulders.

“Went to buy a pillow,” he explains, avoiding my eyes. “But I was all excited, and worked up, and shit - I got a little carried away.”

“What?” I suppress a startled laugh. “What’s that mean, dude?”

Ralph glares at me, faint color rising in his cheeks. “I can’t buy new bedding without you questioning my shit, Keane?”

“No, I guess you fucking can’t, Lanham! How is it? It looks cozy.”

Ralph scowls deeply, but then hesitates. He falls silent for a second, folding his arms over his chest again.

"It's - good," he says haltingly. "I didn't realize how fucking awful my old stuff was until I got it."

It’s as if Ralph is having to force himself to say every word he speaks to me. He’s talking like his throat is all tightened up. I can tell that this is very unfamiliar terrain for him. Being open. Being honest.

“I’m sleeping better,” he adds. “Unexpected benefit.”

“Oh.” I didn’t actually expect an answer, so once again I’m caught by surprise. “Is that really an unexpected benefit, though? Isn't that why you bought it?”

“Are you ever gonna tell me what you’re doing here, Jamie?”

“Oh - yes!” I take the folded slip of paper from my jacket pocket, then offer it to Ralph. “Aiden and I moved in together, so I came by to give you our new address.”

Ralph takes the paper, but stares at my face, his eyebrows arched all the way up.

“You and Aiden moved in together,” he repeats.

“Mhm.”

“No shit.” Ralph lets out a dazed laugh, shaking his head. “Wouldn’t have predicted that one in high school.”

“Yeah, you and me both,” I answer, and Ralph kind of laughs again.

I’m struggling not to stare at him. I'm almost shocked at the conversation we’re having right now. Ralph even laughed, and it didn't sound cold or spiteful at all.

Ralph’s eyes drop to the paper in his hand. Only now does he seem to process what I said about giving him our address. His eyebrows furrow as he unfolds the paper and gazes down at my scribbled handwriting.

His eyes flit back up to my face, filled with obvious confusion. “Why’re you giving me this?”

“So that you don’t go to my old apartment looking for us.” I tap a finger on the paper. “Next time you want to do one of your sneak attacks on me and Aiden, that’s where you’ve gotta go.”

Ralph makes a face at me, then looks down at the paper again. He seems completely perplexed by my decision to give it to him, but he sets it aside without a word.

That’s all I really came here for, so I hesitate, not sure what to do.

“How’ve you been, man?” I ask cautiously. “I know you said you’re sleeping better, but you - you look tired.”

I half expect Ralph to tell me to fuck off and mind my own business. He opens his mouth like he's about to do exactly that. But he swallows it down, bows his head, and runs a hand over the back of his neck.

“There’s been good days and bad days,” he answers, plucking at his leather wristbands. “Been up late ‘cause I’ve got a lot on my mind, that’s all.”

“Well, you’ve got our address." I tap the piece of paper on Ralph's dresser. "For the bad days.”

Ralph lifts his gaze to meet mine. He stares down at me with narrowed eyes, the confused pinch between his eyebrows again.

Before he can say anything, my phone starts to buzz. I hold up a please wait finger at Ralph, slip my phone out of my pocket, and - freeze to the spot.

I answer the call immediately.

“Jamie,” she says, as soon as it connects.

“Calla? What’s going on?”

Ralph lifts his head sharply, his eyes snapping up to my face.

“I’ve gotta be fast, okay?” Calla sounds out of breath, like she’s running somewhere. “There’s - there’s no time to explain right now. I really hate to ask, but this is an emergency, and you and Aiden offered, and I don’t know who else to call, so-”

“Calla,” I cut in sharply, now thoroughly alarmed. “Do you need help?”

Ralph stares at me with wide, troubled eyes.

“Yes,” Calla admits, all in a rush. “Tonight. At a place called the White Diamond Hotel.”

“Is that in Port Sitka? I've never heard of it."

"No. It's a bit of a drive, you need to leave right now if you're gonna be there in time. I'll text you the address - hang on, stay on the phone."

I lower my phone and spin around to rush for the door. I need to go get Aiden from City Hall.

“Hey - hey!” Ralph catches my wrist, his eyes wide with alarm. “What happened? Is Calla okay? Let me help!”

“I’m sorry, Ralph!” I push at his fingers, trying to tug my arm free. “You can’t help with this, I can’t get you involved - and I’ve really gotta leave!”

Ralph clearly wants to argue with me, but he lets go of my arm. He runs a frustrated hand through his blonde hair, his eyes dark with worry.

I have no time to make him feel better, though. I don't even know what's going on. All I know is that there's an emergency Ghost Office mission, and one out of town. One we'll have to do without the ghosts.

"Sent you the address," Calla tells me urgently, as I race down the long gravel driveway towards my car. "I'm so fucking sorry to make you drive this far."

"It's okay," I answer, unlocking my car and wrenching the door open. "But at least give me a hint. What are we walking into?"

Calla hesitates, and then -

"A heist," she answers.