They stayed long enough to greet the new year. Eddie's friends found them beforehand to share a few hugs and squirm at the sight of him kissing someone. Rosie was delighted to meet Paulie's old dog, Tucker. A rotund chocolate lab that happily rolled over for belly rubs. Eddie giggled as she fawned over the animal.

"I don't think I've ever heard you make that noise."

"Only for puppies."

"What is wrong with your voice?"

"He's just jealous I don't talk to him like this." She cooed at Tucker, who lolled his tongue back.

"No I'm genuinely concerned."

Rosie lied and said she had to be in work the next day, then ushered Eddie out. It was a careful drive home in the pitch black, with only the occasional firework lighting the back roads. They got to his trailer and he hesitated to get out.

"Stay?" He asked finally.

"Of course."

"Hey Eddie how's the head - holy shit!" Wayne Munson leapt back and pulled his robe tight when he spotted her at the table. Rosie laughed; he had pyjamas on, so there was nothing to see.

"Morning, Mr - "

"Uncle Wayne." They corrected in unison.

It still felt strangely informal. "Uncle Wayne."

"Morning, Darlin'. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

"Rosie made French toast." Eddie said around a mouthful. She kicked him.

His uncle tutted. "You didn't have to do that. Glad you did, but you didn't have to."

"I didn't want Honeycomb."

"It's gross, isn't it? Like cardboard and sugar."

"Gross." She agreed.

"It has nostalgic value." Eddie mumbled into his toast.

"Sure."

When they finished their food, Wayne raised a cigarette to his lips, passed one to Eddie, then offered the box to her. Rosie declined.

"Don't smoke, huh?"

"Not tobacco."

"Ooooh." He got up, chuckling. "No wonder you're dating Eddie. Wait there."

Rosie could never have imagined getting high with her boyfriend's family, but here she was. Sharing with some dude and his uncle in a trailer in the backwaters of Indiana.

Life resumed again rapidly, though her body remained in holiday-mode. She slouched around the storeroom, dropping things carelessly onto her cart and shoving them with no semblance of order into their shelves. Carlos nearly lost it when it came to inventory.

"Wake up, Princesca!" He snapped, clapping hands in front of her face.

"Huh?"

"I asked you about the peanuts four times!"

"Oh," She looked at the boxes. "They're fine."

"Thank you!" He marked them off.

"Where did you go for New Years?"

"Oh, just to Oscar's parents."

"Oscar?"

"My boyfriend, idiota. Come on!"

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend."

"I told you about him ages ago."

Rosie shrugged. "I thought you were just friends."

"Yeah. So do his parents."

"Ouch."

Carlos counted the cereal. "How's Eddie?"

"Fine."

"Just 'fine'?"

"No, he's…Eddie's great, actually."

"Great?" He put the clipboard down. "Tell me more."

"Like what?"

"Anything!"

Rosie caught herself simpering. "He's very sweet."

"Yes! Yes! I could tell that. No estoy ciego. What else?"

"And caring. Affectionate."

He slapped the shelf for emphasis. "You know what I'm asking about!"

"What? Oh! Yeah. I'll just say he takes care of me."

"Oooh. Lady first."

"Lady first."

"Every time?"

Rosie held back. "Well… we've never really…"

Carlos straightened up. "Never?"

"Not yet."

"It's been months!"

"We've done all the rest." Rosie smirked. "All the rest."

"But never fucked?"

"It's just never really been the right time."

"Baby, if you keep waiting for the right time you gonna die unfucked."

She was finishing her dinner in front of the TV when the phone rang. Dustin answered, and silently motioned for her to take it. Not even looking at Claudia, Rosie pulled the whole phone as far as she could into the hall.

"Eddie?"

"Hi."

"Hi."

"It's good to hear your voice."

"You too." She found her balance against the wall.

"You sound tired."

"You too."

"Barely surviving. Listen, I'm finishing a little early. I could grab some drinks and drive over?"

"Sure. Not beer, though."

"Not beer?"

"I just feel a little bloated, is all."

"Wine."

"Yeah. I'll pay you back."

"Don't you dare."

"Eddie?"

"Yah?"

"Chocolate?"

He rolled up over an hour later. Rosie put on her coat and scarf, and stepped out to join him at the small table across the drive. She'd be damned if she was letting Claudia near him again.

"Christ. Aren't you freezing?"

Eddie had put an extra hoodie on under his jacket and vest, but otherwise dressed the same as usual. "I'll live."

Rosie unraveled her scarf and fixed it around this neck. "I'm getting cold just looking at you."

"Smells nice." He raised the knitted wool to sniff.

She wished she could say the same for him; all the cologne in the world couldn't cover the stale smells of The Hideout. Rosie smooched his cheek instead. "I only have paper cups."

"And I have the cheapest bottle in the store. Unworthy of glasses." Eddie placed it on the table behind them. "Also. For you."

"Ugh. Just what I needed."

She broke up the bar and started to nibble. He took a piece, too, and watching her take a swig with the chocolate held in her mouth, tried the same.

"Well that's much better."

"Breaks the sourness."

"Makes it bearable. Jesus."

Eddie swung an arm around her, and they gazed out into the darkened trees for a while. He seemed to search them, for what she couldn't imagine. Like he expected to see creatures moving through the shadows. There was something on his mind, but Rosie didn't press. She let him come around on his own.

"I, uhhh, wanted to ask you something."

"Shoot."

"There's this…thing on. In Fort Wayne." He explained. "Sort of a battle of the bands gig. I'm driving out in two weeks with the guys."

"Sounds like fun."

"Yeah. Hopefully."

"And?"

"And I…I," He fidgeted. "I was wondering if you wanted to come along?"

Rosie smacked his knee excitedly. "Yesss! That sounds great."

"It's gonna be overnight."

"Sure."

"Driving up in a van with all the boys. Sarah, too."

"I'm in."

"Playing in a dive like the Hideout."

"Eddie. I'm going."