The second she saw him walk through the front door of Charlie's Pub, she knew what she had to do.

"Dex!" Josslyn called out as he sat down at a table by the window, eyeing the menu. She walked over to him, leaning downward, "Hey, Dex!"

"What?" he frowned at her, setting the menu down.

"Are you free to talk?"

"About?"

"Does it need to be something specific?"

Dex sighed, his back against the chair, "What do you want, Josslyn?"

"To thank you," she took a seat across from him, "for Esme."

"You're welcome."

"I'm glad you caught her."

"It wasn't just me."

"Yeah, I know Ava, Alexis, and the PCPD were involved, but you actually went toe-to-toe with her. She came at you and you stood tall and-"

"If you're trying to butter me up, it's not going to work."

Josslyn crossed her arms, a frown on her face, "So now I can't compliment or congratulate you?"

"Not if you want something from me."

"What makes you think I want something from you?"

Dex shot her a knowing glare, which prompted her to roll her eyes, "Look, Dex, I know you and Kristina are a thing-"

"I wasn't trying to hide it."

"I'm saying that because I'm not here to make a move or anything. I just…wanted to give you your kudos. And besides, isn't Kristina still in the hospital?"

"She got discharged today."

Josslyn blinked a few times, trying to figure out what to say next, "Oh, well, I didn't know that. You're not with her?"

"She's with her mom; I dropped her off."

"And you're here with me."

"Don't do that," Dex scowled, "I'm only here to order some food. She wanted some pizza and a…" he looked at the menu, "Chocolate Volcano."

"Chocolate Volcano," Josslyn sighed, planting an elbow on the table, her fist against her cheek, "Haven't had that in years."

"What is it?"

"It's basically this round chocolate cake with melted chocolate inside of it. I had it a lot back in high school."

"Is it good?"

"'Good' is an understatement," she smirked as a server came over.

"Johnny, hey," Dex stood up, locking hands with him as they hugged, slapping his back.

"Hey," Johnny smiled as he pulled back, "how are you? How's Kristina?"

"She's good. She was discharged this morning."

"Really? That's great! Where is she?"

"At her mom's."

"When do you think she'll be back? We're really missing her over here," the bartender flashed a nervous smile.

"I'm not sure. Maybe a week or two?" Dex shrugged, "Let me get back to you on that."

"Thanks."

"Ahem," Josslyn cleared her throat. The men looked down at her, "We'd like to order."

"We?" Johnny raised an eyebrow.

"No," Dex rolled his eyes, "there's no 'we.' I'm ordering to go."

"What do you want?"

"A large half-cheese, half-pepperoni pizza and a Chocolate Volcano."

"Got it," Johnny nodded, turning to Josslyn, "And for you?"

"A Chocolate Volcano for me too."

"You haven't had that in awhile," Johnny gave her a sympathetic look. Dex raised an eyebrow in response.

"Yeah," Josslyn sighed, "but I think I can enjoy some now. I know Oscar would want me to."

"Okay. I'll get you guys your orders," Johnny looked between them before walking off. Dex slowly sat back down, his eyebrow still up.

"Oscar?" he asked, "Who's that?"

"He…" she takes a breath, "he was my first love. We were together in high school, but it…didn't last long."

"What happened?"

"He had cancer."

"Oh, Joss, I'm sorry."

"Yeah," her lip quivered slightly, "it was tough then, it's still kind of tough now."

"I can imagine. You were, what, sixteen, and your first boyfriend died from cancer. That hurts big-time, and it can skew someone's perception in a lot of ways."

"You lost someone like that too?"

"No, but I know that feeling."

Josslyn gave him a small smirk, "Y'know, you're pretty easy to talk to when you're not acting all defensive."

"Don't get used to it."

"Uh huh," Josslyn rolled her eyes, "Well, you're easier to talk to than my boyfriend."

"You have a boyfriend?" Dex's expression turned sour, "And you're talking to me?"

"I can't talk to you?"

"Stop that," he pointed a finger at her, "Why aren't you with your boyfriend?"

"He's working."

"Oh, and is that also why you think it's 'easier' to talk to me than him? Because he has a job?"

"Managing Kelly's isn't exactly a cakewalk-"

"Neither is dealing with an avoidant girlfriend," Dex stood up when he caught Johnny in his peripheral vision. He offered the man some money, which was promptly waved off.

"On me," he said, giving Dex two boxes, "Tell Kristina that I wish her well."

"Thanks, man. I will."

"And your order," Johnny turned to Josslyn, "is coming out soon."

"Great," Josslyn forced her response as he walked away. She shot Dex a look, "I'm not avoiding Cam."

"Then why are you here and not at Kelly's?"

"Because I can be?"

"Look, Joss," Dex's expression was firm, "we're not friends, and we're barely acquaintances. I have a girlfriend, a girlfriend I love very much, and none of that's going to change. Instead of wasting your time with me, you should be with your boyfriend and working on your relationship with him."

Josslyn didn't respond, crossing her arms and scowling as she watched Dex exit the bar. She slumped in her seat, her scowl turning into a bitter frown.

"Cam…" she muttered, scrolling through her phone, rereading a few text threads. She looked back up at the front door just as Johnny delivered her order, Dex…

"'Acquaintances' doesn't work for me," she said under her breath, "I'll prove to you why I'll be more than that, Dex. You'll see."

"Oh, my hero!" Kristina cheered, getting to her feet when she watched Alexis open the door. Dex stood on the other side, lifting the boxes with pride. She slowly got to her feet and approached him, planting a kiss on his lips, "Thank you."

"Of course," Dex walked towards the couch, setting the food down on the coffee table.

"You had him get you food?" Alexis raised an eyebrow, "I could've just had something delivered."

"Charlie's doesn't do deliveries," she frowned, "and I wanted an excuse to see my boyfriend."

"You don't need an excuse," Dex pulled her into a gentle hug, kissing the top of her head, "Whenever you need me, I'm there."

"How much was it?" Alexis asked, "I can pay you back."

"No need," he sat down in tandem with Kristina, an arm around her waist, "Johnny covered it," he locked eyes with his girlfriend, "He wishes you well."

"He's the best," Kristina smiled, "and I'm sure he and Phyllis need me back."

"According to him, yes."

"Well, once I get the all-clear, I'll be there."

"What about The Floating Rib?"

"Still a work-in-progress, but nearly complete."

"When do you think the doctors will clear you?"

"A week, maybe two," Alexis took a seat adjacent to her daughter, "They just want to make sure she doesn't tear her stitches."

"And I won't," Kristina clapped her hands together, "Now, are we going to talk or are we going to eat?"

"Alright, alright," Dex laughed, opening the pizza box just as Alexis made her way to the kitchen. There was a knock at the door just as she set down a few utensils and paper plates. Dex stood up, "I got it."

His eyebrows shot up when he saw Dante on the other side of the cabin door.

"Hey," the detective greeted, his tone flat, "I was told my sister's here."

"Uh, yeah, she is," Dex gestured to the living room, where Kristina and Alexis sat on the furniture.

"Cool," Dante walked past him and approached the women.

"Mm," Kristina swallowed the bits of pizza in her mouth, getting to her feet, "Dante, hey!"

"Hey," he hugged her gently, "Dad told me you got discharged. How are you?"

"I'm okay, just taking it easy like the doctor told me to," she sat back down as Dex joined them, grabbing a plate, "How are you? How's Rocco?"

"I'm good, things are good. Rocco's, uh, hoping you two can hang out sometime soon."

"Yeah, absolutely!" Kristina swallowed another bite, "Once I'm cleared, we can do whatever he wants."

"Great," the man nodded before turning to Dex, "Can I talk to you real quick?"

"Uh, sure," Dex slowly followed Dante to the front door, standing on the porch, "What do you want to discuss?"

"You and Kristina. Seems like you two are pretty serious."

"We are."

"Hm," Dante hummed, "I see."

"Are you going to give me the 'protective big brother' speech?"

"I feel like I should."

"You don't have to. I won't do anything to hurt her, Dante."

"Right, right," Dante stuffed his hands in his front pockets, "Look, man, I don't know you all that well. I don't think anyone really knows you all that well, and here you are, in a relationship with my little sister."

"She knows me-"

"Does she, though? I mean, when you first started in my dad's organization, you were busted for going after Michael."

"Which was a mistake."

"Right, but I just…I can't shake the feeling that there's something going on with you."

Dex sucked his lips in, feeling his phone vibrate in his back pocket. He ignored it as best he could, glancing away from Dante's raised eyebrow.

"Wanna answer that?" Dante placed his hands on his hips.

"It can wait," Dex responded, "and there's nothing going on with me."

"You go after my brother, you pursue my sister-"

"I was wrong about Michael, and I love Kristina. I'm not doing anything wrong."

"I'm just trying to figure out what you want, man. Y'know, besides my sister."

"I just want to be a good employee for your father, a good boyfriend to Kristina, and live a good life. That's it."

"Working for the mob isn't how you get a good life."

"It's what I have."

"...Okay."

"Look, Dante," Dex ran his hands down his face, "I don't know what I did to make you so suspicious of me."

"Oh, you mean besides threatening Michael?"

Dex rolled his eyes in response.

"Why are you working for my dad?"

Dex kept his mouth shut, unsure of how to answer. His phone buzzed in his back pocket again, and he tried to beat down the rising urge to wilt under Dante's quizzical gaze.

"Do you…want to answer that question?"

No response.

"Dex."

Nothing.

"...Okay," Dante ran a hand through his gelled hair. The men stood still, speechless. Dex's phone buzzed a third time, and it took everything in him to not throw the device into the trees.

"Hey," the men stare at one another, Dex's expression firm against Dante's determined glare, "I'm only gonna say this once, okay? If you do anything, anything, to hurt my family, you will absolutely regret it."

Dex's mouth slightly opened as Dante turned and walked off. He watched the man's vehicle back out and drive off before pulling out his phone. It buzzed again, a text message popping up as he noticed the missed calls.

From: Michael (1:03 PM)
Heard about Kristina being discharged
Are you with her?
Another text surfaced as he swiped through his call list.

From: Hume (1:04 PM)
Private meeting at the Warehouse. 17:00.

"Dex?"

The young man turned around, eyebrows shooting up at the sight of Kristina poking her head out from behind the front door.

"Hey," he turned her way, "is everything okay?"

"That's what I want to know. Where's Dante?"

"He had to go."

"Oh. Well, uh, are you coming back inside? There's still some slices left."

"Slices of what: the pizza or the cake?"

"Take your pick," she giggled a bit. Dex gave her a smile before stepping back inside, rejoining her and Alexis at the couch.

"Oh good, there you are," Alexis sighed in relief.

"You were looking for me?"

"I was," she grabbed her purse from the chair, "I have to go. Duty calls."

"I'll see you later," Kristina hugged her, watching the woman leave.

"Uh," Dex cleared his throat, "how long was I outside?"

"Not long," she shrugged, "Gregory called her and she had to go."

"...Okay," he sat down, grabbing the last slice of pepperoni. Kristina slowly lowered herself down next to him.

"So," she began, "what did you and Dante talk about?"

He froze mid-bite, mind blank as her question echoed in his ears.

"Mm," he set the slice down, "he just…gave me the big-brother speech."

"Ugh," she rolled her eyes, "of course he did. I'm sorry. If he pulls something again, let me know. I'll get him to back off."

"That's okay. He was just concerned," his phone buzzed once more, and he hastily pulled the device out.

From: Michael (1:11 PM)
Answer my texts.

"Who is it?" Kristina asked, trying to lean over. Dex pulled back instinctively, quickly typing a response.

To: Michael (1:12 PM)
Yes, I'm with her.

"Dex," Kristina frowned, "who texted you?"

"Just a random solicitor," he replied, pocketing his phone, "don't worry about it."

Kristina frowned at his answer, watching him pick up his slice of pizza. She sat in silence, watching him scarf down the food. A small part of her felt a scratching at the back of her mind, a tiny, slightly annoying nag attempting to catch her attention.

"Mm," Dex wiped his face, placing down his empty plate, "that was good," he looked around the coffee table, noting the missing box, "Where's the cake?"

"The kitchen," Kristina pointed to the door towards the back left.

"Do you want some?"

"Maybe later."

"Okay," Dex got to his feet, clearing his throat as he walked away. Kristina watched him in sadness as he entered the kitchen. She turned back toward the coffee table, settling into her spot on the couch. She knew that fretting over Dex's sudden defensiveness was pointless, that it was just a text message and she wasn't privy to the conversation, but that nagging stayed put, gradually festering. She looked at the kitchen door, a frown on her face and a head full of thoughts, ranging from apprehensive to slightly spiraling, and she wasn't sure which was correct…or if any of them were to begin with.