"So, what do you think?" Mae asked. "Be brutally honest."
Molly looked around. "So...it has good ambiance."
Bea laughed. "That's what I say."
"The food is...decent," Molly added.
"It's okay. I'm just glad you agreed to come at all. Mostly I wanted to make an appearance with my sugar baby," Mae said.
"Wow Mae," Bea said.
Trent laughed and finished off his slice of pizza. He had to admit, the Clik Clak was growing on him. It seemed kind of random if the food would be bad or decent, but he was beginning to suspect it depended on who was working there. There was an old hand fry cook who had to be pushing seventy who came in a few times a week and when he was there, the food ranged from decent to actually pretty good, depending on what he was making or when you showed up. If you got in earlier, the food was better. Which Trent could understand.
"I consented to this," Molly murmured with a sultry smile, then took a drink from her soda.
"Yeah, Bea. Don't shame us," Mae said.
"Whatever," Bea muttered.
"You're kinda my sugar baby right now," Trent murmured.
Bea looked over at him.
"Oh you did it now, dude," Gregg said, grinning broadly.
"Yeah, wow, those are dagger eyes," Angus agreed.
"You take that back," Bea hissed.
"How about you come over here and make me?" Trent replied.
"Oh-ho, gauntlet thrown," Gregg said, then laughed.
"We are in a public restaurant," Angus murmured.
"Bea won't do anything stupid," Trent replied.
"Maybe I'll decide it's stupid to have sex with you," Bea said, putting her chin in her palm after planting her elbow on the table and staring at him intently.
"Pure fiction that you could stay away from me," Trent replied.
"Wow, she's right, you are cocky," Molly said, laughing.
"It's her fault," Trent said.
"Oh BS. My fault."
"You did pump up his confidence, Bea," Mae murmured.
"Yeah, I'd be super confident if I landed a smoking hot bombshell like you," Molly said.
Bea made an awkward noise that was almost a word. "Sure. Okay."
"Oh man, she's blushing!" Gregg cried in delight.
"You're going to eat that glass if you don't fucking zip it, Gregg," Bea growled.
"Don't fight. Eat. I wanna go to the Food Donkey," Mae said suddenly.
"Really? That's like a fifteen minute hike out to the edge of town," Bea replied. "To see an abandoned store?"
"Oh man, you guys are taking me to some shady, abandoned store at the edge of town? Should I be scared?" Molly asked.
"No way, it's cool! There's lots of rat babies there! Or, well, I guess they'd be grown up by now...how fast do rats grow?"
"What the fuck was with that whole rat infestation we had last fall?" Bea asked suddenly. "It was like, they were everywhere and-why do you look guilty, Mae?"
"No reason," she replied.
"...uh-huh. Well, I'm down to keep this whole roll through town going. Although unless I'm mistaken, the Food Donkey is gonna be the end, unless we wanna walk all the way out to fucking Germ's house," Bea said.
"Hmm…" Trent looked up at the ceiling, considering it in his head, just how far of a walk it might be. He knew the way there. He checked the time. It wasn't even that far past noon.
"Wait, you're seriously considering that?" she asked.
"Yeah! Epic hike!" Mae declared.
"For the record, I'm not up for an epic hike," Angus said.
"Oh yeah, asthma," he replied.
"And other responsibilities. Today is clean the apartment day. Something I'm admittedly happy to put off for awhile but we do need to get to it."
"Boo!" Gregg complained.
"We both agreed to it," Angus said.
"Yeah, I know. Just hate cleaning."
"Lucky you're dating me."
"Very."
While they finished up, Trent thought about the last few days.
It had been a few days since his freak out. It was Tuesday now, the last day of April. The last day before his big launch party. He was still nervous, though less nervous than before at least. He'd spoken with Tabby about the feasibility of doing a book-signing at the Pickaxe, and selling copies of Demontower there, and she said it would be fine, and she'd pay to have a shipment of two hundred copies sent his way, something he still felt awkward about.
But, as she had rationalized it: I'm the publisher, and I've got money, and I always feel like publishers should put their money where their mouth is and support their developers, and so I'm doing that.
So that was on the horizon now.
They'd pretty much just chilled for a few days at the house, with Mae occasionally taking Molly out somewhere for a walk. So far, they had yet to actually introduce her to Mae's parents. That was supposedly on the agenda for today, but he could tell Mae was wanting to put it off. No doubt because there would be questions that she wouldn't want to answer, or even avoid answering. She wanted to avoid avoiding.
"Okay, okay, okay, can we go?" Mae asked once it seemed like people had mostly finished eating.
They got a general consensus that everyone was either ready to go or willing to indulge Mae and Trent paid the bill and they headed out.
He felt his phone buzz as they hit the pavement and began heading for the Food Donkey in one big unruly group. Checking it, he saw a text from Tabby.
Hey so I just wanted to check like last chance to tell me to stay home.
Trent laughed softly and began reply.
No way. Mae would slit my throat in my sleep if I did anything to prevent you from coming. Don't worry, it's all going to be fine.
The day after his panic attack Tabby had suddenly asked if it would be insane if she asked to come out for a visit for the book launching party. Mae had, of course, been over the moon, and the others had been cool with it. Though they'd been concerned about space. But Tabby had been comfortable with renting a room at Possum Spring's only motel and driving around in a rental car. Trent thought it was a little strange, her wanting to come all of a sudden, but he supposed when he got as successful as she was, maybe he'd make seemingly strange decisions too.
Honestly, it would be nice to be able to just up and go to another state. He supposed he was actually already kind of living that, given he'd been able to just up and go to Durkillesburg for that party. And the other parties.
Okay, cool. Just wanted to triple check. I'll be there tonight.
He fired back a text. We'll be ready.
"Who are you texting? Your girlfriend?" Mae asked, grinning at him.
"No, I'm not texting Ann," he replied.
"How about your other girlfriend?"
"I have no other girlfriend besides you two and Ann," he said.
"I feel like Claire is almost your girlfriend," Bea said. "And I got a text from Melody not too long ago asking if a sex visit sometime this summer wouldn't be out of the question."
"And then there's Jen," Mae said.
"Ugh, no. Shut up about my cousin," Gregg groaned.
"You know I gotta say, I've never seen such a successful player who wasn't also an absolute piece of shit," Molly said. "So, like, major congrats there, dude."
"Well, to be fair, I'm not a player," Trent said.
"Yeah you're a fuckboy," Bea said.
Trent's hand shot out and he slipped a finger through her choker collar. "You're on thin ice, Beatrice," he said as he pulled her towards himself and stared into her eyes.
For a few seconds she just stared back with wide eyes, breathing heavily. Finally, she blinked a few times and then looked away, blushing fiercely. "Sorry," she murmured demurely.
"Sorry what?" Trent replied.
"Sorry sir," she said softly.
"Good girl."
He released her and they kept walking.
"How the fuck do you do that?" Mae murmured. "You didn't even hesitate. Like you were fucking ready for it."
"I'm getting good at reading Bea," he replied. "And I guess practice. And luck. And natural talent I guess? I had no idea I'd have any talent here."
Bea mumbled something.
"What was that, Bea?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied.
"No, I heard that. You think I didn't, but I heard you call me a fuckboy again. I will bend you over and fuck you in that Food Donkey if you don't keep your mouth shut," he said.
"Is that a promise?" she asked.
"Please keep your mouth shut, for our sake," Angus said.
"It's kinda weird knowing your friends are doing it in, like, the next room," Gregg agreed with an awkward laugh.
"Speak for yourself," Mae replied.
"For your sake, I will," Bea said.
They arrived at the old Food Donkey a few moments later. After taking a look around, Gregg produced a key and unlocked the front doors.
"Where'd you get that from?" Bea asked as they headed inside.
"Broke in here last year, found it in the manager's office," Gregg replied, slipping it back into his pocket.
"Interesting...how many crimes have you committed, exactly?" Bea asked.
"Uh, like in the last year or...ever?"
Angus sighed heavily. "Let's not pursue this avenue of conversation any further."
"Whoa, I just saw a rat!" Molly cried.
"My rat babies!" Mae yelled, and raced off into the store.
"Hey wait for me!" Gregg called, and shot off after her.
The others began spreading out and Trent took a look around. He'd been here before, and had always intended to come back. There was something special about the old Food Donkey. He wasn't sure if it was the store itself or just the state it was in. Pale sunlight shone through the dusty old plate glass windows that constituted most of the far left side of the building, shining on the vacant aisles and checkout lanes.
Motes of dust drifted lazily through the air, dancing where the others had disturbed them.
For a little while, he just soaked in the ambiance.
He walked up to one of the checkout lanes and looked at it. Something about it was vaguely creepy. For a moment, he thought of Mae, and how she had said she was in the good timeline. In his mind, he saw this place never closing down, and Mae never going to college, and her getting a job here, working this very register.
Would they ever have met and hooked up and started dating and fallen in love?
Maybe, maybe not. It was impossible to tell, but he knew that a million little things went into life. Though, now that he thought about…
He probably would have. Because he lived behind her. And Mae was weird and spontaneous enough that she would absolutely start talking to him if she noticed he had moved in behind her. Something about that struck him as odd.
"You okay?" Bea asked, and he jumped slightly. "Sorry."
"Fine," he said, "just...thinking. With everything-" He paused and looked around, saw Molly with the others across the store. They had gathered around some door and Gregg was telling a story or explaining something. "With everything that's happened, with, you know, the goat, I guess I was just thinking...how do I put it? I don't know, I was suddenly hit with this idea that, like, I was supposed to meet Mae."
"Why?" she asked, looking uncomfortable now.
"I don't know. I don't think for anything bad. Maybe the opposite. I guess...I was think that if there's a big bad evil out there, then maybe there's a force for good that's that powerful too? And it's making things happen?"
"So...what, some entity brought you out here and made you fall in love with Mae?"
"No, I don't think like that. More like...lined it up to happen? More like put me on a path to meet her, and then hope for the best. I don't know. It's pretty unlikely, but something about it just feels correct."
"Hmm."
"What do you think?"
She sighed. "I have no idea. After everything that's happened, I don't know what to believe in anymore beyond my relationships." She made a face as they both heard a squeak and a big rat scampered up onto the checkout line. "Ew."
"You don't like rats?" Trent asked, leaning closer.
"No. Not really. I guess they're okay. Just...I dunno."
"I think they're adorable."
"Of course you do. You're dating Mae."
"I'm also dating you."
"Yeah but she got to you first...so what's the story with the rats? Mae talks about them a lot, like she's somehow responsible for them? I don't know if I ever got the story on that…"
"Oh, she completely is. She found some in some old abandoned room in the...Telezoft building, I think? And started feeding them. Like a lot. And more showed up. And she fed them, too."
"Oh my fucking-ugh! We had a big rat infestation for a bit there! Some even got into the fucking Pickaxe and I had to deal with them-that fucking girl…" She growled, looking over at Mae.
"It made her happy. And happiness was in short supply back then," Trent said.
"...yeah, fine. Whatever. Who you texting?" she asked as he pulled his phone out.
"Jacob."
"Jacob? Who's Ja-oh. Mister Warton. It's so weird you call him by his first name."
"He told me to."
"Yeah, I know. Still weird. I guess we should let Germ's family know we'll be up around that way and ask their permission to drop by. Look at you, being all responsible."
He finished his text and looked up at her. "Why do you say that like it bothers you?"
"It doesn't, it just...I don't know. It makes me feel weird, I guess? Like I'm slipping? I used to be so responsible, and it sucked, but I also kind of took pride in it. I had my shit together and most other people my age didn't. Now I slack off and smoke weed and play video games and watch old movies and cartoons and have sex all day."
"You are saying that like it's a bad thing. Do you have any idea how many people would kill to be able to do that?"
"I'm not complaining, really, but I'm not...built that way. This is great, and fun, but I know I can't just do it forever." She sighed suddenly and looked down at herself. "I've already put on like five pounds since meeting you."
"There are worse things."
"Yeah, let's see if you feel that way when five pounds becomes eighty five."
"I'll still love you, Bea."
She looked at him for a moment, then shook her head. "Too nice," she muttered.
"I guess you'll just have to deal with it."
She laughed. "I guess so."
They heard voices growing louder and glancing over, Trent saw everyone returning.
"Okay, Gregg and Angus say they gotta go. Which means it's time for us to hike!" Mae declared.
"I think-" Trent began, then his phone buzzed. He checked it. "Okay, good. Jacob says we can come over and visit with our new friend."
"Jacob?" Mae replied. "Oh! Germ's dad. So weird you call him that."
"I know, right?" Bea said.
"Yeah well, you're welcome."
"We can get some weed too!" Mae said.
"Shh," Bea murmured.
"What, we're in an abandoned store?"
"Show some discretion, Mae," Trent replied.
Mae heaved a sigh. "Whatever. Let us go."
They said goodbye to Gregg and Angus, then started heading for the woods.
"I never really do stuff like this anymore," Molly said as they walked up the gravel road.
"Go outside?" Mae asked.
Molly laughed. "Pretty much. Just for the occasional party. I used to run around all over town when I was a kid. I stopped somewhere in middle school...or maybe high school. I don't really know why. I guess it just lost its appeal. But this is nice."
"I think it might be the company," Bea said.
"The company is nice," Molly agreed, and favored Bea with a sly smile. She blushed and looked away. Trent had to admit, it was interesting to watch this particular little interplay. He'd had the suspicion that she wasn't completely straight, and that had only grown as she'd gotten more comfortable doing sexual things with Mae or Ann involved.
"There's, like, so many trees around Possum Springs," Mae said, leading the way and tromping merrily through the woods, apparently oblivious to the subterfuge. "Also, old mines. So, like, be careful and watch your step. We got sinkholes around here and they suck."
"Man, that sounds serious," Molly murmured, looking around.
"It is. But we should be all right."
"So how do you know...Germ? His name is Germ?" she asked after another few moments.
"We went to high school together, and I heard of him cuz he gave himself the name Germ Warfare, which is so cool. He's sorta just...around town. He shows up in weird places. Band practice. The Ol' Pickaxe. The Food Donkey. Under the bridge by my house. Just sorta around. He's weird, but cool. And his family is pretty cool, too. They're real nice," Mae replied.
"And they sell you weed?" Molly asked.
"Yes. Which we did not tell you, understand?" Trent replied.
"Understood," she said.
He figured it would likely come up in the course of the visit, and that Jacob would figure if Molly was hanging out with them, then she probably would have put it together regardless, but still. Mae shouldn't have brought that up in public. Inasmuch as the old Food Donkey was public.
They reached Germ's driveway not much later and walked up it.
"Oh! Also, they've got this huge trampoline," Mae said.
"That sounds awesome," Molly replied.
They reached Germ's front porch and found the front door swinging open before they could knock.
"Hello everyone. Who's this?" Jacob asked.
"Jacob, may I introduce Molly," Trent replied. "She's a relatively new friend from out of town. She's visiting for my launch party."
"Ah. Well, welcome to Possum Springs, and to my personal paradise. Come in. I imagine you'll want to see the trampoline. It's why most people under the age of twenty five show up on my doorstep," Jacob replied, letting them.
"Yes, please," Molly replied.
"Right this way."
He took them through the house. As Trent followed along with the others, he felt a pang of worry. Jacob seemed unhappy or stressed, and the state of the house seemed to be chaotic. He supposed that with five kids, it would get that way, but something seemed off. They walked through the house until they reached the backyard, and Mae and Molly hurried off along the deck. Molly let out a surprised shout as Mae jumped right off the deck and then reappeared, bouncing up, laughing wildly.
"Come on!" she cried.
Molly began laughing as well and jumped off to join her.
"So, uh, how you doing?" Trent asked.
Jacob looked at him for a moment, then sighed and reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and an old BIC lighter out. He stuck a cigarette between his lips, lit the lighter, stared at the flame for a moment, then shook his head and lit the cigarette.
"Shit," he muttered, replacing the lighter and pack in his pocket, "stressed."
"What's up?" Bea asked.
"All the usual stuff. Daughters start a new fight every damn day. Same with my damn brothers. Stress of work. And now the stress of trying to get this big support web for Possum Springs. It's just...so much. My brothers are all-in on it, so that's helpful, but...now we got a big heap of stress thrown on top of everything else. My mom is sick. She's in the hospital."
"Oh shit. Is she going to be okay?" Trent asked.
He sighed. "Don't rightly know. They're trying to figure out what exactly is going on. Her liver's putting out some funny numbers according to the labs. She's old but not that old. Creeping up on seventy now. She's pretty calm about the whole thing, but then she always has been." He took a few puffs and rubbed anxiously at one eye. "Shit, I don't want her to die. I'm not ready."
"I don't think anyone ever is," Bea murmured. They both looked at her. She was hugging herself. Trent slipped an arm around her. "Sorry," she said quietly, "it's just...my mom…"
"I understand. And you're right. I lost my son and...yeah, there is no ready. There's just...less awful, I think. If they've lived a mostly good, long life, and they go peacefully, not much pain...it's still awful. But it's a lot better than getting violently ripped out of the world at eighteen for no goddamned good fucking reason." He paused, took another puff on the cigarette. "Sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry. It's a pretty valid feeling," Trent said.
He laughed grimly. "Yeah, just...not used to sharing it with people. Hard to talk about." He checked his watch. "Well...girls'll be home from school before too long. If you were hoping to buy some product, I'd like to get it over with before they get here."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Trent replied, fishing his wallet out. He pulled out a hundred and passed it to Jacob, who pocketed it.
"Be right back," he said.
"...what?" Trent asked, looking over at Bea. She was staring at him intently.
"I'm not sure," she replied awkwardly. "I'm having...feelings. Conflicting feelings."
"About?"
"It's a shitty precedent, but there is something quite attractive about you just pulling out a hundred all smooth and shit to buy weed like it's no big deal."
"All smooth?" He laughed. "I just...pulled it out. And it is no big deal at this point. I'm just buying the household weed."
"Yeah, like...I don't know. There's some sort of power move happening there, even if you don't mean for it to be. If anything that just reinforces it. I don't know. Ignore me."
"I think you just get turned on easily if I'm involved," Trent replied.
She rolled her eyes, then let out a laugh that was incredibly close to a giggle, then she sighed heavily. "Goddammit! I hate how fucking weak I am to you. You just blast through my defenses like they aren't even there."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Trent asked, unable to keep from smirking at her.
"It's annoying. I feel all giddy and happy and…" She let out another disgusted sigh.
"Enjoy it while you got it, kids. That's called young love," Jacob said, his voice coming from the hallway as he came back into the living room. "It...fades isn't quite the right word. It calms down. Becomes something else. It's a hell of damn drug while you got it. Here."
"Thanks," Trent said, slipping the bag of weed into his inner coat pocket. "You gonna make an appearance at my party tomorrow?"
"Ideally, yes."
"I will completely understand if you miss it."
"Appreciated. We'll go if we can, but things are unpredictable right now. Gotta admit, I'm curious to see what a book launching party looks like. Never really been to one."
"I imagine it'll look the same as the Longest Night party, or Mae's birthday party. Just people and food and drinks at my house."
"Sounds like a good time to me," Jacob said, regaining a bit of happiness. He shook his head again as he looked at his cigarette. "Should really stop with these."
"I know the feeling. I'm mostly there myself," Bea said. "Though I kinda just switched cigarettes for weed."
"Well...it's a step up, at least. Just don't smoke too much, Beatrice. You're smart. Like, really smart. This shit won't rot your brain like they always say, but it does take your edge off and do a bit of damage if you dip too much for too long."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm...enjoying myself right now."
"And you should. You worked too damn hard for too damn long at the Pickaxe. Oh, there's the girls." He took a few more quick puffs, then put his cigarette out in a nearby ashtray. "Gotta go be a parent."
"We'll get out of your hair," Trent said.
"You don't have to, but...I wouldn't say no to the offer, to be blunt. Harder to focus with guests over, let alone my daughters. Jeremy's out today, too, working at the Pickaxe actually."
"Saw him in the back when we stopped in," Bea replied. "I just hope my dad is paying him well enough."
"He seems happy with the money and the work, and it's good experience, too. Not that Jeremy has ever lacked for discipline in getting things done...when he feels like it."
"All right, we'll go collect our friends. It was good to catch up. I hope your mom is okay...if you ever need anything, a ride somewhere for someone in your family or a babysitter or something, you can call," Trent said.
"Yeah, we'll be there," Bea agreed.
"I really, deeply appreciate that. And I will keep it in mind," he replied.
They said their goodbyes and went to see how Mae and Molly were doing.
In the end, Trent and Bea sat on the back deck with their legs dangling over the edge, waiting on Mae and Molly to finish jumping. They went for another ten minutes or so before Mae's stomach started acting up and they headed out.
They walked back through the woods, past the Food Donkey, and into Possum Springs, intent on getting home and relaxing for the rest of the night, and finishing up whatever preparations needed to be done. Ann had been feeling asocial, so she'd stayed behind to straighten up.
They paused as they approached the Telezoft building and saw a familiar figure step out front and light up a cigarette.
Trent and Chris locked eyes for a second, then Chris looked from him over to Molly.
"Oh come on! Are you fucking shitting me with this?!" he snapped.
"Whoa, hostile. What the fuck?" Molly replied.
"This is Chris," Bea said.
"...oh. You think-ohhhh…" She laughed.
"We're not together, Chris. In any sense of the word," Trent replied awkwardly.
Chris looked at Molly speculatively. "You aren't?"
"Don't go sniffing around my bush, boy. I'm a lesbian," Molly said.
He sighed and shook his head, then took a puff on his cigarette. "Of course you are. I just came out for a fucking smoke."
"Then we will be on our way," Trent said, leading the ladies along the sidewalk.
He'd almost made it away before Chris said, "Wait, hold up. I got a question, Trent."
Now Trent sighed. "Of course you do...I'll be right back."
"Seriously?" Molly asked.
"It's...complicated." He walked back over to Chris. "Yeah?"
"How's Claire?" Chris asked. Trent sighed. "Look, dude, I know it's fucking weird or whatever but like...she won't really talk to me much and she won't let me come around. I'm trying to be not such a goddamn asshole all the time and I thought we were, like...I dunno, reconnecting. She tells me everything's fine but that's it really."
"Everything really is fine. She's safe. She's happy. She's not doing anything stupid. Honestly she's mostly just chilling at Mae's parent's place and, like, living her life. You and your parents did, like, a lot of damage, and she needs her space. And honestly, this might go on for awhile. Like, weeks, months maybe. Also...it's a little weird that you keep asking me."
Chris sighed, his defenses springing up. "It's not like I'm fucking stalking you, man. I just fucking saw you and asked-"
"Okay! Fine. Just...you have to admit, it's a weird position. You literally attacked me, more than once. Like, you would have put me in the hospital if you'd gotten your hands on me. And now you're asking for my help. And don't get me wrong, like, I appreciate your situation. I imagine it must be hard to stop being an asshole after you've been one for your whole life."
"Man, fuck off," Chris growled.
"I'm not saying that to fuck with you. But part of this whole process of patching things up with people? It's letting them have their space...and also accepting that maybe some people, you burned that bridge. You can't force a relationship. A romantic one, a platonic one, whatever. You can't make people like you, or forgive you. You just gotta do the best you can, and if they tell you to piss off, you gotta accept that."
"Not being an asshole is fucking bullshit sometimes," he muttered.
"I get that, and it might sound like bullshit but...it's better than being an asshole. It's one of those things, you know, like those life lessons. Like really old guys looking back on when they were our age, and shaking their heads at how stupid they acted, and they just wish they could've done it different, been nicer, been more chill. Don't be that old guy, be the guy who figured it out early and got to live a fucking awesome life because of that." He paused for a moment. "Think of it like...working out, maybe. It's a lot of effort, but it's worth it, and you gotta keep doing it. I don't know. I gotta go."
"Fine. Uh...thanks," he muttered, looking down at the sidewalk.
"Yeah," Trent replied, moving over to rejoined the others.
"So, like, that guy pulled a knife on you?" Molly asked as they walked away, glancing back over her shoulder at Chris.
"A box cutter. Technically I pulled a knife on him, but only after the box cutter incident," Trent replied.
"Total douche, why do you, like, talk to him? Or help him? Are you helping him? It looked like you were giving him advice," Bea asked.
Trent sighed heavily. "I don't know! I just...do. I guess I feel bad for him?"
"After he pulled a box cutter on you?" Molly asked.
"Yes! I just don't know why, really. I'm, like, compelled. And I mean, he's asking about Claire. He wants to make sure she's okay. Like, he seems to be trying to be less of a douchebag. And on some level I respect that. Yeah, he was a stupid piece of shit, and he did some really fucking stupid things...I don't even know why I'm defending him. It doesn't matter."
"I punched him right in the fucking face," Mae said after a moment.
"Holy fucking shit, are you serious?" Molly asked.
"Yep!"
"Dude, that guy was like a foot and a half taller than you! And built!" She let out a wild little laugh. "I was so right. Borowski...so fucking tough."