She was goading him. Jamie didn't know if that itself irritated him or if it was the fact she was succeeding in it. Regardless, he couldn't prevent the faint softening of his features as he watched her nuzzle the sleeping puppy. That made him feel things, more things, than he cared to admit.

"Now you're being stupid," he says with a huff as he stretched his legs out on front of him. The puppy had been moved to his chest as he leaned back and used the wall behind him as support. "It's that or nothing," he added with a raised brow.

---