He didn’t know quite what she could be picturing to make her laugh so at the possibilities, but he knew better than to ask. And at least she had tried to stifle it.

He returned her toast with a dry smile of his own, and took a hearty sip of it to prevent himself from remembering about how much she knew about him and his life now. Maybe it was for the best that she did not stay a stranger; a friend may be more inclined to keep things to themselves. Perhaps, in time, he would even forgive her for the egregiousness of sincerely making friends with Caroline.

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