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DEREK
That actually sounds perfect. My mom said it’s the first time bibimbap in a restaurant came close to what her halmeoni used to make, so I’ve been hoping to try it. Can I text you my order and then Venmo for mine?
JONI
My treat. Call it a “condolences on your home catastrophe” gift.
DEREK
Well, I’d argue, but…
JONI
Good. See you in a bit.
Gus lifted his head and peered back and forth around the apartment and then stared straight at Derek. Derek would like to say there was no way the look was an accusation, but Gus’s face was very expressive.
“He’s upstairs, doggo.”
Gus stared.
“You probably think I should apologize, right?”
Shockingly, Gus did not understand anything other than the word “doggo,” which made him wag his tail a couple times. After a huffed breath, Gus stretched.
“Well, he needs to apologize too.”
After several more crackling stretches, Gus flopped back on Derek’s nicest pillow.
He’d just changed the pillowcase too.
But Derek hated himself too much to remind Gus about the pillow rules.
Forty-five minutes later, Joni arrived on his doorstep holding a bag of food.
As the food smell roused Gus into bounding over to the door, a pair of citron leggings appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Just got done with the HOA meeting, not sure if you remembered but there was one tonight, and we were discussing your situation. I was just coming down to do a check on the mold abatement process, but—” Carol paused her fussy monologue and glowered at Gus.
“The mold inspection was done today.”
“Mr. Chang, what’s that dog doing here?”
Joni cut over Carol’s accusation with her usual disarming smile. “Derek was watching him while I picked up our food.” Somewhat impressively, nothing about that was technically a lie. “You must be Ms. Taylor. Derek told me how much you do around the building.”
Carol eyed Joni with an apprehension like she was concerned that Joni might turn into a rattlesnake. Or maybe she was still worried Gus would break away from Derek’s hold.
“I’m Joni, one of the doctors Derek works with.”
“Oh a doctor? That’s wonderful. I’m a local skin care entrepreneur.” She gestured to her light pink shirt with Boss Babe Goals written in lurid cursive. “I’d love to talk to you about opportunities for a lucrative side hustle. These days everyone needs one, you know. Even doctors.”
“I think I’m okay.” Joni subtly handed off the food bag to Derek, which served the added purpose of getting Gus out of Carol’s immediate eye line.
“Well, if you change your mind, let me know and I can talk to you about the entry-level sales kit, but in the meantime, any chance you could look at this mole I have on my shoulder? My sister pointed it out, but between you and me, I just think she’s jealous I inherited our mother’s skin, and she’s stuck with our father’s. All those hours in a tanning bed add up, you know.”
“It must be nice to have your sister close by.”
“Hardly.”