"I guess I can't say there's no harm in it, but I think I'd prefer knowing what it was he wanted to tell me he'd come all the way to Arizona to say."

"'Kay."

"Tell Isabella for me?"

"She says she loves you and her instructions stand and she wants to hear from you right after."

"Tell her 'yes, ma'am, and I love you, too.'"

"Done."

And then Sunday arrives, and Sadde's on a boy day but girl-shaped.

Alex drives.

The meeting place is a café in town. When they get there, Tobias is already waiting for Sadde inside.

Alex goes into the games store next door.

The whole thing takes about thirty-five minutes, and Sadde leaves the place boy-shaped and looking angry and upset and subdued.

"You, uh, okay?"

"Not really," he says. "Let's go back to your place?"

"Yeah. Sure. Call Isabella," says Alex, heading back to the car, "or tell me what to tell her, pick one."

"I'll call her."

"'kay."

Driving driving. Home.

He's visibly uncomfortable on the drive. When they arrive, he calls Isabella.

"Hi, pet. You all right?"

"Yeah. Kinda. You?"

"Kinda?"

"Turns out he didn't want to give up or anything like that. Kinda the opposite."

"Well. Did you at least get to dramatically announce that you'd see him in court."

He starts giggling, his voice sounding a bit strangled. "No, it didn't occur to me, I missed my shot."

"I'm sorry it didn't turn out like you were hoping, lovely."

"Mm," he sighs. "He was trying to convince me to give up. Called me a deviant, and said I was dragging you with me."