Avoidance helped settle the emotions. Considerably.

“Well, " I began,"I've been roped into shenanigans."Without preface, Catcher mut…”

“Ah, vampire humor. Thank God it never got old, said no one ever.”

“Go get him, tiger, I silently told him. Shouldn’t you be working? he asked. Yes…”

“Scout released me, then wiped tears from beneath her eyes. Catharsis, I guessed…”