"Okay," I said, then added, "Sorry." I had to admit that Valkyrie looked rather cute when she was flipping out, but I knew enough to at least try to avoid this. This was very much in dangerous territory.

I took her hands and held them in mine, as long as she let me. "I understand. And I'm really glad we're not going to stop being friends. I guess I just want to know, after all that's happened, what happens now?"