There was a part of me, while I was standing there waiting around, that kind of felt like it figured. I finally get some kind of handle on where I stand with regard to relationships and physical affection and then, bam, hiccup. That's either the Parker genes or the luck of the clone-ish, right?

She came back, though. The demigod has not stolen my... well, we should probably work out what she is. This would seem to be an appropriate reaction.

"It's okay," I say, shrugging a shoulder, arms still around myself for warmth. "What, uh, was that, though? That kind of seemed like a whole thing."