“Asshole.” I gritted my teeth and cursed under my breath.


    Dexter was getting out of hand.


    After all he’d done to me, now he was gunning for Colin.


    I was fuming and ready to storm the orphanage to expose his two–faced nature, but Colin grabbed my


    arm.


    He looked at me with those big, sad puppy eyes. “Phoebe, it’s going to get soggy.”


    I could see how much it meant to him, waiting in line for ages just to get it. It would break his heart if I


    refused.


    Now I got why they say ‘beauty is a mighty weapon.‘ It’s disarmingly effective. There he stood. under


    the streemp, his eyes brimming with a mix of vulnerability and plea. How could anyone say no?


    I took the fried mushrooms he offered me and took a bite, and they were indeed crispy, fresh out of the


    fryer.


    Colin couldn’t have been at the orphanage; he was with me, his alibi as solid as theye.


    “Phoebe, are they good?” he asked, leaning in close.


    Under the dim glow of the streetlight, my heart skipped a beat. “You… you didn’t have any?”


    He suddenly kissed me, then said firmly, “Delicious.”


    Damn it, my heart was racing. When he flirted, he was anything but a fool. I’d suspected him of ying


    the fool more times than I could count, but ver had proof.


    “Ahem…” I coughed to ease the awkward silence, looking down and continuing to munch on the


    mushrooms.


    He reached out for my hand, leading me home. “Phoebe, I think I’m sick. Got a fever. Will you stay with


    me?”


    He just wouldn’t let me go.


    That big, friendly hound followed close behind us, tail wagging, hopeful for a taste of the fried


    mushrooms in my hand. I tossed it a piece, whispering to Colin, “Is this your dog?”


    “Yeah… Found it as a pup, abandoned by the roadside. I took it in, and it’s been following me ever


    since,” Colin said, patting the dog’s head fondly. “Sometimes, dogs are more loyal than people.”


    I gave the dog another piece of mushroom. “It’s such a gentle creature.”


    Colin looked at me, surprised, then smiled. “Dogs have a way of seeing the true nature of things, the


    things we can’t. It’s loyal to its master.”


    10:10


    I didn’t think much of his words.


    The dog was gentle and obedient around me, always wagging its tail. I’d always thought it was just a


    friendly, non–aggressive pooch.


    “Phoebe, my hands hurt, can’t get them wet.” Colin suddenly said as we were getting ready for


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    bed.


    He held up both hands, wrapped in bandages, giving me that helpless look.


    Clearly, he couldn’t bathe himself. He was asking for my help. Was he genuinely clueless, or was this


    an borate game he was ying?


    My cheeks flushed, and I muttered, “Just skip it, go to bed.”


    “No. Hygiene is very important,” Colin insisted earnestly.


    My lips twitched. ‘Hygiene‘? Thising from a guy who’d been a vagrant for who knows how long?


    I didn’t call him out on it. Everyone’s got their pride.


    “Phoebe, it’s legal,” he reminded me suddenly.


    I looked up at him. He’d already taken off his shirt, revealing a toned chest and well–defined muscles…


    and, ahem, impressive abs. I couldn’t me myself; he was tempting me with his


    looks.


    He usually wore loose clothes that made him look slender, but with his shirt off, he was pure


    temptation.


    “Phoebe, look, it’s all legal,” he said as if thew was his prime concern.


    I just hoped he was asw–abiding when it came to murder, praying he had nothing to do with the


    serial killings.


    “I’m dirty, Phoebe. Help me wash,” Colin said, reaching to remove his pants.


    I grabbed his hands quickly. “Hey, keep your pants on.”


    “How can I wash with my pants on?” Colin looked at me, dead serious.


    I took a deep breath. “Just wash with them on.”


    “I don’t want to,” he sulked, his head down.