Trust me. [ His dry tone lingers as he frees her chin long enough to tweak a lock of her hair. Then he tugs her close again, wrapping her up in his arms once more. He rests his chin atop her head as he holds her. ] I’ve had nights end on much worse notes. That didn’t even make the top ten. There was no bloodshed, no angry relatives, no escaping out of a window. A little bit of extra laundry isn’t a hardship.

And besides. It isn’t up to you to decide where I get to spend my energy, because I definitely don’t see it as a waste. [ Where does she even get these ideas? He’s positive he’s never implied anything of the sort. ] I have more than enough focus to go around.

[ He reaches up to catch her hand in his, threading their fingers together. ] And oh, yeah. Just in case you forgot that part, too, you promised to make me an earring. And I’m holding you to that.