(Lena)
I was back at the desk in the study pretending to review my notes when I heard them coming down the hallway.
Diane's voice first. Then Aaron's. Whatever they were talking about had made her laugh and I hadn't heard that particular laugh directed at anyone new in a long time.
I kept my eyes on the notepad.
They came through the doorway together. Diane had a mug in her hand. Cole looked up from where he was standing and said something to Aaron briefly.
Diane looked at me.
I looked at my notepad.
She crossed the room and stopped beside me.
Then she looked at my face.
"Your mouth looks a little swollen," she said.
"I bit my lip," I said. "Measuring tape incident."
She looked at me.
I looked at the notepad.
"Measuring tape incident," she repeated.
"Yes."
"On your mouth."
