He's teasing, of course. It's nothing but friendly. But I still feel my pulse jump for a second and have to cover it up with a smile before sliding into the booth across from Derek.

I take another sip of beer, again mostly for something to do.

I wonder if I should take my jacket off, but its weight on my shoulders is oddly comforting so I don't. Not that I need protection from Derek, of course. More like protection from his reaction to anything stupid I might say or do.

"How's your puff doing?" I ask him finally, my finger dragging along the cooled glass of my drink.