Cole laughs and coughs out a little, then clears his throat. "Shit, bourbon burns when you breathe it in." He grins, though. If he reminds her of a friend, maybe that means he's slowly getting through her defenses.

He hadn't even known he'd been trying, Cole realizes. He swallows and takes another sip.

"You don't talk much about before coming here," he says. "No pressure, y'know, it's your business, but. I dunno. It makes you . . . unique among all the new Darrowites." Darrowians. Darrowers. Whatever.