"Nothin' there to stop the circle. Your brain throws words at you, and it turns into one big freakin' loop, and next thing you know, it's stopped chewin' on you and it's gone and swallowed you whole, instead. Yeah." Reno's gaze had drifted up toward the ceiling, now. "Kinda comes outta nowhere, doesn't it? Sneaks up from behind and gets its fingers right up around your neck and won't let go."

He tightened his arms around her some more, leaned his head against hers. Breathed.

"You know... I don't care if it's three in the morning or whatever. If you ever get like that, you can stop by, zoto. I don't see it like you're botherin' me. It's no bother at all."