.” I started to say to Tempe but then thought better of trying to explain where I knew her from.“What’s her name, Mike?” Tempe softly asked.�...Nella, Canella Hulshoff. She’s a ... smart girl, I’ve heard,” I replied, hoping to limit a future discussion with Tempe about my prior connection with this surprising Medway student.Canella Hulshof was a raven trussed beauty from my previous timeline, whom I previously met as a second year student at Western University. She was in our Intro Biology class. Stilettos always make my heart beat faster than steel toed boots.” Mike said, “Be careful, Jesse, you don’t want your ass kicked with either one.” I just laughed. This was what I was used to with these guys. No matter what I wore, it seemed they were always going to treat me like one of the guys. I excused myself and headed out for a breath of fresh air. I grabbed my coat, and went out to sit beside the pool. It was beautiful out here with the fairy lights and the steam rising off the water in. But you keep saying, it doesn't change how you feel about me, you're not in danger and haven't committed any crimes. You're not gay, you're not dying, and you love me? Right?"He nods, acquiescing."You're not a glittering vampire pirate from Neptune?"He laughs, and I'm glad he's lightening up. I want to know, I want to know everything about him. I love him. But I really just want to concentrate on this evening and enjoy it."I know you think this thing you want to tell me is important, and I can. She didn't want Dan getting worked up until he was ready."Well, Dan," she said, breaking into the long silence that threatened. "What a cozy place you have here. I really like it. Tell me, how do you spend your time, now that you have so much of it?" Oh, I keep quite busy." Dan had taken a seat opposite Ruth in a straight-backed chair that he had pulled up to the coffee table. He drank his own coffee with relish, "I work on my little gadgets... and fool around with my tape deck." What tape.