Somewhere behind me, close to the alley I'd just burst out of, a car door slammed. Was it whoever had dropped the piece of stationery now in my pocket? Would they be coming to take it back?

I shoved our phone number into Other Me's hand. "Call it."

Then I ran past her and did a little finger wave at Studmuffin. He winked back, and his good-luck magic danced up and down my spine.

I grinned as I hunkered behind a bush along the sidewalk. Of course he'd put two and two ...