“You came back,” Cole said, stepping down the stairs. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Rylee looked down at her broken leg and sighed. “Long story involving a haunted conveyancing museum and a quest to stop the Conclave. Listen, Cole, I need your help. Maphira and Vai have been kidnapped. I have to save my sister, but I can’t do it alone with my leg like this.”

Robot Cole nodded. “I see. So you’ve come to me because I said I’d turn away from the Conclave to be with you. The thing is, Rylee, I may not have a heart, since I’m a robot, but it still felt like you broke mine when you walked away. Now you’re only here because you need my help.”

Staring up at Cole, Rylee said, “Please, Cole. You’re right. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t need your help. But if you help me save my sister, I promise to listen to at least five stories about ute canopies for sale near Melbourne.”

“Five?” Cole asked. “What about ten?”

“Seven.”

“Eight.”

Rylee groaned. “Deal. Eight stories about aluminium, utes or canopies.”

Cole grinned and walked behind the wheelchair, pushing it toward the kitchen. “How about we have something to eat before we head off. You look like you could use some energy. And besides, I want to hear all about this haunted conveyancing museum. I didn’t even know conveyancing museums were a thing. I’ve got a good story about tapered under tray tool boxes, but that can wait.”

“Sounds good,” Rylee said. She took a deep breath, then reached her hand up to grab his. He felt so… human. “I’m sorry about before. I was just… freaked out. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.”

“I get it,” Cole said. “It was a lot to take in, and I did hide it from you. I understand if you don’t want to be together anymore, but I’d at least liked to have stayed friends.”

She smiled at him. “Maybe we can make that work. We’ll see. Just don’t make your ute stories too annoying.”