If there's anything more enticing at this moment than the dark kohl around his eyes, it's the flush in his cheeks. She kisses each of those rosy spots, returns the nose-smudging with interest.

"It's so much different than last year. I mean, there's obviously major differences, but I feel-- I feel sure of myself, like I know the path I'm going to take. Which isn't any sort of Path at all."