“Going somewhere?”

Pepper’s eyes widened and she whirled around, facing the muscular coonhound that stood behind her in the doorway.

“Shit, Vera? I didn’t know you were in town.”

The black coonhound smirked. “Figures. Your head is usually either stuck in a bottle or on some guy’s dick, not surprising you didn’t hear. I’m in town for fall break.”

“Well, fuck. It’s good to see you. How’s the academy?”

Vera shrugged. “Tough.” Her muscles rippled beneath her glossy coat as she raised a beer can to her lips with one paw, appraising the heeler with keen amber eyes.

Pepper grinned devilishly, putting a paw on her hip. “I bet. But lemme guess, you ain’t here to make small talk with me, are you?”

Vera’s gaze roamed down Pepper’s body for a delicious second before lazily meeting Pepper’s gaze again. Pepper’s grin widened.

“Got a cig?”

Vera smirked. “Don’t you have your own? You still stink like those cheap fucking Camels. When are you gonna grow up and smoke some real tobacco?”

Pepper pouted. “Are you gonna leave me hangin’, Ver?” Emboldened, the heeler came up a step, moving her body very close to the coonhound.

Vera and Pepper shared an intense staredown before Vera sighed, rooting in her pocket for her pack of red American Spirits and her metal military lighter. Before Pepper could grab them, Vera put a cigarette to her own mouth, lighting it with a deft flick of her free hand.

The coonhound took a slow drag, breathing out the smoke through her nose. Pepper bit her lip, a smirk still tugging at the corners of her lips.

Vera leaned in close, exhaling smoke into Pepper’s own breath. Pepper smiled, half-lidded, plucking the cig from Vera’s mouth before taking a drag of her own.

“Was hopin’ we could catch up.”

“The night’s still young, Ver. You wouldn’t want to be shackled to ol’ Pepper all night, would ya?”

“What if I did?”

“Hmmm, well it would give us a great excuse to leave this bullshit party. But my sister’s here too, and I’d feel bad for leaving her this soon.”

“Oh, Ginger’s here? How’s she doing?”

Pepper shrugged, taking another long drag of the cigarette, the nic relaxing her tense muscles. “She’s fine. Same as always.”

“Y’all still at Mona’s?” Pepper passed the cig back to Vera.

“Yeah. Still working the mortuary too. It ain’t so bad.”

Vera looked into the night contemplatively.

“This town’s a shithole. Don’t you wanna get out?”

Pepper laughed, hopping up onto the stair rails to sit. “Bleakburn? Nah. Life’s simpler here, how I like it. Plus, I get free booze, free room and board, and something to do. What more could I want?”

Vera was quiet.

“My offer still stands, y’know.”

Pepper looked at the coonhound longways, studying her. The coonhound met her gaze coolly, tossing the cigarette on the front step and grinding it down under her boot heel.

Pepper shook her head slightly, closing her eyes and smiling. “You know me, Ver.”

“I know.” There was something behind the coonhound’s calm voice.

Pepper sighed, smiling knowingly. She reached for the can in Vera’s paw, frowning when she shook it and found it empty.

“Hey, let’s get you another beer, how about that?”