"Go ahead. She likes you," Adam says, nodding at Noah. Copper only seems to like the people Adam likes, lavishing affection on Blue, Noah, Ronan, and sometimes Krem depending on the moods of the people around them. With everyone else, she's cautious, keeping to his left side like a sentry.

When Noah looks to her, she raises her head and wags her tail hopefully.

His own shoes are workman's boots, worn from the garage, from working with Glendower. He got them at the sporting goods store when they were on clearance and combined them with his employee discount, which is the only reason he'd allowed himself something so well-fashioned.