“He said…” Mariel hesitated, her face scrunching slightly with distaste. “He said he knew that Robin never lost, but he couldn’t be so close, worrying that this might be the day he didn’t beat the odds, because it was too distracting and because … because he loved him.” Such earnest declarations of love were clearly difficult for Mariel, even if they were other people’s. “And Robin said, ‘You’re right. I never lose,’ and then…” “Kissed him,” Baxter said triumphantly. “Gave him a big wet one, right on the mouth.”
