"I was trying to deal!" Duke said again, frustrated. Octavia was allowed to deal the way she felt she needed to but he wasn't?!

(Obviously, it was not that simple. But he was defensive and prickly and -- and Jordan had never been great at listening to anyone else's opinion on anything, either. . . .)

Duke let out a low, groaning sigh and stormed after Octavia. Not barefoot. Not bare-anything. He was even wearing a hat, which was definitely overkill.

But he was trying desperately to deal.