[ Getting someone interested in Root is not difficult; she lies for a living and has a string of deceived besotted men lined up after her in her history, none of which she's ever reached out to again. Root being interested in someone is what's rare. And of course who she's interested in is someone who makes it difficult. She likes the challenge.

It still feels recent and precious enough that she actually appreciates Koharu's enthusiasm, an unexpected note of reserve -- not quite shyness -- tempering her smile. ]

I don't know if came around is the right way to put it. [ Shaw was kidnapped and psychologically tortured for ten months; it really broke down her resistance. But Root knows that's not why she's with her, it was just the enabling event. She doesn't have a complex about it. ]

But we got there eventually. I'm not upset she held out. That she's such a tough cookie is what drew me to her in the first place.