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Hiring in 2021 should be flexible. If they're not willing to be, then you have some different options. But since they went out of their way to contact you, you basically have the upper hand here.

See if they're willing to enter into a contract for 60-120 days. This is relatively low risk for the company, since a contract usually skews in favor of the company to terminate early.

Chances are they'll contract you and realize they can't live without you, so you'll be in a better negotiating position when negotiating a full-time salary.