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She perked up. “How attractive on a scale of ice cube to supernova?”
“Doesn’t matter. You won’t be joining us.”
Her face fell. “No fair. You promised room and board.”
“And that’s what you’re getting. It doesn’t mean I have to include you in my personal affairs.”
She hopped off the counter and washed her hands. “What kind of potatoes are you cooking?”
“Baked with rosemary. I’d like to get the prep out of the way sooner rather than later.” I struggled to time side dishes to be ready at the same time as the main dish. Anything I could prepare earlier, I would.
“Can’t one of your Caspers do it?”
“They have plans.”
Nana Pratt glanced at Ray. “We do?”
I set the peeler on the counter.
“I haven’t peeled potatoes since I was a kid,” Addison said.
“It’s like riding a bike. You won’t have forgotten.”
She picked up the peeler. “Fancy.”
“Not really.”
“What else are you serving?”
“Baked salmon with lemon zest.”
“Ooh, zest. That means they’re at least a burnt marshmallow on the attractiveness scale.”
“The meal has nothing to do with their looks.” And everything to do with preserving our friendship. It had taken my entire adult life to make friends; I wasn’t giving up on Gun that easily.
“Will I at least get to say hi?”
“I’d prefer they didn’t know you were here.”
She opened the bag of potatoes. “They won’t approve?”
“Of course not. They’ll recognize your name.” I contemplated the row of spices. “Would you prefer I call you Aite or Addison?”
“Either works for me.”
“But which one would you prefer?”
She cast me a sidelong glance. “Why do you care?”
“You’re a guest in my home. The least I can do is call you by your preferred name. It isn’t hard.”
“Which name do you prefer? Lorelei or…?”
I snorted. “Nice try. It’s Lorelei.”
She started to peel. “I guess I’ll stick with Addison since it’s not a name The Corporation would recognize. Safer that way.”
“What do you think would happen if they found you?” I asked.
