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“Salt,” Agnes corrected.
“Got it. Butter, love, and salt. I can do that.”
“Make them fluffy!”
Oh boy. I was terrible in the kitchen, but I’d make do.
Gabriel was great at cooking. He had been even at eighteen. I wondered if they’d tried his food. That would have to be a question for later.
I’d just made somewhat fluffy eggs and set them in front of Beatrice when another door opened. My heart slammed in my chest, but I made myself take a deep breath.
Gabriel was a mess. He was up way earlier than he used to be, plus he’d been drunk the night before. Judging by the way he winced at the light, he was hungover.
“You guys are up? Did Atticus—” He stopped, eyes on me. He froze, clearly not processing that I’d come here. Then he wiped his eyes and looked again. “What the fuck?”
“That would be where they learned curse words.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my leggings. “Hi, by the way.”
“She made eggs!” Beatrice called. “And look at her hair! She kills herself for it!”
“That’s not what I said,” I replied. “It’s dye. D-y-e. I have someone put it on and it changes color.”
“Like magic?” Beatrice asked.
“There are witches in this town?” Agnes asked.
“Kind of,” I replied. “I’ll show you later.”
“What are you doing here?” Gabriel asked.
“I figured I’d give Atticus and you a break. You look like you’re about to keel over.” I turned to look at the counter, hoping my face wouldn’t burst into flames at Gabriel’s blatant shock at me being here.
“What are you doing?” His voice was way closer this time, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Now he was inches away and I was reminded of last night when he held me close. I’d enjoyed it even when confused.
And I was enjoying having him close now.
“I’m being nice.”
“I don’t deserve that.”
“You need help,” I said. “Consider this my version of running out in the rain with the umbrella.”
He stared. “Was . . . was last night real?”
“You seriously thought it was a dream? Jesus, man. You shouldn’t drink.”
Gabriel grabbed my arm. “Please don’t tell them. They’re confused enough as it is.”
“And they’ve heard you say you didn’t want kids. So, yeah. Lock in.”
“They what?” He went slack jawed. “But I didn’t . . . I never said that in front of them.”
“They heard it anyway. That’s why I was so mad.”
His eyes shut and he nearly buckled under the weight of the words. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Rest. I’ve got them today.”
“Seriously?”
