“I’m impressed,” Feral said to Maeve.
“Why?” she asked.
“You made your own crust for your quiche,” Feral said. “And in seconds.”
“I love to cook. I used to help Steve in the kitchen back at home.”
“I can’t wait to taste it,” Alison said. “It’s been so long since I was able to enjoy someone else’s cooking, except for Pride wide barbecues.”
“I hope it’s as good as you think it’s going to be,” she said with a smile.
“Why did somebody tell lies about you to my mom?” Griffin asked, looking directly at Niko.
Niko chewed the inside of his cheek for a few seconds before he looked right at Griffin. “He didn’t. He told her the truth. I said some stupid things when I was growing up, and even after, and he told your mom that I said them and it made me look bad. But he shouldn’t have told her those things. So I was angry.”
“Why’d you say stupid stuff? Moms always find out,” Griffin said.
“Yeah, seems that way,” Niko said.
“So, we’re not going to kill Vance?” Griffin asked.
“No, we’re not. But we’re going to talk to him all serious and stuff,” Niko said.
“I’ll help.”
Maeve glared at Niko.
“If I need your help, I’ll let you know,” Niko said nodding his head like they’d made a plan.
“Okay. ‘Cause we can get him if you want to,” Griffin said. “I can fight.”
Niko nodded encouragingly.
The air fryer went off, and Maeve got up to take the bacon out of it and checked on her quiche.
“So, do you know that they gave my room away?” Niko asked, looking right at Alison.
“Did they? I’m sorry, they must have needed it for the ladies and kids,” she said.
“And I get it, I really do, but where am I going to sleep now? Where am I going to keep my clothes?” he asked, looking at Alison all puppy-dog-eyed.
“Well, I’m sure somebody has a place for you,” Alison said.
“I doubt it, there are so many spread around to families that have extra room that I wouldn’t even ask anybody at this point. And I’m glad we could do that,” Niko said. “But with the Variant and all taking up more rooms at Jack’s, it’s even less possible anyone would have room for me anyway. And I’m not complaining. I mean, friends, you know? But, now where do I stay?” he asked.
Alison, being as goodhearted as she was, took pity on him. “If you really have no other choice, you could stay here, but…”
“Nooooo!” both Feral and Maeve shouted at the same time.
Alison’s mouth fell open a little in shock as she looked back and forth between the two of them shouting at her.
“I am so sorry, love. I was shouting at him, not you,” Feral said. Then he focused on Niko. “If the problem is the Variant, we should be gone today and you’ll have your room back. You don’t need to spend a single night under Alison’s roof,” Feral snapped.
“Giving you access to Griffin at all times is not what I’d call a good idea,” Maeve said.
Alison looked at Feral, then at Maeve. “I can’t let him sleep outside. He’s a friend.”
“He’s not sleeping outside. He’s going to be sleeping back in his room after we leave today,” Feral said.
