Page 69 of How to Fan the Flames

I close the cupboard.

Personal growth.

The door opens.

I turn too quickly and nearly hit my hip on the table.

Dan comes in, stops, and looks at the kitchen.

Then at me.

Then at the sink.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

He looks at the clean counter.

“Is this journalist nothing or normal nothing?”

“I wiped a surface.”

“You wiped several surfaces.”

“Several surfaces required it.”

Dan walks to the kettle, eyes narrowed. “Are you nesting?”

“No.”

“Because if you’re nesting, we should know. There might be forms.”

“I’m not nesting.”

“Is this a Carlisle thing?”

“It’s a stress thing.”

I regret that the moment I say it.

Dan’s expression changes, not softened exactly, but less entertained.

“Pip leave you alone too long?”

“She told me to hang out.”

He nods. “Rookie mistake.”

“I tried to interview Kev.”

“Another rookie mistake.”

“He answered one question.”

“Generous of him.”

“It was a good answer.”