followed, so complete that I almost savored it. Daniel turned.
“Uncle?”
Michael glanced up. “Family nickname.”
Rachel stared at us. “You’re related?”
Michael smiled. “First cousins.”
Daniel looked blank. Rachel’s expression sharpened as she turned to him.
“You thought he was dating her.”
“I never said that.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No. I asked who he was.”
“You texted her.”
He looked at me, but I offered nothing. Rachel continued.
“You asked me if I knew him. You stared at them all night yesterday. You asked her again this morning.”
“Rachel.”
“And he’s her cousin.”
Michael stepped away, generously allowing me to handle the confrontation. Rachel’s breath quickened.
“You thought he was another man.”
“Can we not do this here?”
“Why?”
“Because this is ridiculous.”
She gave a humorless laugh. “Exactly.”
Then her embarrassment found another target: me.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“You could have told him.”
“I could
