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“By the way, how is it, staying in the main house?” he asked, stirring what was in the other cup.
I walked over to the window, wrapping my hands around the mug, warming them. “Fine.”
“Fineas in miserable since you’re a light sleeper?”
“It is a bit noisy.”
“The cottages are very quiet.”
I nodded. “Except there are none available.”
“You could sleep in mine. Wait. That didn’t come out right. What I meant is you can have mine and I could move to the main house.”
“No, but thanks.”
“Why not? It won’t bother me.”
“I’ve actually been thinking of letting a place nearby.”
“Really? I hadn’t thought about that. Although, up until recently, Zep and I roomed together. It was kind of like old times.”
“Old times?” I asked.
“We roomed at Monckton.”
“Right. MI6 training ground. I envy you that.”
“What’s all the racket out here?” said Rogue, joining us. Since his hair was wet as though he’d showered, I doubted we woke him. He walked over to where Magnet had made tea. “Were you two up all night?”
“We fell asleep watching a movie.”
When Rogue raised a brow, I wished Magnet hadn’t felt the need to answer in such specifics.
I motioned to the table. “Shall we get started with your makeup, Dad?”
“You’re very funny,” he said with scrunched eyes.
“How old are you anyway?” Rogue asked.
“Old enough to kick your arse, but not so far gone I could be Schön’s father.”
“He’s thirty-two,” I blurted. “Sorry, I have an affinity for remembering ages, years born, that kind of thing.”
“How old am I?” Rogue asked.
“You’ll be thirty in June.”
“Wow. What about her?” he said, pointing at Ehren, who’d just entered the room.
“What about me?” she repeated.
“Schön was just impressing us with how she remembers everyone’s ages. Birthdays too, it seems,” Rogue told her. “So, come on. How old is she?”
“Sorry, no idea,” I lied. Since Ehren was the oldest of the four of us, I doubted she would’ve appreciated me announcing it.
Magnet sat down, and in under an hour, I’d transformed him into a man who looked old enough to be my dad. “Remember, no stretching your arms over your head,” I whispered when he stood.
“Do you mean like this?”