Page 33 of Castle's Cards

“What are you making?”

“Just a simple roast and potatoes. Nothing fancy.”

Addy puts on an oven mitt and pulls out the pan. The meat and potatoes sizzle in the roast’s juices. I catch a whiff of the roast smell and my stomach growls.

“That smells amazing, Addy. I didn’t know you were such a cook.”

“I’m not, really. My repertoire consists of this and spaghetti, basically.”

“She is not joking,” Izzy says from behind us. I turn around and smile. She’s wearing makeup, which I’ve never seen her do before. It’s clear she wants to impress this Nate character.

“Hey, you like both of those!” Addy shoots Izzy a look.

“I never said they weren’t good.” Izzy sticks her tongue out at Addy. Addy responds by wrinkling her nose and passing Izzy some silverware.

“Here. You can help out here and set the table.”

Izzy rolls her eyes and looks at me.

“See what I have to put up with?”

Izzy starts setting a fork and knife at each spot when the doorbell rings. I mosey over to the door and open it wide.

The kid standing in front of me is tall and thin like a bean pole. His wavy brown hair sticks out from under his beanie, the hoodie and basketball shorts he’s wearing swallowing him whole.

“You must be Nate,” I say, trying not to judge him too harshly. Izzy put so much effort into looking her best tonight.

“Yeah. Is Izzy home?” Nate glances around me.

“She’s setting the table. Come on in.”

I step aside and Nate walks in, looking around. When he spots Izzy he looks visibly more at ease and grins.

“Hey, Iz.”

“Nate!” Izzy eagerly puts the last fork on the table before rushing over and throwing her arms around Nate. He wraps one arm around her and grins. Addy comes out of the kitchen and gives the two of them a tight smile.

“Hello, Nate. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Izzy’s sister, Addy.”

She holds her hand out to Nate. He stares at her until Izzy elbows him. He takes Addy’s hand and smiles.

“Hi.”

“I hope you like rump roast and potatoes.”

Addy heads into the kitchen. I follow her into the kitchen where she’s dishing portions onto plates.

I grab the two plates she has already dished and deliver them to the table. Izzy leads Nate to his seat next to her. I take my seat as Addy brings out our plates. When she sits we all look at each other.

“Well, dig in!” Addy announces. Nate nods and immediately takes a bite out of a piece of roast.

“This is amazing, Miss Hughes.”

“Please, call me Addy.”

“Well…okay,” he nods. We continue eating in silence for a few moments.

“This really is delicious,” I say. Addy smiles and Nate looks up.

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