They made it back to Helix at around lunchtime and had their lunch at Ricci’s. Kelsi had felt a little guilty that she still was not able to cook at home, but there was no time for her to do it — she was scheduled to meet with Dan at one in the afternoon. However, she vowed to make them dinner if her training would finish early.
“Where are we meeting with Dan?” she asked. “Are you coming with us?”
They had just finished eating and she was slurping up the dregs of soda combined with the melted ice in her glass.
“Back at the cul-de-sac,” Aki replied. “And no, I can’t come with you.”
“Why?” she demanded, a little upset. She had been so used to having him around.
He sighed. “I need to catch up on my duties,” he said.
“Okay,” she said in a resigned voice. As much as she would want to spe
