“You absolutely said that.” “Well, I didn’t mean it.” “You said it but you don’t mean it?” Eli asks. “I meant it,” I amend, “as a term of endearment.” A grin curls at his mouth as he squints up at me. “Yeah, I’ve heard that’s a real up-and-comer for endearments.” I give him a pleasant smile in return, with lots of teeth. “Right up there with buddy.”
