Page 46 of It Starts With A No

“You have a curfew?” She picked up the fork and dug in. “Oh, this is good. Slightly too sweet for my taste, but still good.”

His lips curled. “Do you want more?”

She shook her head.

“Have you had dinner?” He should’ve thought about that, should’ve taken her out for dinner before coming here. He was so used to skipping meals that he could get by with eating once a day. You’re not out on a date.

She shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ll eat when I get home. I have plenty of food from Grandma Moretti. Maybe, if you’re really nice to me, I’ll let you take some home.” She pressed her fingertips to her mouth. “Just the right tartness. Do you order this in or do you have an in-house chef?”

He shrugged. “We have chefs for the canteen. Maybe they make them.”

“Maybe?”

“I’ve never asked.”

She nodded slowly, then checked the time on her watch and swallowed the mouthful of cake without even chewing.

“Take your time.”

“You just said you had a curfew.”

He sighed.

“I’m eating faster because you’re in a rush, then you get annoyed that I’m rushing. I can’t win.”

“I’m—” He wasn’t annoyed with her.

“I’m going to join the picket line tomorrow just to annoy you.”

His eyes narrowed. “Stay away from them. I have security to escort the staff in and out. If you’re coming here, let me know and I’ll arrange someone to escort you in.”

“Are they violent?”

“They’ve never actually laid hands on anyone, but they’ve threatened to, and they can be aggressive.”

Her head bobbed up and down slowly.

“Still think that’s sad?”

“Yes.”

He frowned.

“They have zeal. It’s sad that they don’t know God’s heart.”

“Who would?”

“Anyone who reads the Bible. God is good. He’s compassionate and kind. He is love. Aggression, threats … those aren’t Him.”

Seth laughed and leaned forward. “Compassionate and kind?”

She nodded, her eyes wide, as if she couldn’t understand what was so funny.

“I think you have the wrong version of the Bible.”

Her lips curled. “Have you read the Bible? Really read it for yourself, not listened to parts and portions of things taken out of context.”

“All the curses in Deuteronomy twenty-eight for disobeying Him.”

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