Page 23 of Mayhem and Minnie

The waitress returns with our food, and she lays five plates on the table the first round before coming back with another three.

The table is filled with dishes, and Minnie stares at them wide-eyed.

Once more, the waitress lingers, and I shoot her a questioning glance, after which she finally leaves us alone.

“Help yourself to whatever you want.” I incline my head toward the food.

She licks her lips, but she doesn’t reach for anything.

She’s just staring at the food, particularly at a juicy cheeseburger with a side of fries.

I shuffle the items around the table and push that plate toward her.

Her gaze meets mine and she swallows.

“Eat,” I tell her sternly.

“I…” She presses her lips together. “Thank you,” she murmurs before she reaches for the cheeseburger with both of her hands, then brings it to her mouth and takes a big bite out of it.

The melted cheese and sauce smear around her lips, but she doesn’t notice as she eats with gusto.

“Don’t eat too fast. You’ll get sick.”

At my words, she suddenly stops. She stares at me and slowly swallows.

I chuckle.

“You like it?” I raise a brow.

She eagerly nods. “Are you not eating?”

I assess the food in front of us and my nose wrinkles in disgust. “I’m good.”

She frowns but then shrugs and proceeds to devour the cheeseburger before moving to the fries. When she’s done with that course, she switches the plate for one containing pancakes.

For such a tiny thing, she can certainly eat a lot.

“Thank you,” she speaks in between bites of food.

My lip curls.

I hate it when people talk with their mouths full.

But just as I’m about to reprimand her for it, she swipes her arm across her mouth, cleaning up a mix of cheeseburger sauce, powdered sugar, and maple syrup.

With the sleeve of my coat.

I cross my arms over my chest and lean back—so I don’t strangle her.

Homeless—check.

Malnourished—check.

Police record—check.

Lack of manners…double check.

I shake my head. Perhaps I could talk myself into killing her.

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