Page 65 of The Safest Place She Knows

“Shut up, Ymer.This is the tip of the iceberg,” she mumbled around blueberries andstrawberries. “I look cute and have the temperament of a woundedpitbull when I am hungry.”

Brexel smirkedand eased past her, getting a plate of pasta and meatballs ready.While that was heating in the microwave, he heated some garlicbread in a toaster oven.

He got her alarge glass of lemonade and ushered her to the kitchen table byleading her there with the fruit salad.

She sat with awince and kept eating.

When the hotfood arrived, Brexel set it down in front of her and sat next toher. She pushed aside the empty fruit salad bowl and tucked intothe spaghetti.

Brexel put hishand, palm up, on the table. She slid her hand into his and heldit. He smiled. “Better?”

“You are justlucky you knew about this, or I would have bitten Ymer in thenose.”

“The nose?”

“I have alreadyhad my mouth on more junk than anticipated today.”

Brexelchuckled. “Fair point.”

Ymer askedOren, “Did you see anyone out there?”

Oren shook hishead. “Nope. Why?”

“One of theneighbours from down the road has lost someone, and they werewondering if she was on our property.”

Iris slurped anoodle and asked, “What was the name?”

“Zelle.”

Iris coughed.“Zelle Winters?”

Ymer looked ather. “You know her?”

“Where’s myphone?”

Oren handed itover, and she sent a quick text to Lya.

Iris kept aneye on her phone and then got a return text.

Oh, theywouldn’t give us a name. Just said that they think she was on theproperty, and they wanted permission to search for her. I thinkVenka and Tamara spotted something in a tree. I will ask aboutit.

“They thinkshe’s at Lya’s place.”

Iris nodded.“She probably is. Lya and Zelle are friends. They were both on thatshow together.”

Ymer paused.“Alphas versus Betas?”

Irisnodded.

“And someone islooking for her?”

“Yes, on behalfof someone else.” She pointed at him with a meatball. “From whatLya has told me, Zelle is good at camping for survival. She’sprobably just lying low until after the premier of the show. She’sonly hanging around because it’s in her contract.” She ate themeatball and used the garlic bread to clean things up.

She pushed theplate away and looked at Brexel. “Where is my stuff?”

“I will showyou to your room.”

“Please.”

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