Page 45 of Chosen By Swift

“Probably not,” Swift agreed.

“Thanks,” Tirade replied dryly. “That’s real helpful.”

Zadie flashed a quick smile at Alys and then stepped toward Tirade. She looked him up and down and then sighed. “Well, let’s go.”

“Where?” Tirade asked hesitantly.

“Here.” She held up a glossy pamphlet with the image of the ship’s restaurant that catered to couples and families. “I’ve never eaten in a restaurant. I want you to take me.”

“Okay.” Clearly relieved, he held out his hand, and Zadie took it.

Alys joined Swift as their friends left the room. He slipped his arm around her waist and hauled her in close to his side. “You want to visit that restaurant, too?”

“Another day,” she said and patted his chest. “I’d rather see the market.”

“The grocery store?”

She nodded. “I want to cook a real meal for us.”

“I’d like that. What did you have in mind?”

“Anything that isn’t mutton,” she said with a wrinkle of her nose.

“Mutton?” He wasn’t familiar with the word.

“Sheep.”

He wrinkled his nose. “Those fluffy cloud animals?”

“Cloud animals?”

He shrugged. “That’s what they look like from the sky.”

She considered for a moment. “Yes, I suppose a herd of sheep would look like clouds from above.”

“They aren’t tasty?” He gestured toward the door and led her out of the room to wait for an elevator.

“Not to me. I find the taste off-putting. It’s too gamey. Lamb is acceptable, though.”

“Lamb?” He tapped for an elevator to the floor they needed.

“Baby sheep,” she said and stepped into the elevator with him.

“I’ll pass.”

She shot him a strange look. “Are you squeamish about eating animals?”

“Only when you call them babies,” he said with a frown.

Alys rolled her eyes. “You eat eggs.”

“Yes, but—.” He stopped. “Okay. Point taken.”

“You wouldn’t last long on a poultry farm.”

“Why not?”

She held his gaze and then shook her head. “It’s probably better that I don’t tell you.”

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