Page 58 of Eat, Slay, Love

Namely, my cheese cart.

Betty eyes it. “You always doin’ the most,” she mutters.

“I’m not doing enough!” I squawk.

She sucks her teeth. “You’ve done more than enough,” she says eventually, quietly.

Something in her tone makes me glance over. She's plating chicken onto a waiting tray, moving with practiced efficiency, but there's a knowing look in her eyes.

I wait for a lull in the line. “And why exactly might you say I’ve done more than enough?” I ask lightly, with all the grace and subtlety of a wrecking ball.

“What I really meant to say,” she replies, “is thank you.”

I only stare at her.

“Belvedere was a monster. Not sure I could have taken him on my own.”

My mouth drops open.

“What?” she scoffs. “Jonah’s always thought he’s the one who watches over this joint,” she says. “I let him think it. Males always need that sort of validation.” She chuckles. “But Jonah’s terrible at being a demon.”

After she says this, a smile spreads across her face. And for a quick moment, just one, as if she’s allowing me to see it, I catch a glimpse of three rows of razor-sharp teeth.

My breath catches. Suddenly, I’m back in the alley. A streak of silver, a creature no bigger than a bird slamming into Belvedere’s chest with enough force to crack bone. A wide, impossible grin full of teeth.

A noise leaves my gaping mouth.

Betty’s grin widens.

“You—”

“Mm-hmm.”

“You were there.”

“Mmm.”

“But you’re⁠—”

“Beautiful?” Betty offers.

“Uh—”

“Adorable?” she tries.

“Terrifying,” I breathe. “You caved in his rib cage.”

“Adorable, then,” she nods.

I scan her head to toe, at the burnished ochre of her skin, the deep lattice of wrinkles that fan from her eyes and mouth, as intricate as riverbeds carved by time. The soft folds of age at her neck and hands, the silver-white hair pinned neatly back from her face.

“This is a skin of a killer, Mayari,” she deadpans under my scrutiny.

I blink, then laugh despite myself.

She chuckles. “I was here with Jonah's late wife, back in the day.” Her voice softens. “Been watching over this place for a long time.”

The line starts moving again. She spoons potatoes onto a tray and hands it off. Then she glances at me. “I've always had a soft spot for female creatures foolish enough to spend themselves saving everybody else.”