Page 248 of Safe With You

“You could’ve gone with her.”

“You told her to go inside.”

“I didn’t think she’d listen.”

Luna laughed.

I looked at her.

“You enjoying this?”

“A little.”

I shook my head and started toward the door, but her hand caught mine.

I stopped.

The teasing left her face.

“Thank you for coming.”

“You invited me.”

“I know.”

There was something else beneath the words.

Something I didn’t think this was the time to ask about.

I squeezed her hand.

“Told you we’d be here.”

Her fingers tightened around mine before she let go.

“Come on.”

I followed her inside.

The smell hit me first.

Whatever her mother cooked had been going long enough that the whole house smelled like it. Something savory, something baked, and something else I couldn’t place.

Mila’s voice carried from somewhere ahead of us.

“I’m six.”

A woman laughed.

“I heard you were six.”

I looked at Luna.

She smiled. “Mama.”

We found Mila in the kitchen standing in front of a woman I didn’t need an introduction to recognize as Luna’s mother. The resemblance was there immediately, especially around the eyes.

Mama Bennett looked past Mila toward us.