Page 251 of Safe With You

Renee pointed toward Mila. “I like her.”

“Don’t encourage her,” I said.

“Why not?”

“Thank you, Miss Renee,” Mila said.

Renee looked at me. “See? Manners too.”

I looked at Luna.

“Your mama is going to send her home spoiled.”

“She does that.”

“I like her,” Renee said, looking at Mila. “Let me have my fun.”

“You’ve known her ten minutes.”

“And?”

Mila smiled.

Renee pointed at her. “See? She likes me too.”

“Because you have macaroni and rolls,” I said.

“Whatever gets the job done.”

Renee had already turned toward the counter.

“Put that dessert over here, baby. Dinner’s almost ready.”

I carried it over.

Luna came beside me and lowered her voice.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“You sure?”

I glanced toward her mother, who was now asking Mila what she liked to drink.

“I’m sure.”

Watching Mila settle in this quickly caught me off guard, but not in a bad way. Ten minutes in the house and she was already talking to Renee like she’d known her longer than that.

I looked back at Luna.

“She likes your mama.”

Luna smiled. “My mama likes her too.”

“I noticed.”

Watching them together made something pull quietly in my chest.