de behind him, long enough for the hunger to gnaw harder than his pride. His steps slowed. The heat of the

orld

ngry-he was on th

him, fo

H

was shar

ision swimmi

one hand. She didn't look worried. More like irritated. Li

going to faint

dn't

her eyes, and jerked h

e ba

nked.

e in front of someone else's st

a trick? A lecture? A

ked back to her cart, flicking her braids behin

foll

e grill. The glaze shimmered in the light-thick, dark, red wit

't mean I b

t," he said, but hi

uttered. "Eat it be

need tel

y, rising up the back of his throat and settling into a warmth that pushed a

ng like it. A spark of h

ust food-it

athed. "This i

dn't a

one eyebrow raised, as if waiting for

a little. "You've g

e. You're starving. You'd say

her bite. "I mean it. This is

like amazing more wh

old

me," she said quickly.

en asked "So

the grill. "Maybe I don't want a dead gu

ig

m, "I just got tired of listening to your stom

off guard. "Is that your

. "Not even

t i

en them. Not awkward, n

eet dog. A kid rode past on a too-small bicycle, yelling at someone down the

d here," she said, fir

N

"I can tell. You talk like you

ned. "I

upted. "Just means you came from s

ck in his hand, now bare

said quietl

ing from

rply. "What makes

the skewers. "People don't just show up poor and hungry in a c

dn't

er si

ent. "But if you're going to be around, you m

for the

ening, "don't think this means

igur

eyes sharp. "Next time

his hands.

d back to

still a little shaky. The heat of the food

," he felt the nee

t turn. "

skewers without rushing, checked the coals like they were the most importan

stand like th

ed. "Lik

or someone to give you

"It's just been

idn't

asked, "What'

d at her

ike she was holding

at suppose

dn't a

ou

ted, then

for som

N

l na

dn't

u're kind of mean

're kind of weird

rd h

just disappear when they fai

"I didn't try

she muttered.

minute

Well. Thanks. For not lett

-hm

ean

him again. "You

ed. "Fo

ned to

called,

oked

sh. Or bring work. I

ot

y, but something about her tone stuck with him. It

oice. Maybe, somewhere behind the sarcasm a

d, still broke-but full,

him yet. Maybe

adn't let

ike this, that