Page 115 of Devil in Disguise

“Kid,” Owen said, “I like the way you think. If you give me your email,” he told the dad, “I’ll get in touch and arrange to send him a little something.”

The dad looked more than surprised. So did the mom. But they gave him the email. Dante looked like he didn’t know what was going on. Again, exactly like a little brother.

And that was all, because the elevator had finally reached the lobby. It was all Owen could do to let the others off first, and the second he had, he was out there, scanning the room.

There she was. Not sitting in a chair, because they were almost all occupied. Standing up, her shoes in her hand, her arms wrapped around herself, even though it wasn’t cold. Holding herself together. Holding everything in.

When she saw him, she unwrapped. She flew into his arms like a bird flying home, and he was lifting her up, holding her tight, spinning her around. And, finally, kissing her. Because she was safe. Because she was here. And because she’d run to him.

* * *

He didn’t stop holdingher even in the elevator. Even though people were staring at them, and he didn’t much care for people staring at him. She asked, “Is that my dinner in the bag?”

“Yep.”

She sighed. “I want it. I’m so hungry. It’s just … can I tell you something?”

“You sure can.”

“I wanted fish. I know, not vegetarian. Pescatarian is a thing, but I’m asking myself—am I allowed to compromise my principles for fish? What do you think?”

He smiled and kissed her. Again, in front of everybody. “Next time, order it. We’re all allowed to evolve in our beliefs. I had grilled snapper and prawns and octopus tonight. Pretty good.”

“Well, notoctopus,”she said. “They can solve puzzles and use tools. I can’t eat anything that can solve puzzles!”

“Really?”

“They’re at least as smart as dogs, and maybe smarter, even though most of their brains are in their arms. And pigs are smarter than chimpanzees! Smarter than anything but dolphins. Pigs have empathy. They understand symbolism.Idon’t even understand symbolism, half the time.”

“Oh.” He considered that. “So, hey, how about this. You can eat fish, but not octopus, and I won’t eat pigs.Oroctopus. That make you feel better?”

“Seriously? You’d give up bacon for me?”

What was he, crazy? In front of witnesses? Looking at things the other way around could give you serious vertigo. And all the same, he was saying, “Yep. Well, for you, and that I don’t really want to eat anything that has empathy. Also, pigs aren’t treated too well, and bacon’s not the best fuel. I’m not giving up beef, though, so don’t ask.”

A woman near them said, “Seriously, about octopus?”

Dyma said, “In this one lab, the fish in one tank kept going missing, so they set up a camera. An octopus was getting out of his tank every night, going across to the other tank, and eating the fish. Then he’d go back to his own tank and hide the evidence!”

“So,” Owen said, “eventheyeat fish.”

“All right,” she said, “yes. They do. But this isn’t a slippery slope. I’m not eating anything else. Just fish—sustainablefish—and shellfish.”

“Got it.”

“Of course,” she said, “that would be a bigger concession if the next time we fixed dinner together wasn’t going to be on your ranch. Not a whole lot of salmon in Wyoming.”

“Nope. Got trout on the ranch, though, swimming around in the lake, having pretty terrific fishy lives. Tell you what. I’ll cut off the heads before you get a good look.”

She was laughing for the first time tonight. “You think that’s working. It’s so not. Now all I can think of is decapitated trout heads with their poor pitiful gapingmouths.”

“Yep, but it’s a month away. By then, you’ll have forgotten about their heads, and all they’ll be is a mess of crispy deliciousness on your plate. Trout and lemony Greek potatoes? Trout and scalloped corn casserole, made with corn from my mom’s garden and a whole lot of cheese?”

She moaned. “Stop it. I’mhungry.”

“Yep,” he said. “So let’s go get you fed.”

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