Page 13 of Little Sunshine

Or dinner and tomorrow’s lunch if I portioned it right.

His jaw clenched again for some reason—it seemed to be his default reaction to me. But he didn’t say anything and just lifted his chin before going to the cashier.

After getting a paper bag for everything, he turned around as someone called, “Hey, Ash!”

The man’s gaze shot to me like I’d been the one to shout. He wore an indecipherable expression on his face.

A moment later, it became clear why.

The security guard from earlier approached the behemoth, talking as he moved. It was obvious they knew each other.

Well… I was kind of right.

He is here for work.

Because this is his work.

With zero hesitation, I was up and running.

I only wished I didn’t have to leave my precious food behind.

Chapter 2

Don’t Let Them See Your Next Move

ASH

Fuck.

Before I could speak or move, the little thief was out of her chair and gone in a blur of long black hair.

“What’s—” Miles started, but I didn’t have time to explain.

Blowing past him, I got into the hall just in time to be stopped by a crush of senior citizens heading toward the bus pickup.

Not wanting to ram through and risk breaking old people’s hips, I rounded the group and slammed out the exit.

More seniors and tour groups filled the sidewalks. Not seeing her in the crowd, I ducked between two of the buses and scanned the street.

No sign of her.

Damn.

When Miles approached, I knew she’d put two and two together and run. I just hadn’t anticipated her being so fast.

For a tiny—and probably malnourished—thing, she could move.

Going back inside, Miles waited in the hall. “Was that the girl?”

“Woman,” I corrected—though barely.

She was still young.

Far too young for me.

When Miles and I had spotted her skirting the room, we’d thought she was a minor trying to sneak onto the gaming floor. She hadn’t been interested in the slot machines. Instead, I’d caught her nearly imperceptible wallet swipe.

“I looked away for a second, and you were gone,” Miles said. “What happened?”

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