Page 8 of The Princess and the Pizza Man

“That’s Joshua, by the way,” Ms. Vancouver said, nodding toward the jovial guy. “He’s known Winter almost as long as I have.”

“How long’s that?”

“Twenty years. I babysat those two ruffians every Tuesday and Thursday for six years while his mother was working. They were quite the pair.”

Will watched the two, laughter punctuating any awkward silences that were found among the table. It felt just like him and his sister—too loud for their own good. He liked it.

Clearing his throat, he glanced at the empty seat next to Bells. “Uh, do you know the man who was sitting there?”

She tilted her head and followed his gaze. “Oh, you mean Michael? He and the princess are good friends… now.” She leaned in and covered her mouth. “They have a history. A very long, a very complicated history.”

He slowly nodded as she backed away. Maybe that’s why Michael was so interested in Winter’s food. He knew her well, knew that wasn’t what she ordered, maybe jealous of the relationship between Joshua and Winter…

“Excuse me for a moment,” he said, taking the napkin from his collar and pushing his chair out. Ms. Vancouver looked like she wanted him to stay, but he took off as quickly as he could without causing too much of a scene. He wasn’t sure about that Michael character, but he’d have a better idea if he talked to him. Will prided himself on reading people, and his suspicions might subside once he’d actually had a conversation with the guy.

He went out into the lounge, backtracking once again to the main entryway.

“Yeah, it’s been done,” he heard a deep voice say. He wasn’t sure where it was coming from, so he stood stone still and listened. “Princess better watch her back.”

“First night, huh?” a female voice answered. “Do you think it should’ve waited for a bit?”

“Had to be done tonight.” The voice drifted into whispers. Will could only hear the pounding of his heart as he strained to listen in.

A piercing scream cut through the air, and Will whipped around. His feet couldn’t carry him fast enough to the dining hall.

The chatter and buzz cut off as Will banged the double doors open, eyes bulging at everyone standing, desserts forgotten as they stared at the table head.

“He’s dead, Princess,” a man said, his hands on Winter’s shoulders. “He’s… he’s gone.”

Will tore his gaze from the tears streaking down Winter’s face to the man slumped into his chocolate and strawberry dessert, a laugh still on his unmoving, purple lips.

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