Reading Online Novel

Shadowed(71)



“And how does Saber feel about it?” Sophia asked.

“He knows it’s the right thing to do.” Lissa looked down at her hands. “I just wish it wasn’t such a hard thing to do.”

“Oh, hon…” Kat gave her friend a big hug. “I don’t know how, but I know everything is going to be okay. You and Saber were made for each other and don’t you let anyone tell you different.”

Lissa hugged her back. “Thank you, Kat. I’m just sorry I’m leaving you in the middle of the preparations for your joining ceremony. I promise I’ll try to come back for it.”

“Don’t worry about a thing,” Liv told her. “Sophie and I will pick up the slack. Just do what you have to do and come back if you can.”

“If I can,” Lissa echoed and swiped at her eyes again. “Thank you. Thank you all, so much.”

“Any time, doll.” Kat smiled at her. “Now come on and help us choke down some of this fruit.” She nodded down at the overflowing platter on her coffee table. “I’ve been trying to eat healthier because I’m pregnant, but nobody seems to be interested in helping me.”

“It has been a long time since I’ve eaten,” Lissa admitted, giving her friend a wan smile. “And I love exotic fruit—what’s this green stick?” she asked, pointing.

“Ugh—that’s celery.” Kat shivered. “Can’t recommend it myself. Tastes like crunchy cardboard, and the strings get in your teeth.”

“Well…what about this one?” Lissa pointed at an orange stick this time.

“Carrot,” Kat said blandly. “It’s good—if you’re a bunny rabbit.”

“Don’t listen to Kat,” Liv said. “Try some of the fruit—it’s on this side of the plate.” She pointed.

“All right. This one looks good,” Lissa decided, picking up a yellow piece.

“That’s pineapple,” Sophia said. “Try it—it’s delicious.”

“Tastes better upside down in a cake,” Kat grumbled.

“Upside down? Lissa frowned and turned the small yellow chunk over. “Am I holding it wrong? Will it make me sick if I eat it the wrong way?”

Liv laughed. “No, no—Kat just has an awful sweet tooth now that she’s got a bun in the oven. There’s a dessert we make with this fruit, but it’s much more fattening than the fruit itself.”

“And much more delicious.” Kat brightened. “You know, I think Lauren was baking a batch of pineapple upside down cupcakes with cream cheese frosting earlier.” She waved a yellow chunk of fruit at Lissa enticingly. “Hang around the Mother Ship one more night, and we’ll go get one. What do you say?”

“Well…” Lissa wavered.

“That sounds perfect!” Sophia declared, throwing down the piece of celery she’d been toying with. Come on—let’s go get some now.”

Liv laughed. “Instant cravings—how well I remember those days. Mention the food, and you’ve suddenly got to have it.”

“Even if it’s a peanut butter and kelp sandwich. As if you could talk about anyone else’s cravings,” Kat scoffed. “Come on, Lissa,” she said, getting off the couch. “Let’s go get something good to eat. You need to build up your strength for the ordeal ahead.”

“Translation: Kat needs cupcakes,” Sophia laughed, hauling herself out of the couch with her sister’s help.

Lissa smiled. “Well, I do love to try new foods…” She popped the pineapple into her mouth. “Mmm, and if it’s better than this, I really need to try it.”

“Then it’s settled,” Liv said. “Kat, lead the way. And somebody bespeak Lauren to know we’re about to descend on her like a pack of hungry hyenas.”

“Hungry, pregnant hyenas,” Kat corrected, grinning. “Which is about twenty times worse. Come on, Lissa.” She grabbed her friend’s hand. “Let’s go get cupcakes.”





Chapter Nineteen



“And this is what you’ve been living on the whole time I was out?” Reddix looked at the bowl of grayish-purple mush in his hands uncertainly.

Nina shrugged. “I had to. The ship doesn’t have enough power to use the rehydrator-thingy so it was eat this or starve. Besides, it’s not so bad. It looks like purple oatmeal, but it tastes like whatever you put on it.”

He frowned. “And what do you put on it?”

“Depends. Do you want a savory flavor or a sweet one?” She nodded at an array of much smaller bowls, all filled with different substances, some of which looked like spices and some which looked like flowers or bugs. “They’re all different.”