“Is that the wrong word, ‘sweet’? ‘Seduce’ sounds vulgar. Or are you letting her think she’s doing the seducing? That would be more like you.”
“Am I not allowed to be attracted to someone? Is that what this is?”
“Of course you’re allowed to be attracted to someone. I just think we ought to look atwhy.”
“Wedon’t need to do anything.”
“You can’t stand it, can you? That she has one over on you.”
Daniel scoffed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“She overpowered you. It kills you, doesn’t it?”
“Spare me the armchair psychology.”
“Then look me in the eye and tell me I’m wrong.”
He looked me in the eye. His eyes glinted red, as usual, but this time they reminded me of dark stars, glowing deeply in the night sky, distant and alien. He said nothing.
“Don’t do this to hurt her,” I said.
“I’m not.”
“Don’t do this to win.”
“I think it’ll be a draw,” he said.
It was the only thing he could have said that would have made me believe him. She scared him. And how did Daniel deal with fear and awe? He captured the source of it, like a butterfly collector.
I had been a butterfly, once. I even enjoyed it. But now…
I was free. Just as my power over him had ended, so had his over me. I searched for regret but found only a new freedom, like rising bread, in the place where sadness should be.Daniel and Jessica. Stranger things had happened.
I chuckled.
“What?” Daniel said.
“I get you.”
“Are you coming up with another way to insult me?”
I shook my head.
“You’re smiling.”
“Am I?”
“Does that mean you’re going to plant that knife in my spine when I turn around?”
“No.” I clapped his shoulder, then gripped it. “Unless you mess with Jessica. Then I can’t promise anything.” I gave him a little shake and let him go.
“Why are you so concerned that my intentions are good? You hate Jessica.”
“Your intentions are twisted, just like she is. If you don’t screw it up, you’ll be perfect for each other.”
“They’re never going to put that on a Valentine card.”
“They should. There should be a whole lineup:Valentine’s Cards for the Twisted, Messy, and Complicated.”
