Page 29 of Make You Beg

“You too.” She shrugs. “A little one.”

“Fuck you,” I say, cackling. “And I’m okay. I bumped into something.”

“You bumped into something pretty hard.”

“Yeah,” I spit out.

Her big eyes fix on mine now, challenging me, questioning me. She’s giving me a chance to talk. To really open up. To tell her about my father. But I can’t. Not a damn word comes out of my mouth.

“Whatever. You’re changing the conversation. I said I’m fine. Now, answer my question. What is attractive to you, Little Demon?”

Her lips part. “Forget it. It’s stupid,” she whispers, avoiding my gaze. “You’re right. Everyone’s taste is different. I-I shouldn’t have said anything. Maybe that woman likes that guy.”

“Look, just because he isn’t the definition of beauty doesn’t mean she can’t be into him. Something being unconventional or unlikely doesn’t mean it’s impossible,” I say, invoking the philosopher in me. “The word impossible itself suggests everything is in fact possible.”

What am I saying? What is she doing to me?

Her eyes scan me, locking me up in her peripheral vision.

My heart races against my rib cage.

“Isn’t that the beauty of life?” I add, feeling myself getting lost in her unless I talk. “An unlikely love story is much more thrilling than a predictable one.”

I can’t tell if I’m resonating with her, but she’s listening. She presses her hands against her knees and keeps her gaze locked in mine.

“You really think so?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely. Give me weird and atypical any day of the week. The forbidden fruit is much more tempting than the regular apple, Madelyn.”

She adjusts herself by my side, looking away now, and I swear I hear her exhale.

“Something that is knowingly wrong will always feel greater than something attainable and simple.”

I pause, examining every one of her little reactions.

How her lips pucker, her gaze avoids me, and her grip on herself tightens.

She swallows.

Am I—making her uncomfortable?

Oh, fuck, yes.

“Is that what you think?” Madelyn asks again.

This shyness is taking me completely by surprise. Finally, something to intimidate my little sister with.

“Oh, I know so.”

“I’ve never thought about that before.”

“It’s how our minds work, Little Demon.” I pause. “Give it some thought. Some of the greatest romances of history started as forbidden ones.”

It takes her a moment.

I can see her eyes flickering, and her head nodding along as if she’s making mental calculations.

“You’re onto something,” Madelyn says.