Page 101 of Trick or Stalk

Presley's eyebrows raise.

I could pretend I don't care about the answer.

After all, I’ll see her tonight through her window.

And from inside her house while she sleeps.

Presley doesn’t get to decide whether I see her.

I’ve already made that decision.

But I want something else from her.

I want her to want to see me.

Her smile comes slowly. “Depends.”

“On?”

She nods toward the book. “Whether you finish that.”

I glance down at it. “Tonight.”

“Seriously? That’s a lot to read.”

“Challenge accepted.”

She shakes her head and starts toward the door with Penny.

Halfway there, she turns around. “Bye, Hades.”

“Bye, Presley.”

Then she's gone.

I stare through the window as she walks toward The Crooked Spine.

I came to Bramble & Bean because I knew she’d come here.

I brought the book because I hoped she'd see me reading it.

I chose a table where I'd see her the second she walked in.

Presley thinks finding me here was an accident.

I let her believe that.

But something about our conversation bothers me.

Not the things I learned.

The way I learned them.

Presley gave them to me. Told me about her grandmother and her plans. Pieces of herself I didn't have to take.

And somehow, those are the pieces I value most.

I look down at the book.