Page 273 of Trick or Stalk

“You have about a minute.”

“Then I'll make it count.”

Something in his expression changes. The humor disappears. “I'm not here to tell you to forgive him.”

That gets my attention.

“I'm not going to tell you what he did wasn't fucked up. It was.”

I don’t say anything.

“He should've told you.”

“Yes.”

“He should've told you before he let it get as far as it did.”

My fingers tighten around the cup. “Yes.”

“And making me put on the mask was fucking stupid.”

“Extremely.”

“He knows that now.”

A bitter laugh escapes me. “Wonderful. I'm glad this has been such a valuable learning experience for everyone.”

Wilder takes that without flinching. “I deserved that.”

“You deserve worse.”

“Probably.”

I hate that he's making it difficult to be mean to him.

“You have thirty seconds.”

“Then here's the part I came to tell you.”

I wait.

“I've never seen my brother like this.”

My chest tightens.

I hate that it does.

Wilder notices. He stares at me for a moment.

Of course he does.

Apparently, observation is a family trait.

“I’m fine. Continue or leave.”

“He doesn't do relationships.”

“Most stalkers don’t have much success in relationships.”