Page 20 of The Game

“Go sleep, Alice,” he says softly, grabbing himself a blanket from the other side of the couch. Standing, I smooth his shirt down over my thighs. I open my mouth to speak, but he beats me to it with a gentle smirk. “The only boogeyman here is me, promise. I quite enjoy the macabre.”

And as he grins boyishly up at me, a flood of tears gather behind my eyes, and I’m reminded of how my life was just one short year ago—with my own monsters protecting me from the rest. At least this devil seems to like me, too.

CHAPTER11

Alice

Iawake so refreshed it feels like it’s too good to be true. There were no dreams, good or bad, only a bout of deep sobs and choking tears that turned to sniffles, Teddy’s pillows plush and soft and smelling just like him. Laying curled in a ball safe in his bed has been the best thing to happen to me since coming to the circus, and now I feel even more guilty for judging him. Maybe he’s right; maybe I was a little spoiled despite my father being a piece of shit. I had a mother who loved me and protected me, a step-father who would’ve done anything for me, an aunt who did her best to raise me even during her final moments, and two step-brothers who I know are broken and probably livid with me for giving them a shitty reason and running.

So I creep out of his room quietly with the intent to maybe find some pancake mix or something and make him food, but as soon as I open the door, the scent of Chinese hits me full-force; onions, fresh orange peels, red peppers, deep fried breading, and the nutty smell of rice. Mouth watering, my eyes fall to the couch where he’s perched with a gaming controller and headset, leaned forward with elbows on his knees as he spits commands to his invisible friends. Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms and lean my hip against his door frame. It’s Sunday evening now, our one day off a week. I’m used to falling asleep around sunrise and waking around dinner time, but I have to wonder how long he was able to sleep; the bags under his eyes indicate not much.

Without moving his head, he glances at me and smirks, muting his headset.

“Morning, sunshine.”

“Morning,” I croak. “Did you even sleep?” I ask, feeling guilty all over again for taking his bed.

“My usual four hours, yes.”

The clacking of his thumbs on the controller intensifies before he groans.

“That doesn’t seem healthy.”

“Yeah? Well neither did your fucking snoring. Should get that checked out. May have sleep apnea.”

My eyes widen and the right one twitches in annoyance, but before I can be too angry, he cusses and tears off his headset and tosses down the controller, muttering something about a bunch of idiotic frat boys. Now I raise both brows and fight my grin as I stare down at him.

“Ordered some Chinese, bunny. Don’t tell me you’re too good for the best in Seattle?”

I roll my eyes now, plopping down next to him.

“I’ll leave you money before I go.”

His response is quick and curt.

“No.”

The way his eyes bore into mine on his command has me squirming on the cushion, and I nod automatically. I’ll just find another way to repay him, then.

“Let’s eat. You like Anime?”

“Anna-what?”

He snorts, pulling the bag of take-out closer.

“Anime?”

Blushing, I hide my hands between my thighs and shake my head.

“Never watched it.”

He rips into the thin plastic bag filled with condensation, handing me a styrofoam box with chopsticks.

“Should’ve guessed that,” he mutters. Too hungry to care about his slights, I pry open the lid and am met with an abundance of fried rice and orange chicken. My hands are shaking at the sight of so much food, and I am digging in before I remember my manners. When I peek at Teddy with a mouth full of rice, he’s frowning at me, his own chopsticks poised over his almond chicken.

Swallowing my food, I hunch down and say, “Thank you.”

He nods, raising the remote to change it to this Anime he was talking about. We eat in silence as I attempt to figure out what this show is about, but the atmosphere is calm, blissfully quiet. Another thing I’ve missed.

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