Page 32 of The Circus

Ice becomes my veins. He’s sadistic, the way he enjoys jerking my emotions around like this. Like a cat bouncing a befuddled little mouse between his paws.

“Teddy–”

“I sawhim,” he says again, eyes ignited. “And then he disappeared.Poof. Gone.”

“Who?” I yell, dropping my fists to my sides in anger. Lips twisting, he reaches behind my right shoulder, plucking a magnet from the fridge. Shoving it into my line of sight, the faces in the photo register. Me, grinning outside the courthouse the day I was given to my father. And my dad, hugging me back, proudly beaming.

“And I just saw him, here, now.”

My fingers are numb with cold, but I reach up, clutching the popsicle stick frame, taking it from his hand. Rubbing my thumb over my father’s face, tears well in my eyes. How in the fuck can Teddy see someone who hasn’t died yet, but someone who is close to death?

“Eden?”

My eyes bounce to his, and I smile softly, so confused, yet so amazed at the same time.

“He’s my dad. But he’s not dead.”

TWENTY

EDEN

My fingers are wrapped tightlyaround the steaming mug of chamomile tea, my feet tucked up under me as I sit in my nest of pillows on my bed. I’d pushed the small twin sized mattress into the corner of my room, right beneath the window, so I could watch the wind play in the trees, and so during Christmas, I could see the lights my father used to string up around the outside of the house. In the dimness of night, my eyes sweep across my quaint, clean room, to my open door and the hallway beyond. Light seeps out beneath the bathroom door, the sink running.

I don’t know how it makes me feel, having another man here besides my dad. I’ve never had friends to bring over, let alone a boyfriend. It feels a little taboo, wrong. My dad would be furious if he knew I had one here now. But considering how Teddy comforted me after everything?

He had reached behind me and plucked my chipped mug from the cupboard and set about making me my favorite night time tea. I’d pestered him, demanding him to admit he’s been watching me, but he’d only smirked and told me to go shower.

Hair still damp, I curl further in on myself, nestled in the corner of my bed, my back against plush pillows held up by the joining of my familiar walls.

The light in the bathroom shuts off. Through the impending darkness, Teddy appears in my doorway, still wearing his hoodie and black jeans, his sleeves pushed up to reveal the sinuous muscles of his forearms. When our eyes clash, he smirks and strides into my room, pulling out the chair from my desk, spinning it around, and plopping down onto it, resting his arms along the curved back. His eyes dance and shine as they hold mine; if he were a dog, his tail would be wagging, his tongue lolling.

He’s far too happy after what he just witnessed, but I think it has to do with the fact that he’s here in my room and I’m not throwing shit at him and screaming for him to leave.

“Sleep, Eden.”

My brows furrow in consternation at being told what to do, and resistance claws its way up my throat.

“No.”

“We have school tomorrow. I’ll stay up.”

“What? Why?”

He cocks his head, smile fading. “To keep you safe.”

“From what?” I growl. He rolls his eyes, tearing his gaze from mine and searching my room. Cautiously, I sip my tea when he isn’t paying attention, disgruntled that he made it just right. It had been sinfully sexy, watching those deft fingers rip open a tea bag, coil the string around the handle of my mug, pour the steaming water from the kettle into it. He makes everything physical look so easy and graceful.

“From monsters,” he quips, eyes returning to mine, smile snaking onto his lips. I’m exhausted, but I’m too keyed up, having a boy in my room for the first time. He seems so out of place, but also…not. Maybe he appreciates the My ChemicalRomance posters, or theNightmare Before Christmassnow globe on my desk that dad bought for me.

“Admit you’ve been stalking me,” I grumble with much less ire than I was hoping to infuse into my tone. Two can play his little game. But he flashes me a grin, unperturbed in the slightest.

“I have been, yes. Promise I haven’t seen you naked. Scout’s Honor,” he says, holding up his three middle fingers to his forehead. My cheeks positively flame, and my oversized band tee becomes a tent, trapping in my body heat. He shrugs. “I’ll see you naked on Saturday anyways, though.”

My teeth grind.

“Says who? Maybe I want to keep my…my shirt on…” I say, trying and failing to be as obstinate as him.

I know, deep in my soul, there could never be another Teddy Poe.

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