Page 52 of Stop and Seek
Alright. Fair. Shedidlook like she had suffered more.
Shoving his way back through the crowd, the sheer smell of melted cheese, garlic, and oregano hit him harder.
This was better than middle school parties. The pizza probably wouldn’t taste like cardboard.
He reached for a paper plate—
Collided with a hand covered in gold rings.
“Gay boyfriend,” Max said.
“Theo.”
“Nointerest.” She flicked her eyes over him, mouth twisted into the thinnest line. “I can’t believe you made it this far.”
Bitch.
“Yeah,” he muttered, still focused on the pizza. He sat one more slice on top, hellbent on ignoring her.
“Got anything permanent?” Max asked. Her gaze skimmed over him like she was looking for something specific. “Piercings? Tattoos? Scars? Anythingkindacool?”
Theo couldn’t find the words for that at first.
Fucking weird questions.
Really,reallyweird, actually.
Theo glanced at the line forming behind him. “Why? You representing some tattoo shop or something?”
Max raised her eyebrows, her gaze never leaving his face as she hummed.
God, couldn’t she move?
The crowd was growing—people to the side, in front—and she was taking up space standing there.
She wasn’t saying anything anymore, either.
Just… staring.
It was unnerving as shit.
“Can you—”
“You shouldn’t take too much,” Max interrupted. “And one piece of advice: don’t fuck up, gay boyfriend. It’s going to berealbad if you do.”
She spun on her heel, weaving through the bodies, and leaving Theo standing there.
Stunned and more than a little pissed.
What was that about? Did she—did she threaten me?
By the time Theo sat next to Alyssa, the conversation was still replaying in his head.
“You like Max?” he asked, unable to help himself. “How?”
Alyssa coughed right as she took a bite of pizza.
“Yes,” she said, her face more purple than red. “Oh my god,why?”
