Page 57 of Hide and Seek
“You were testing if I was a worthy enough opponent to even bother playing these games with?”
“Correct.”
His smile is big and wide, but he does his best to school his features back into a neutral face and hide it.
“And you moved the chess piece today?” he asks tentatively.
“I did.” I pause. “Does that bother you?”
“That you broke into my room while I was at the gym?” He shoots the camera a wry grin. “It definitely should, but for reasons I’m not willing or ready to examine, it doesn’t.”
Silence stretches between us, and I wait to see what he’ll do next.
“Is this the only time you’re going to talk to me through here?” he asks softly.
“Do you want to keep talking to me through here?”
He lets out a soft chuckle. “The smart answer would be fuck no.”
“And what’s your answer?”
“Yeah.” He swallows visibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing in the dim light from his bedside lamp. “It’s messed up, but I do.”
“Then no, it won’t be the last time I talk to you through here.”
This is a mistake. I should shut this conversation down and go back to being a silent observer, but maybe I can use this to my advantage and get some of the information I’ve been looking for.
He chews on his lip nervously. “Are you going to answer if I ask you questions?”
“Depends on the question.”
“Do you want to hurt me?” His voice trembles slightly, and his eyes are big and wide and so damn innocent that something inside me twists.
“No,” I tell him honestly. “I’ve never wanted to hurt you.”
“Why are you watching me?”
I don’t answer. I’m willing to give him some information to keep the conversation going, but I can’t reveal my hand before I know more.
“You said I got on your radar,” he says slowly. “Does that mean you’re not connected to the guys who tried to kill me when I was on my run?”
“I’m not connected to them.”
He blows out a breath. “Do you know why they want to hurt me?”
“No.”
His expression falls. “Oh. I guess that would have been too easy. Are you a student?” he asks.
“Would you answer that if you were me?”
“No.” He blows out a frustrated sigh. “Is this something you do a lot? Watch people?”
“Depends on what you mean by watch.”
He shoots the camera another flat look. “You’re really arguing semantics with the guy you’re stalking?”
“You’re awfully mouthy for someone who’s talking semantics with their stalker.”
