Page 9 of A Stealthy Situation

“A prize makes you a real winner. Enjoying yourself is a given when you hang out with me.”

“Suddenly so confident.”

“As the youngest of seven, I needed something to make me stand out from the others. Confidence is my thing.”

“Aren’t youngest siblings supposed to be all … neglected and spoiled at the same time?”

“Eh, maybe if they have parents.”

My eyebrows shoot up. “Shit, I’m?—”

“Don’t say sorry. It’s cool. They died a long time ago, and I remember less of them than I’d like, but I have my siblings and their partners. Still lots of love going around the Dalton household.”

“Yeah, fuck. Hard to know what to say about all that.”

“Most people want to know how it happened—they hit a moose, never came home, that kind of thing.” Benny is talking like he’s completely disconnected from the situation.

“A moose? Fuck. We don’t have those where I come from.”

“Where do you live?”

I frown because I could have sworn we’d covered this. “Florida.”

“Ah. So, if we lived there, maybe they would have been eaten by an alligator instead.”

“Should we be joking about your dead parents?”

“Would you rather I cried about it?”

I laugh, tugging my hat off with one hand and dragging my hand through my hair with the other. “Do you want to cry about it?”

“Not really. Like I said, it was forever ago. I remember being sad for a long time, and then I just wasn’t.”

“Still. Wish you’d never had to go through that.”

“Thanks. So do I.”

The conversation has taken a fast turn, and I’m not sure how we get back to the joking side. Not that I don’t like Benny actually sharing something for a change, but … well, apparently, I’m not great when it comes to sympathy.

He looks me square in the eyes, lips tilting up on one side. “So. I take it your parents aren’t dead?”

And there’s something about the way he says it that has me laughing again. I can’t tell if I’m amused or uncomfortable though.

“I don’t think you get to tell people what’s funny anymore,” he says. “Apparently, you’ll just lose it at anything.”

“That show is funny. Wanna double or nothing our wager?” I suggest. There’s still just enough time to sneak in another episode.

“Sorry, I would, but I really like winning. That, and I need to duck home to drop something off. Here.” He hands over his unlocked phone. “Put your number in there, and I’ll text you the party details.”

I do as he says and hand the phone back. “Can’t wait.”

“Yeah.” He holds my eyes again. “Me too.”

Unknown:

Where are you?

I stare at my phone, wondering who the hell is after me. Just about everyone I know would assume I’m in class or studying.

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