Page 116 of The Villain

“It’s about figuring out what motivated a moron to get caught. Have you signed up for royalties on your episode yet?”

He leans back and starts laughing. “I like you.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” I tell him flatly.

He keeps laughing while I shake my head.

Tera sighs with a happy grin. “I’ve missed you so much.”

I look at her in confusion. I’ve been in contact with her a lot since I got to town. What’s to miss?

Her smile falters at my lack of response.

“I owe,” she whispers and stares down at her plate.

“You never owe,” my brow furrows in confusion.

“There’s a first time for everything.”

Asher puts his hand over her throat and whispers something in her ear. Everyone is starting to look uneasy. I wait for him to finish so she can hear me.

“You don’t understood. You’ll never owe me.”

“What?” She says in confusion, finally meeting my eyes.

“You feel guilty for something, you shouldn’t.”

Tera thinks about it for a moment and says, “I had to get away from it all. It’s like your quiet time. This time I needed it. I just didn’t tell you because my head was all messed up. I was scared of stupid stuff.”

It’s my turn to digest some information. “That would be more dangerous for you.”

“I guess I did it wrong,” she gives me a laugh soaked in sorrow.

“Because you have emotions and your comfort is people. You wanted to deal with it yourself. I’m proud of you for making a stand. This was an honest mistake for both of us.”

Could it be that simple? Of all the scenarios I didn’t think about this one. I took the wrong emotional stance as a factor. Not the first time and not the last, either.

“Yes,” she sounds so relieved.

“I used the wrong emotion as a baseline for behavior again. You weren’t mad. You were scared. I can’t help with that.” It’s an emotion I’m not familiar with. I try to comprehend what she’s telling me and come up blank so I let it go.

“Even if you’re alone we’re learning together. I might need you to start telling me emotions before we speak again. I’m out of practice.”

“How about I tell you dangerous ones like sad or scared?”

My lip twitches up into an evil smirk. “You don’t consider angry dangerous anymore?”

She blinks in surprise and whispers, “I guess not.”

“I approve,” I go back to eating.

After an extended silence Max breaks it with a whisper, “That’s it? Everything is ok now?”

“Were you expecting violins?” I ask blandly.

Tera gives a relieved laugh and Asher settles back in his seat with a smile.

Shade puts his arm around me, as if I need the comfort. I don’t need it, but I like him touching me, so I don’t say anything.

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