Page 171 of What We Bury

“Because last time, I decided. This time she did.” He spreads his hands. “She asked for this one. Looked me dead in the eye and told me to put it on the ceiling so we could see everything. I’m not taking anything from her. She’s handing it to me.” His voice gentles, which on Milo is so rare it almost knocks me over. “There’s a difference between theft and a gift, even if the object is the same.”

Milo in serious mode always hits wrong—like finding a knife in the cutlery drawer where the teaspoons should be. It unsettles me more than his bullshit ever does.

“You’re right,” I say eventually. “There’s a big difference. But I need to be sure here. So forgive me, but I’m gonna ask her myself.”

“Knock yourself out.”

I drag my phone out of my pocket before I can overthink it.

Me:

Quick consent check, baby girl. Are you still feeling good about the camera in your room?

Milo goes back to work without saying anything, which I appreciate.

My screen lights up almost immediately.

Baby girl:

lmao that was fast

But yes, I want it. The idea of you all watching me is really hot.

Is that okay with you? I promise it won’t be on when we’re together.

unless you want it.

Something in my chest eases and tightens at the same time.

I type back immediately. I don’t ever want her second-guessing her own desire.

Me:

It’s okay with me if it’s okay with you.

Just needed to hear it from you.

You never need permission to want what you want, baby girl. I just needed to know you were the one holding the switch.

The typing bubble appears. Disappears. Comes back.

Baby girl:

It is.

I’m at work for another hour. Don’t overthink it.

Or think really hard about it . . .

A laugh slips out of me before I can stop it.

Milo glances down from the step stool. “Good news?”

I hold up the phone. “She wants it.”

“Told you.” He sounds smug, but there’s less performance than usual. “I also have this text from her telling me explicitly what she wants.” He shows me his phone. “She wants a private feed. Password protected. Accessible only when she turns it on. No cloud backup. No passive recording. No motion trigger. Nothing unless she hits live and sends the invite herself.”

I read over the text as he rattles off the list. “She really gave this a lot of thought.”