Page 21 of Make You Beg

I knock again.

No response.

I pull at the square wooden opening with the handle that functions as his door, deciding to venture in.

It’s not my first time inside. This time, though, it’s his own fault for not answering.

I hope he isn’t jacking off or something.

I’m holding my breath as I climb the ladder.

The room—a single bed, with a big screen TV in front, a closet right by it, and a desk and laptop on the right—is nothing to brag about. What catches my attention is the open window on the wall, next to the bed.

It’s open.

The window itself is low, and it’s easy to climb out of it.

I stare at it with curiosity, and once I’m standing in front of it, I peek out.

And there he is—on the black shingles of the roof, sitting up and looking down as if he’s enjoying the fresh air in a park. He’s clearly out of his mind.

Doesn’t he find it dangerous?

He’s wearing a leather jacket, white T-shirt, and black jeans, and his hair is tousled as usual. He inhales a long drag of the cigarette between his fingers.

“You shouldn’t smoke,” I tell him, making myself known.

Kayden turns his head and cackles. “Who the fuck says so?”

“Don’t you play hockey?” I say. “Smoking is bad for athletes.”

He huffs. “That’s why I’m doing it here, where no one can see.”

Kayden takes another puff out of the cigarette before flicking it down the roof.

“Hey!” I complain. “You could hit someone with it and burn them or something.”

“Bite me.” He shrugs. “The fuck are you doing here, Little Demon?”

Little Demon? Is that what he’s calling me now?

Okay, we’re already off to a bad start.

“I came here to talk.”

He laughs and turns away from me. “I have no interest in talking, as you already know.”

God, I mean, he’s not the only one. But I’m doing this for Mom. She deserves a happy family.

Even though I’m pretty much terrified, I take a deep breath and climb out of the window. Right away, I’m crouching, so I can crawl my way to where Kayden is.

This is too high, and my heart’s beating like crazy.

Climbing the ladder up to his room is a hard enough feat for me each time.

“Wait, are you crawling to me?” Kayden cackles, looking at me over his shoulder. His everlasting blue gaze is set on me, sending shivers down my spine as I struggle to get to where he is. “And I didn’t even have to ask. I knew you had the hots for me, Little Demon.”

“Stop calling me that.”