Page 34 of Make You Beg

“Do you wanna do this again?”

“Do what?” She tilts her head. “Talk on the rooftop?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmmm…”

“Well, whatever.” I dig my pockets and take out something I’ve had with me all along. “If you want to. Just if you want to, we could. Believe it or not, I kinda enjoyed this.”

I open my hand and extend it to her, revealing a red hockey puck I always keep on me for luck.

A real puck I stole after winning one of my first hockey games. Snatched it right out of the arena without anyone noticing. Once I was home, I painted it red, my favorite color.

“Pull this out on me, or leave it somewhere I can see, and I’ll know you want to talk, here.”

She inhales deeply, taking the puck from me, her delicate fingers wrapping around it.

“A puck.”

“Yeah. As you can see, it’s similar to a red light on a traffic light, both in its color and shape. What does a red light usually mean?”

“Stop.”

I nod. “Yep. So this puck means you want to take a pause. A break from everything. Some air. You need something or someone to stop, yourself included. Show me this, and I’ll be here. Silent or not, it’s up to you. I’ll listen.”

She nods and holds the puck close to her chest.

“Okay,” she says.

And I swear I see the hint of a smile on her face.

8

KAYDEN

ONE MONTH LATER

I’m growing impatient. I gave Madelyn time.

One week, two—now we’re at four, and I’m still waiting for her to make the move and come to me. No matter how much I wonder what’s running through that little mind of hers, I’ve been pushing through. Things between us have been chill. We sit together at dinnertime and pretend to be okay. A mutual agreement we never actually had. Like our last conversation on the roof changed us.

But there isn’t much I can do about it, because I’m neck-deep into this coding shit every single waking moment.

Another attempt at saying no left me with a sore back for a week and led to my submission. Thank you, Dad.

Maddy’s busy going out with her friends and enjoying her summer vacation before her last year of high school. She doesn’t think of me as much as I indulge in thoughts of her, despite my limited time.

My obsession with her has deepened, and I planted a few more cameras around the house, so I can watch her go about her day without bothering her.

I alternate between classes three times a week in an academy specializing in coding, one town away, and a private tutor the rest of the week.

“I’ll see you in two days, Kayden. Hone those skills.” My tutor pushes his glasses further onto the crease of his nose and gets up from the desk we’ve been sharing.

It’s right before dinner, and I know my father is going to be home soon.

Maddy’s mom is in the kitchen, and the aroma that spreads throughout the house is mouthwatering. Something meaty and spicy. A stew, maybe?

I decide to take a shower until the food is ready, so I head upstairs to the second bathroom. I don’t wanna parade in my towel in front of Miranda.