Insufficient evidence.
Rett’s lower lip wobbled, and oh my damn, my heart was weak. “It was my last box.” His voice was small, eyes liquid.
I was going to kill that cereal-thieving asshole, and I would enjoy it. Maybe I’d use his veins as shoelaces.
“All right now, baby.” I soothed him, taking a small step forward. The spoon clanked against the bowl when he jerked back.
“I’ll do it,” he warned.
“You know what? If splattering me with some saliva-drenched confetti makes you feel better, then go off, I guess. I can take one for the team.”Anything to get that look off his face.
I hoped I didn’t get dia-bunga-beetus and die, but I didn’t say that part out loud. I didn’t think it would contribute to the conversation.
His eyes narrowed when I took another step. He looked like a cornered animal, one about to go feral. It made me think how, just moments ago, he’d told me how tired he was.
I sagged, dropped my hands, and stepped back. “You know what? Wait here,” I said and jogged to the front door to fling it open.
He made a small sound, but I disappeared into the hall.
“I didn’t mean it!” Rett called, and my bare feet stuttered on the floor.
He was literally going to be the death of me.
Stepping back into the doorway, I noted how he was shifting from foot to foot, anxiety riding his features, while cradling that nasty bowl in front of him.
“For shit’s sake, put that already-been-chewed trash in the sink and get away from it,” I ordered. “You’re going to get dia-bunga-beetus.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“It’s of the butthole,” I deadpanned.
He looked horrified.
Good.
“Wait here. I’ll be right back,” I said after he thankfully put down the bowl.
“Are you leaving?” he rushed to ask, worry ripe in his tone.
I turned back yet again. This was why I preferred to stalk people. It wassomuch easier. Quieter too.
“I’m not going anywhere, Pip,” I promised gently. “I left something out in the hall earlier. I’m just going to grab it.”
“What is it?”
Why wasn’t he this interested in talking when I wanted answers?
“A present for you.”
His eyes rounded, and I took the opportunity to dash down the hall and into the stairwell. I honestly expected to see the rat king and his minions preparing to battle for their loot.
But the gods smiled upon me this day because, look at that, it was untouched and exactly where I’d left it.
After scooping up the items, I turned back to see my snack-sized snoop peaking around his door frame like some kind of poor excuse for a detective.
Pushing the items behind me, I strolled down the hall, and he moved back to let me inside. Once there, we stood facing each other with the door still wide open.
“That’s really for me?” he asked, trying to peek aroundmy back.
