Without me saying anything, he shifted his back up against the wall again, lifting his arm slightly as a silent invitation to sit in his lap. There were no words spoken between us, but it was clear he wanted me to go back to where I was while we slept.He wanted me back where I belonged.
I decided to take a chance, because honestly, I wanted that too. When I settled, I realized this time felt different—it wasintentional. He silently confirmed my thoughts as his arm settled around me again, but slower now, like he was making sure I was comfortable. I let out a small sigh as I felt his fingers slide into my hair, brushing through it gently and massaging my scalp. The motion almost absentminded for him and calming for me.
This was a part of him I never thought existed, a soft side Inever realized I craved until now. His hand stilled for just a second before he looked down at me. “Thank you,” he whispered softly, “for allowing this.”
We sat in silence until an idea popped into my mind. One that could get me some more answers.Pulling away from him, I created just enough space so I could turn and fully face him. I quietly sighed again as I crossed my legs, placing my hands in my lap. “I think it’s probably time to get to know each other a little more,” I said. “Don’t you think?”
He nodded once, like he’d already decided that.
I raised one eyebrow and looked him square in the face. “Truth or dare.”
A small smile curved his mouth, and I was ashamed to admit that it did something strange to my chest. “You sure this is the game you want to play?”
I nodded enthusiastically because it was theexactgame I wanted.
“Truth,” he said, voice still rimmed with sleep.
I tilted my head. “Have you been watching me?”
His smile disappeared, but not in a dramatic or angry way—it just faded as he rubbed his eyes. “Yes,” he said, his voice low and flat. “Your turn.”
Okay, at least now I know I was right about that.
I bit the inside of my bottom lip. “Truth.”
He studied me for a moment, but whatever question he wanted to ask died before it formed. “Pass,” he muttered.
I narrowed my eyes as I threw a playful punch into hisshoulder. “That’s not how this is supposed to work.”
As my fist made contact with him, a faint smirk hid whatever emotion he was battling. “I don't want you to tell me things because youhaveto.”
“Fine.” I leaned closer. “Dare, then.”
His brows lifted slightly as if he was trying to gauge how I felt about playing. “I dare you,” he said carefully, “to give me a compliment.”
My smile was involuntary, but my tone was almost sarcastic. “Seems easy enough—”
He scoffed loudly, as if there was no truth to my statement.
I narrowed my eyes at him, a piece of me slightly offended. “What’s that sound for?”
His eyebrows rose as he feigned innocence. “Nothing. Go for it.”
I looked at him suspiciously before giving a dramatic thumbs up, “You’re kidnapping skills? Real ten out of ten.”
His eyebrows lowered as his smirk turned into a full smile. “Okay. Now I want a dare too.”
Running my hand through my hair, I decided to test how much information he would give me. “I dare you to show me a piece of you that no one has ever seen.”
The question took him by surprise, and his smile faltered. “Apiece, huh?”
“Mhmm,” I hummed, enjoying the fact he actually had to think about this answer.
For a second, I thought he was going to shrug as he lifted hisarm, but I watched him use his hand to point down at his collar. Among the small amount of bare skin there was a puzzle piece. A tattoo that didn’t match the other ones he had. The style was simple, one that looked almost like it was drawn by a child.
“Greyson used to draw a lot—it was how he coped with certain things. Sometimes, it was small doodles that didn’t make sense, but other times it would be patterned things like puzzle pieces, where he could zone out and fill them in for hours at a time. This specific one was from a napkin we had during our first family dinner. It stuck with me, and I ended up getting it tattooed. Sometimes, it was nice knowing we’re just a small piece in the grand scheme of things... and other times, it was better knowing that no matter what, we had somewhere we belonged.”
I stared at the shape, at the meaning behind it, and at another layer of Silas Solstice.
