My heart is racing.How the fuck is this happening?I shrug.“Something about random girls getting grabbed and tormented as a prank.Why are you acting so strange?”
He narrows his eyes and slowly leans back.
I force myself to look at him directly.I didn’t tell Daddy I was going out with my brother tonight.If he finds out I had this kind of run-in with him…
“You went out that first night with your roommates.”
“Yeah, so?”
“You didn’t answer me when I called the next day.You didn’t respond to my texts.You’ve been putting off seeing me since you moved here.The only time I’ve seen you was a few minutes one morning because you had to get to class.I think you were pranked.”
I gasp.It just happens.I also start shaking my head.I’m doing it in disbelief that he figured this out, but it works in my favor when I finally find my voice.“That’s crazy.”
He nods.“It sure is.It’s fucked up.Did it happen?”
“Why would you think that?Wouldn’t I have called the police or told you?Or both?”I still haven’t answered him.
He’s staring at me, hard.Long seconds tick by while I try to pull myself together.I have to convince him it’s not true.I don’t have another choice.My entire life will collapse if I don’t.
I’m in love with a fucking stranger.It’s fucked up.He’s bossy.He’s controlling.He makes me do things I would never have considered doing before I met him.
He won’t show his face.Our entire relationship is a secret.Sometimes, I stare into space and doubt myself, uncertain if I haven’t made the entire thing up.Maybe I even died in the pantry that night, and everything from then on is an alternate reality.I’ve seen movies where people died and they didn’t know it, and they kept living their lives without realizing no one could see them.
That’s ridiculous.I’m sitting here with Silver right now.We’re talking.I’m not dead.
Daddy has no name.I wouldn’t be able to pick him out of a lineup.I barely know his build, and I don’t know how tall he is.I know he makes me feel.He’s changed the trajectory of my life irrevocably.
I know I would die if I never saw him again.
I can’t fuck this up.I have to convince Silver it isn’t true.I have to lie.To my brother.Lord knows I can’t lie to my stalker, but I’m going to lie my ass off to Silver.
I shake my head.“You have a vivid imagination.I’m just busy.I’m a freshman.There’s a lot going on.I really want to get good grades so I never have to rely on the government for assistance.I want my independence.I’m getting straight A’s.I’m doing everything in my power to be the best version of myself I can be.How could I be doing all of that if I were assaulted on my first night in town?”
Silver flinches.“I never said you were assaulted.Did your roommates suggest that was part of the freshman prank?”
I roll my eyes.“Silver, it’s a stupid rumor.I don’t even know if it’s real.I heard if it’s true, most girls don’t report it, so how the hell could I know what it entails?”
The waiter arrives and slides our plates in front of us.He’s quick and disappears, probably noticing how serious we are.
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.I’m totally fine.Don’t worry about me.I’m just busy getting acclimated and making sure I keep my grades up.”
“Are you really making straight A’s?”
“So far.”
The corner of his mouth lifts.Finally, a glimpse of a smile.Maybe I am believable.“That’s cool.I’m proud of you.Will you please reach out more?Answer my calls and texts.I want us to get to know each other better.We’re siblings.We have no other family.”
I nod.“Yes, definitely.I want that, too.”
“Good.You have to come over for dinner next weekend.I’ll cook.”
I try not to react.There’s no way I can do that, of course, but I can’t tell him that.“I’ll check my schedule.”
He shakes his head.“You just told me you don’t go to parties.I know you don’t have class on Saturday night, so you’re coming over.I’ll make something delicious.I promise.”He’s so insistent.
“Okay,” I mumble.Fuck.