Page 27 of Stop and Seek (Our Childish Games #1)

But maybe he had things he wasn’t comfortable sharing with Noah yet. Like the scar Noah felt on his chest a couple nights ago .

Noah changed back into his still-damp clothes in the living room—the joggers didn’t look like something Theo would’ve bought, but the band tee? Same one that Noah saw him wearing Saturday.

This was coming back to the hotel with him.

Theo didn’t say a whole hell of a lot when he returned, still wearing long sleeves in the summer. He grabbed the pizza from the door, chucked it on top of the Chinese boxes and ripped the crust off. Chewed cheese and pepperoni, flicking through the movies streaming at record pace.

“You like horror, right?” Noah asked.

“Slashers. The more gore, the better.”

“You wanna put one on?”

Theo glanced over. He pulled the blanket over his lap.

“Seriously?” he asked after a second.

Noah picked up the crust. “I used to watch ‘em all the time with Kyran and Benji.”

Back in high school. Before the Benji-Kyran unit started acting the way they did.

The grin breaking over Theo’s face made part of Noah go mushy and soft.

“I thought you’d be grossed out,” Theo said, shoving the rest of the pizza into his mouth. “There’s this one I’ve been dying to watch.”

Twenty minutes in and Noah was pretty sure the movie had zero plot—he couldn’t even remember the killer’s name.

Theo had his legs pulled up, blanket tangled around his waist. Hand curled against his mouth. His fingers kept rolling against his bottom teeth.

Noah didn’t even pretend to watch the movie.

The screen flashing red and pink over Theo’s cheekbones and glasses?

That’s what Noah couldn’t stop watching.

Every time the killer appeared, every time the knife lifted, every time the screaming turned to gurgling—Theo’s expression changed.

His shoulders lifted. His breath caught.

“You like the hardcore , hardcore shit,” Noah said eventually.

Theo didn’t look away from the screen. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I’m here for the kills.”

That’s what Kyran had said too, when Benji would flinch into his shoulder and tell him it was too gory.

But this wasn’t the same.

The way Theo said it wasn’t casual. He wasn’t cringing or laughing at the ridiculous prosthetics. He wasn’t reacting like someone used to fake blood.

He was acting like someone hungry .

Noah didn’t miss the way Theo’s eyes stayed too long on the slashed-open throat, the spilled guts on tile, the twitch of limbs when the camera lingered. He wasn’t just here for the kills. He was practically drooling . Like he could taste it on the back of his tongue.

Noah’s smile softened.

God, he was cute. So fucking weird and dark and still trying to act like he wasn't the greatest thing to ever exist.

Noah wanted to crawl into him and see what actually went through his head.

But instead, he just scooted closer, put his arm over Theo’s shoulders.

Theo didn’t stop him.

When the credits finally rolled and the music faded into silence, Theo stretched, letting out a slow breath as his spine popped against the couch.

“You don’t fall for the jump-scares?” Noah asked.

“No. They’re predictable as hell,” Theo said. “That was a good one.”

“Really?”

Theo snorted. “Those guys deserved what they had coming. And way more.”

“You would’ve killed them the same way?”

Theo didn’t answer.

They sat in that silence—comfortable, soft, real —for long enough that Noah’s brain started to sink into the idea of staying . Just being . No talking, no pretending, no watching him through the fucking cameras .

This was so much better than the car.

He turned his head to say something.

But Theo was already speaking.

“You should probably head out,” he said gently .

Noah groaned. “Really? We’re back to this?”

Theo pulled the blanket tighter. “I’m not used to guys staying over.”

It wasn’t rude. It wasn’t cold.

But it was final.

Noah stared at him for a moment, then shifted to sit up, brushing his palms against his shorts.

“I mean,” he started, “I could crash on the couch. Doesn’t have to be your bed.”

Theo looked away. “I know. It’s not about that.”

He was uncomfortable. That was for sure.

Whatever— whoever— had gotten their claws into him had done serious damage.

But they were making progress. Theo would open up, eventually. He’d already started to. Noah just needed to push a little less. Be a little more patient.

So instead of fighting, he grinned. “Then promise me you’ll come to the after-party tomorrow.”

Theo hesitated.

“I’m not—I’m not good with a ton of people.”

“You’re not gonna be there for a ton of people. You’re gonna be there for moi .”

Jesus, Theo blushed so easily.

“Fine,” Theo mumbled after another minute. “Text me the address.”

Noah stood, stretching out his arms with an exaggerated yawn. “Then I guess I’ll let you kick me out.”

Theo huffed out something that sounded like a laugh.

But when Noah reached for the door, Theo’s voice stopped him.

“Noah.”

He turned.

Theo’s eyes were soft. Quiet.

“…Thanks.”

“For what?” Noah asked.

“I had fun tonight.”

Noah’s grin stretched wide across his face. “There’s always tomorrow.”

He shut the door behind him with a kind of joy that felt like it buzzed beneath his ribs.

There wasn't only tomorrow. They had so much more time together.