Page 82 of The Puppet Master
Annie was his victim, not his wife. She was poisoned by someone who was targeting Sawyer.
It’s his fault. It’s his fault, and he looks like he knows it.
“Did you love her?” I ask, watching his face carefully. The sadness doesn’t leave, not even for a moment. He isn’t thinking up his next lie.
“I don’t know,” he says. “I’m not sure I even know what love is.”
Truth.
I’m getting good at this.
“What about you?” He clears emotion from his throat. “Is there a guy back home pining for you?”
I hesitate to answer … but it’d be stupid to lie. A few meaningless truths make the necessary lies believable.
“Yes.”
“Do you love him?”
This time, I don’t hesitate. “No.”
He cringes, though his lips lift. “Ouch…Poor loverboy.”
I don’t know what I should say. My cheeks start to redden as guilt settles even though I’ve told myself a thousand times I’ve done nothing wrong. Long before Sawyer.
“Maybe I do,” I lie. It strikes me that I’m pulling a move like Sawyer. Lying to make myself feel better. “But I wouldn’t know… Love is a mystery to me as well.”
Sawyer adjusts his pants, his boxers soaking up the evidence of our betrayal. Well, my betrayal. Annie is dead.
And this isn’t my fault. I don’twantthis.
Ineedthis. I need to at leasttryto win him over. He’s already shown me where he’s vulnerable.
He sits up; brushes his shorts. “Well, here’s to finding it someday.” He gives me a smile that makes my throat swell. I don’t open my mouth, but he doesn’t wait for me to respond anyway.
His attention draws to something on the ground. I follow his eyes, squinting until I make out the figure leaned against a tree. All blonde hair and tanned legs.
Sawyer waves.
She doesn’t wave back.
“Who’s that?” I ask him as she starts to walk away in confident strides.
A better question would be,why is she watching us.
When I turn to Sawyer, he’s cringing at a watch—never on his wrist, always in his pocket. He tucks it away and blinks as if he’s just remembered I’m here.
“Hmm?”
“Who was that watching us?”
“Oh.” His gaze draws to the ground for a moment. “That was the Chief Elder’s daughter. I forgot I was supposed to meet herfor an update about something.” He smiles. A sort ofwhoopsthat doesn’t reach his eyes.
His throat clears. “We should probably go.”
He stands. Holds out his hand.
I want to ask more.
