Chapter 49: On the Record
The game shop smelled the way it always did, like warm plastic and stale popcorn and the faint electric tang of forty screens running at once.
April had found Jaden here eleven months ago, crouched in the back booth with a headset on and his hood pulled up like a disguise, playing a game his father would have confiscated along with his allowance. She had expected arrogance. She had found a boy who flinched when she said his name.
Tonight he was in the same booth. The hood was down and the headset hung around his neck, and he was grinning at her.
It was a very good grin. It was a grin he had practiced.
"You're late," he said.
"I'm eight minutes late."
"I counted. I have a system." He pushed a controller across the table. "One round. Loser buys fries."
"You always lose."
"I'm in a charitable phase."
