Page 19 of A Real Good Lie

“I’ve never met a Jace.”

“Well, now you have.” Jace smiled, shifting in his seat to better face Callahan.

They fell into a tense silence, and Jace debated breaking it, but he found himself so wrapped up in the study of a small constellation of freckles on the side of Callahan’s neck that he lost his train of thought. He reached out, brushing his fingertips across the small, exposed swatch of skin beneath Callahan’s ear. Callahan jumped, clapping his hand around the side of his neck, shielding the place Jace had just touched. Jace pulled his hand back, clutching it to his chest like the heat of Callahan’s skin and burned him.

And had it ever.

“What was that for?” Callahan snapped. “Don’t touch me without asking.”

Jace licked his lips and leaned back. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I only had permission for that one kiss, didn’t I?”

Callahan swallowed.

“You just have these freckles,” Jace continued. “Right below your ear.”

“Everyone has freckles,” Callahan countered.

“I don’t.”

“That’s impossible.”

Jace dipped his chin toward his chest and gazed up at Callahan though his lashes. “I can get naked later and you can see for yourself if you like.”

“There will be no getting naked.”

“After the way you let me kiss you at Lion, I have to admit that’s disappointing.”

“Stop it,” Callahan hissed, twisting his hands together in his lap.

“Can I get you gentlemen refills?” the flight attendant asked, making his way down the aisle.

“Yes, please.” Jace passed back his empty mimosa glass while Callahan mumbled his order.

“Can you…” Callahan wiggled his shoulders, “back up or something?”

“There’s not many places I can go. We’re in an airplane,” Jace said, leaning closer to the window.

“You know what I meant.”

“Is this why you need a fake boyfriend?” Jace crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you always this argumentative or is it just with me?”

“I don’t even know you,” Callahan snapped.

Jace fought back the overwhelming urge to slap some sense into Callahan’s backside. He knew better than to linger on thoughts like that. The things Jace preferred to do in private weren’t anywhere close to being on the table with Callahan.

“That’s sort of your own fault,” he said instead. “Sebastian gave you my phone number, you just didn’t use it until half an hour ago.”

“You’re kidding me right now, right?”

“I’ll wait if you want to check your call log.” He blinked expectantly and gestured toward Callahan’s phone on the armrest between them.

“Blanche spoke with you two weeks ago to book this flight.”

“Right. Your secretary. Who didn’t give me your phone number. But nice try.”

The flight attendant returned with their drinks, and Jace took his quickly, thankful it gave him something to entertain himself with while he tried to figure out the best way to crack Callahan. The man was annoying and combative, and damned if that didn’t make Jace want to take him apart, but the airplane wasn’t the time or place for that. Honestly, if Callahan didn’t get over himself, there’d never be a time and place for it.

Jace turned and stared out the window, pressing his forehead against the plastic oval. The sky was blue and the smallest little clouds dotted the sky beneath the airplane. He counted them as they soared past, only leaning away to take small drinks of his mimosa. He couldn’t push Callahan—he knew that from the club, so he watched the sky and drank his champagne and waited.