Page 13 of Anyone But You

“Of course not.”

“Don’t fucking lie to me, Knox. You’re wearing that same smile you wore when Buchanan was digging in your ass about profit margins.”

She knows me too damn well.

Her breath shuddered, and she whispered, “Oh, my God,” when I reached under the seat and retrieved the life preserver. “None of that matters. What matters now is that you keep calm. You will be okay,” I assured her as I tugged the vest on her. I secured it—ensuring all the snaps were fastened across her chest and midsection.

“We’re going to die,” Victoria whimpered as reality set in for both of us. “Fuck! We’re going to die!”

“We’re not dying, sweetheart,” I said, not even believing my own lie. I didn’t know the precise odds of surviving a plane crash, but the ones I’d seen sensationalized for shock and awe on network news made me believe the odds weren’t in our favor.

Tears fell freely from Victoria’s eyes, and the painful regret I felt bloomed in my chest, spreading through me like wildfire. I placed my hands on her face, and she looked into my eyes. Her pupils dilated as adrenaline coursed through her system.

“Hey. Guess what?”

She sniffled and shook her head. “I-I don’t have time for your bullshit, Knox. Can’t you fucking let me die in peace?” she cried.

I shook my head and grinned. “I have to pay you hazard pay for this. You’re welcome.”

She scoffed and muttered under her breath that I was a bastard as I rechecked her attachments and carefully scanned for holes in the life preserver between the violent shaking of the plane.

Hey. At least she didn’t call me a dirty old bastard this time.

As reality settled in that we were going down, Victoria’s sobs overtook, and she began hyperventilating, tugging at her life vest in a desperate attempt to breathe. I wrenched her fingers away from the clips and held them tightly.

“Tori Montana, you’re the strongest, smartest, and most unfuckwithable person I know. There’s nothing you can’t handle. I promise. I’ll make sure you’re okay, but you have to take deep breaths becausewhenwe survive this, we’ll need that big brain of yours to help us get out of this mess. Okay?”

She nodded gently, and I patterned deep breaths for her until her breathing leveled out.

“You’ll…you’ll be here, right?”

“I’ll be here every step of the way. I won’t leave you—not for a single second,” I promised.

“W-why aren’t you in your life vest yet? Put it on! Do you want to die?”

I smiled.

Well, if I’m going to die, I might as well make it count, right?

Without further thought, I leaned over, pulled her in, and pressed our lips together.

They’re soft. I always knew they were, but fuck, the physical confirmation was needed. So fucking worth it.

Victoria was stunned—frozen in time like a statue while the jet continued to fall out of the air. I deepened the kiss for a moment when she didn’t move away. I finally released her when I realized I only had precious moments left.

“I think I deserve a little taste of Heaven before I go to Hell.”

She was silent, staring at me while our fate hung in the balance. I took the opportunity to pull on my life preserver and secure myself in my seat. She didn’t react until I offered her a flirty wink.

Victoria’s face scrunched up, relieved of shock as anger replaced it.

She’s making my favorite face; if it’s the last face I see before I take my last breath, I’m satisfied.

“You son of a—”

5

Jack and Rose