Page 105 of Positively Pricked

Chapter 35

Zane's announcement hung in the air. No one made a sound. He couldn’t mean what I thought he meant. He wouldn't seriously ditch her at a random airport and keep on going?Would he?

Then again, thiswasZane Bennington. He did a lot of things that nice people didn't do.

The brunette blinked a couple of times and said, "What?"

Zane replied, "You heard me."

She glanced around as if searching for a hidden camera. "But why?"

Zane looked back to his cell phone. Almost under his breath, he said, "Because I didn't bring a parachute."

For himself? Or for her?He didn't say, and no one asked.

She gave a shaky laugh. "Oh, so you're kidding?" She blew out a long, unsteady breath. "Wow, for a minute there—"

"I’m not kidding," Zane said. "Now, buckle up." He scrolled through his phone. "Or not. Your choice."

The blond guy and I exchanged a look. For once, he looked utterly unconcerned with my apparent sluttiness.

Across from us, the brunette sputtered, "But I'm working that show in New York."

"Not my problem," Zane said.

She was glaring at him now. "Well, it'sgonnabe your problem, considering that you're one of the sponsors."

I had no idea what they were talking about. I heard myself ask, "What show?"

It was the brunette who answered. "A fashion show." She gave me a quick once-over and added, "Not thatyou'dknow anything about that."

I felt my gaze narrow. "Excuse me?"

Next to her, Zane stopped scrolling only long enough to say in a low voice, "Isaid, leave her alone."

The brunette practically leapt to her feet, as if preparing to storm off, which was really stupid, considering that there was nowhere to go. "Well, this is just terrific," she told him. "What? You're sleeping withher, too?"

Oh, God.I looked toward the rear of the plane. If only therewasa parachute. It would have my name all over it.

The guy next to me spoke up. "She's not sleeping withZane," he said."She's sleeping with her roommate's boyfriend. Remember?"

The brunette gave a snort of derision. "Oh, like that matters. Youdoknow you can sleep with multiple people, right?" Her lips formed a smirk. "Sometimes, even at the same time."

She looked to Zane, and her tone softened. "Which reminds me… I've got a friend in New York. She's hot as hell and super-freaky, too." The brunette leaned closer to him and said, "If you want, she'll do things—"

"Don't," Zane said.

She blinked. "Don't what?"

"You know what."

Again, the brunette's gaze swiveled in my direction. "Is it because of her?"

"No," Zane said. "It's because you're embarrassing."

"Oh, so you're embarrassed? Is that what you mean?"

"No," he said. "You're embarrassing yourself."