Page 174 of Positively Pricked

Feeling more self-conscious with every passing moment, I ran a nervous hand through the tangles of my hair. "No. I didn't use anything."

This was only a slight exaggeration. Ihadhelped myself to a splash of mouthwash and a quick look in the mirror. Unfortunately, this meant that I knew exactly what Tiffany was seeing – a girl who'd just stumbled out of Zane's bed.

But that wasn't the only thing bothering me. It was the visual reminder that Tiffany had slept in that same suite just one night earlier.

This posed a rather disturbing question. In that same bedroom? Or in the other one? And what if itwasin the same bedroom. Was it in the same bed, under the same sheets? If so, had they been changed?

Zane had already assured me that nothing had happened between them. And foolish or not, I actually believed him. Was I being stupid?

No.

Or yes.

Damn it.Either way, I was wilting under Tiffany's scornful gaze. She gave my appearance another quick once-over. "Yeah," she said. "I can tell."

It took me a moment to recall the threads of our conversation. Obviously, she meant that she could tell that I hadn't brushed my hair or gone to any other trouble to make myself presentable.

But in my own defense, I'd been betting on a quick anonymous escape.

No such luck.

With a mumbled excuse, I moved past her and rounded the corner, only to collide into who?

Teddy, Zane's cousin.

Just shoot me, now.

As I stumbled backward from the unexpected impact, he stood, staring like he'd just caught me molesting the neighbor's cat. With a sound of disgust, he said, "I see you ignored my advice."

I was almost too embarrassed to think. "Huh?"

He gave me a smirk. "Or, maybe you were screwing him all along."

What the hell?

From somewhere behind me, I heard Tiffany say, "No. I don't think so."

I turned to look. She was now standing within arm's reach, giving Teddy a knowing smile. "WhatIthink," Tiffany told him, "is that she's wanted him all along, and he finally took pity on her."

I wanted to slap her. Determined to resist, I shoved my hands deep into the front pockets of my shorts. After all, there was no need to get violent – yet.

Tiffany said to Teddy, "Wanna know how they met?"

"How?" Teddy asked.

"She was like, a caterer's helper or something." She gave a little snicker. "You remember that party at Zane's place? Well,shewas the one picking crab cakes off the carpet."

I spoke up. "Yeah? Andyouwere the one humping him in the alcove."

Tiffany straightened. "So?"

"So your fiancé was at the same party."

"Ex-fiance," she corrected.

"Oh, please," I said. "Not at the time, he wasn't."

At this, she had the nerve to look insulted. "What are you saying? That I'm some sort of slut?"

"Oh, get real." I threw up my hands in frustration. "I'm just saying, you're in no position to talk."

In unison, Tiffany and Teddy turned to look at something near my right foot. I lowered my head to see what they were seeing, and felt my face burst into new flames of embarrassment.

Yup, those were my panties all right.With as much dignity as I could muster, I swooped them up and crammed them back into my pocket.

And then, what else could I do?

I turned and marched toward the stairway, trying to ignore Tiffany's laughter ringing out behind me.