Through the Zombie Glass

I covered my throat with my hand, a protective action. “What did he see?”


“Apparently you looked as if you wanted to eat Kat and Reeve at one point, and not in the good way.”

I wasn’t going to touch that statement. “Well.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you for the update, but it’s getting late and you’re probably wanted at home.”

He shook his head. “Sorry, babe, but I’m not leaving.”

What, was this disagree with Ali day? “It’s for your own good, Cole.”

“Right now I’d rather be bad and deal with the consequences later.”

Please be bad. Very, very bad. Downright naughty.

I shivered, and the shiver made me mad. So did my treacherous mind. “You might not survive these particular consequences.” I smiled with saccharine sweetness—and tried to shut the door in his face.

He shouldered his way inside. “I’m willing to risk it.”

Argh!

“Hey, Cole,” Gavin called from the kitchen. “You staying for dinner?”

Cole would have seen his car in the driveway and known Gavin was here, but still his back went iron-bar straight at the sound of the other guy’s voice. “Are you the chef?”

“I am.”

Cole marched forward and settled into a bar stool as if he owned it. “Good. I’m starved.”

This could not be happening.

“We’ve got the stuff for enchiladas or roast beef sandwiches,” Gavin said, glancing at me.

“Enchiladas,” Cole replied.

“Sandwiches it is, then,” Gavin said.

Cole offered him a chilling smile.

Oh, glory. If they decided to play Animal Planet, I’d...let them, I decided. Both would end up unconscious and I would no longer be trapped in this tug-of-war. Sure, I’d have to clean a pool of blood, but just then that actually seemed like the better choice. We had plenty of baking soda and vinegar.

While Gavin puttered around the kitchen, Cole swiveled in the chair to face me. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” I said, taking the seat next to him. I could be polite. “How about you?

“Better.” He reached out, pinched a lock of my hair. “I’m not afraid of you, you know.”

“You should be.” I was. I tugged my hair from his grip. Softly, I added, “But we both know that’s not our only problem.”

He blanched, and I felt guilty. I shouldn’t feel guilty.

“I know what you’re thinking, and that’s not what I meant,” I said and sighed.

“Then what?”

“I’ll...have to show you.” I motioned to the hall—my bedroom—with a tilt of my chin.

He nodded, something hot and dark in his eyes.

“Once again it’s not what you’re thinking,” I said drily.

I think he...pouted.

What do you know—here was yet another side to Cole.

“Don’t you want to show me, too?” Gavin said, his tone a little tight. He chopped the lettuce with more force.

“Not this,” I replied, trying to be gentle. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to him,” Cole snapped.

O-kay. The ice was back.

“He’s my guest,” I said, “and I like him, and he’s acting civil. He deserved an apology from me, so I gave it, and now he deserves one from you. I’m not leaving this spot until he gets it.”

Gavin smirked.

Cole gritted out a very mean “Sorry.”

“Good. Let’s go.” As Cole and I stood, another knock sounded at my door. Dang it, who was that? Considering my luck, it was probably Veronica. “Just a sec.” I stomped to the door. This time, I found Justin waiting on the other side. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Cole came up behind me, the intense heat he radiated a caress against my skin. “What are you doing here?”

A bundle of energy, Justin couldn’t seem to stand still. “You told me to contact you if I had news. Well, I have news, and besides that, I thought you told Ali what’s going on.”

Cole glanced over his shoulder, saying, “You should have called.”

“No way. This was too big.”

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