It’s official. Reid was my new hero.
Forget Spider-Man.
I was going to get Reid Emory sheets and sleep in them every night.
My cheeks heated as I ducked a bit under his intense stare.
Those aqua eyes refused to let me look down. Instead, he tilted my chin toward him and didn’t look away. “You. Are. Stunning.”
I could have sworn I heard one of the girls sigh.
Or maybe it was just Max.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to make me feel better.” I licked my lips. “I’m happy with who I am. Really.”
“You should be.” Reid nodded. “Damn proud of who you are.”
He was doing it again. Casting one of those magic spells with his hypnotic eyes, making me think that a girl like me could really be with a guy like him. Making me believe that the words he’d said to me back at his apartment before he crushed my plant . . . were actually true.
That he wanted me.
Desired me.
Enjoyed touching me, kissing me . . .
“This is your captain speaking,” a loud voice interrupted. “I’ve turned on the ‘Fasten Seat Belts’ sign, as we’ve gotten word that there’s some rough air up ahead. Sit tight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
REID
The turbulence wasn’t holy shit, we’re going down bad, but it wasn’t pleasant either. Max whimpered from the front seat, then begged to hold Becca’s hand, only his hand grabbed her breast instead.
The guy was copping a feel all while having everyone believe he was afraid of flying.
He wasn’t.
I, however, was.
Maybe it was because when I was in high school as a way to get back at me for being born first—Max’s words, not mine—Max told me that whenever a plane hit turbulence it meant that the engine was locking up.
He paid my science teacher to back up his story.
He said this the day before we flew into the Denver airport from New York.
And anyone who’s ever flown into Denver just flinches in his seat and winces a little. Turbulence flying in and out of Denver is the stuff of legends.
I cried.
Max got it on camera.
And that, my friends, is how I lost my prom queen girlfriend to an eighth grader with a mind for evil.
I think it’s also the first moment I realized Max wasn’t like other humans . . .
Or aliens.
Or really any species known to mankind.
“Need a distraction?” Jordan’s smile was kind. Her perfect pout formed over pretty white teeth.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I gripped the armrest. “Care to throw Max out of the plane? That may help my mood.”
“He’s kinda heavy.”
“Muscle.” Max coughed ahead of us, then turned around and grinned. “Reid, it was a joke. You know turbulence is normal.”
“You classically conditioned me, you bastard!” The plane dipped again. I glanced out the window, just to be sure I didn’t see smoke or anything that pointed to the fact that we were going down.
Jordan placed her hand on my arm, her fingernails drawing slight circles around my skin. It felt good. I started breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth while she talked. “I’m guessing Max is the reason behind your fear.”
“You’d guess right.” I glared at Max. “Turn around before I throat punch you.”
Max rolled his eyes. “Adults don’t use such language.”
My eyebrows shot up as I waited.
“Bitch,” he finished, then turned back around.
“There it is,” I mumbled.
Jordan patted my arm. “At least you had a brother or someone to hang out with you at school. I would have done anything to have a sibling.”
“Only child?” I frowned. “How did I not know that?”
“You gotta ask,” Max said from the front seat.
“Could you not?” I smacked him on the head. “Pay attention to your fiancée.”
Max glanced back. “She fell asleep.”
“Wake. Her. Up.”
“Waking up someone while they’re in a deep sleep is rude, besides, why would I want to deter her from dreaming of me? Naked? That’s just cruel, man. Have you no heart?”
“Earphones,” Jordan interjected. “Put them on so your brother and I can have adult time. I’ll set my watch for a half hour, and when that’s done you can turn around and I’ll give you some fruit snacks.” Jordan pulled some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fruit snacks from her bag and dangled them in the air. Max’s eyes went back and forth, back and forth.
“Those are the best kind.” His eyes narrowed. “Damn you for finding my kryptonite!” He gasped. “You read my blog!”
Jordan grinned. “I figured the easiest way to learn the ways of a homicidal maniac was to get inside his head, see how he ticks. I may have browsed it this last week while trying to uncover any of the five hundred skeletons in your closet to make sure you wouldn’t be any more of a PR nightmare for Reid.”
Max nodded his approval. “We’ll keep you.”
“Oh, good, I’m going to a good home then. There’s that.” Jordan snatched the fruit snacks back. “Now, let me and Reid chat, I think The Lego Movie’s on.”
“Everything . . . really is awesome.” Max sighed. “Fine, turning around now, but I want two packs, not one.”