Page 152 of Positively Pricked
"So?" I repeated.
"He was gonna ask you to show him around town."
This, Ididn'tknow. And yet, I had to say it again. "So?"
In a quieter voice, Zane said, "So I didn't like it."
"Why?" My tone grew sarcastic. "Because you were worried I'd ask for overtime?"
"No. Because I didn't want his fucking hands on you."
Well, that was unexpected.
Trying to make sense of it all, I said, "So you didwhat, exactly?"
"Nothing."
I gave Zane a no-nonsense look. "It was more than nothing."
"All right. It's late Friday, and he tells me he's gonna see if you're busy."
"And?"
"And I told him you were. Withme."
"So you lied?"
"No. I had you work late." At my confused expression, he added, "You remember."
Now that I thought of it, Ididremember. He'd had me wait by the phone in case a certain newspaper called. I didn't recall the newspaper's name, but I did recall how annoyed I'd been.
And now? Well, now I was oddly touched.
Was I sap or what?
I said, "But why'd you give him that impression at all? I mean, I would've just told him no, anyway."
"Maybe. But I didn't want him hassling you."
At any other time, the statement would've made me laugh out loud. And why? Because nobody on this Earth had ever hassled me more than Zane. Oh sure, it wasn't sexual harassment, but he was the biggest hassler I'd ever met.
Short-tempered.
Foul-mouthed.
Stubborn.
And yet, I heard myself ask in amazement, "So you did it for me?"
"Hell no," Zane said. "I did it for me."
I drew back. "You? Why you?"
"Because I didn't want the distraction."
Obviously, I was missing something. But I had no idea what. I asked, "What do you mean?"
He loomed a fraction closer. "All right, you wanna know something?"
