Page 26 of Fresh Canvas
I wearily followed, but he stopped me after glancing at my ticket and gestured down the other aisle. My sluggish mind jolted awake with a horrific realization.
“Are you just going to stand there or go find our seats?” Val growled from over my shoulder.
Five hours. Uncaffeinated. Sitting next to Russo.
Kill me now.
Icemented my forearm to the armrest separating me and Val. If I had to suffer,hehad to suffer. Over my dead body would I relinquish that armrest. It felt childish and petty, but I was seething.
Seriously, universe?
My self-control strained to keep me from rushing to the emergency exit and flinging myself out.
Val shifted in his seat, trying to keep any part of his body from brushing mine. His irritated glances at the armrest were increasing in frequency.
I smirked, not caring if I had to do everything left-handed for the next five hours.
The aircraft eventually leveled out, cruising peacefully atop the clouds. Flight attendants fanned throughout the aisles, taking drink orders and distributing snacks. A heavily perfumed blonde leaned over us.
“What can I getcha?” The woman smacked her gum between her hot pink lips.
“A Diet Coke,” I grumbled, “and pretzels.”
“Could I get an Earl Grey tea?” Val asked.
“Okay,princess.” My quiet scoff met its mark, resulting in a twitch in Val’s jaw.
“You betcha, handsome.” She batted her fake eyelashes at Val before sauntering away.
“Oh, jeez.”
“What? It’s not her fault I’m attractive.”
I barked out a harsh laugh. “Cocky much?”
“Nope.”
“Well, in that case, I feel obligated to warn her. You seem like a guy who lines up women and mows them down, machine gun style.”
“And you seem like the kind of woman who will grow old surrounded by cats.”
I could have sworn he glanced at my empty left ring finger. Out of habit, I again reached for my ring, finding smooth skin instead.
My teeth ground together. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough to see why you’re single,” he said, relaxing casually into his seat.
I snapped my gaping mouth shut and spat, “Serial dater.”
“Cat lady.”
My stormy glare reflected off his blazing brown eyes as we stared the other down. Name calling was lame, but my caffeine-lacking brain had short-circuited. Plus this wasVal.
“Any woman in her right mind would die to get away from you,” I said.
It was as though my words slapped Val across the face. A haunted glimpse of pain flashed before a deadly expression crept into his eyes.
“And any sane man would eventually abandon you. Wouldn’t blame him either.” He shrugged.
