Page 6 of Seize the Night

“Because,” Remi sighed. “Four years ago, Julien and I accidentally started it.”

Vive La France

On Friday morning, Remi and Merrick boarded an airplane to take them to Julien Brite. Halfway through the flight Remi realized she’d been digging her hand into Merrick’s knee for the past two hours. Flying didn’t scare her. She’d spent too many years on the back of high-jumping horses to be afraid of a little altitude. But even after four hours of smooth-sailing, Remi remained a rapidly fraying knot of tension.

“Boss? You okay?” Merrick asked as he signaled the flight attendant for another drink. He was having way too much fun in first class, much more fun than she was. “I mean, I don’t mind that you’re squeezing my knee so hard I can’t feel my calf, but there are other body parts I could direct your attention to, if you’re interested.”

“Steady as she goes.” Remi took his vodka out of his hand and chugged it.

“Whoa, Nellie.” Merrick grabbed it back. “We’ve got five hours left on this flight.”

“Sorry,” she said. “Take it. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you seem real fucking fine. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that you’re the world’s worst liar?” Merrick asked. “You’re stressed about seeing this Julien guy again. Yes?”

“A smidge,” she said. “A skosh. ”

“Are you going to tell me why?”

She shook her head.

“Not if you won’t let me have your vodka.”

He gave her the vodka.

“Sip it and talk. You can’t say something like ‘Julien and I started this rivalry’ and sashay off all dramatic-like without telling me the story.”

“It’s a humiliating story,” Remi said.

“Miss?” Merrick addressed the passing flight attendant. “I’m going to need some popcorn.”

“Merrick.”

“Talk,” he said. “And don’t leave out any juicy details.”

“I’m leaving out all the juicy details,” she said. “You get the bare bones.”

“Is there boning involved in the bare bones?”

“Almost,” she said, wincing. She took a steadying breath and focused her attention a moment on the hum of the airplane engines. It comforted her, the sound of the engines reminding her she was thousands of miles and years away from the time and place of her greatest humiliation.

“Go on…” Merrick said.

“This was back when I was in college. I’d come home for Christmas, and Mom and Dad dragged me to a big Christmas party at The Rails.”

“That’s that huge horse farm in Versailles, yes?”

“Yes, bigger than Capital Hills and Arden put together.”

“Got it. So it’s Christmas. It’s a party. You’re what? Twenty?” Merrick asked.

“Twenty-two,” she said. “It was a formal party so I had an excuse to buy an awesome dress. Jade strappy thing.”

“Did it make your tits look good?”

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