“You’re welcome.” He shrugs my hand off, but I quickly grab his arm. I’m as surprised as he is by my boldness. I hold him in a firm grip and force him to meet my eyes.
“Did I do something? Why are you so mad?”
“This is how I always am.”
“No. You were really…nice…earlier.”
Someone bursts out laughing. “Oh shit.”
Zane and I turn to a group of guys standing in the hallway. One of the them must be either drunk or stupid because he has the nerve to hold his hand up in an invitation for a high five.
“Thatta boy, Zane. We were wondering why you followed her in there.”
“Dude, is it just me or did she come out of that room looking hot?”
“Maybe it’s because she got a goodmakeoverby Burrell.”
Heat creeps up my neck. Of course those idiots would think we were having sex. Nobody would believe that Zane was being considerate. I wouldn’t have believed it either had it not happened to me. I won’t correct them, in case Zane wants tokeep his image as a badass. It’s the least I can do since he did make sure nobody like these hyenas came in.
Swallowing my pride, I gather the courage to meet Zane’s eyes. If I thought they were thunderous before, I now realize I had no clue what real danger looked like. He turns his eyes from mine and slowly looks at the group of guys. There’s four of them, and they all fall silent. Zane gently removes my hand from his arm, then walks over to stand toe-to-toe with the one who I recognize from the football team.
“What. Did. You. Say?”
The guys hand is still lamely held up for that high five. Zane slaps his hand against the wall. His other hand wraps around the guy’s neck. “Apologize to her,” Zane whispers in an eerily calm tone.
The guy whimpers. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Zane turns his head to the others, looking each one in the eye. “Apologize. To. Her.” The guys turn to me and swallow. Zane’s voice is nothing short of a growl. “I won’t ask again.”
“I’m so sorry.” “We’re sorry.” “Sorry.”
Zane pushes himself off of the guy and releases him. “Never speak to her or about her that way, again. Never mentionanythingfrom this night. And know this, even if I’m not around, if I find out you did…I promise you’ll live to regret it. That five minutes of fame with your buddies thinking you’re ‘cool’ won’t be worth the hell I’ll put you through.”
Zane turns around and takes me by the elbow, practically dragging me down the stairs. Once we reach the bottom, he releases me and walks away. I’m left standing there both confused and stunned.
****
Word spreads throughout the party that Zane and I were left alone with the door locked for a long time. What everyoneseemed to whisper in awe the most about was that Zane defended my honor to four of the football players. The threat spread like crazy and nobody dared to mention my earlier humiliation.
Zoey rushes toward me with a drink in her hand. “You dirty little minx. Who knew you had it in you?”
“What?”
“Screw Ryker. You went for the ultimate catch. The one thatnobodyhas caught, or lived to tell about it at least.”
“You just went to a really dark place.”
“Apparently, I’m not the only one. Spill!” Zoey looks around. She’s probably worried about Zane appearing. Everyone seems to be watching me with rapt attention.
“Nothing happened, Zoey. I cleaned up. He made sure nobody bothered me.”
Her eyes widen. “And since when are you two friends? I thought I was your only friend. How could you not tell me you had an in withZane fucking Burrell?”
“I didn’t know I was his friend! I’m still not sure if I am.”
I’m spun around to face my cousin, Cameron. “Why are you wearing my clothes? And you’ve been in my makeup? And please tell me you did not sleep with some weirdo in my bed?”
Now the room has really fallen silent. I look over to see that Allison is by the stereo. I guess she wanted to ensure I left here thoroughly humiliated. The quietness is deafening. Everyone wants to know what happened between Zane and me, and of course, they are all hoping for a cat fight. Cameron clearly has her claws out.
