I pause, my glass halfway to my lips and my smile frozen on my face, dread rising inside me. I feel Luke stiffen at my side as Michael leans forward curiously.
“She hooked up with some random guy she met, in the airplane bathroom!”
Oh God, Alex.
I press my eyes shut as my stomach turns over. I wait for Luke to say something, or to stand and leave, but he laughs along with Michael. When I cautiously peel my eyes open, I find the three of them looking at me.
“Really?” Michael says with a disbelieving chuckle.
“Er…” I begin, setting my glass down, but Alex is on a roll.
“Oh, come on!” She swats me on the arm before focusing back on the guys. “She totally did. And she said it was the best sex she’s ever had!” She thumps a hand on the table, chortling with laughter.
Heat sweeps up my neck and I concentrate on a spot on the table. I can’t look at Luke. Or anyone. Ever again.
“Is that right?” I hear from beside me.
I risk a glance in Luke’s direction. His mouth is half-tilted in a grin, eyebrows raised, and annoyance sizzles in my gut. He doesn’t have to look so damn pleased about it. And he shouldnotbe encouraging this.
“The best sex you’ve ever had, huh?”
My cheeks are flaming as I reach for my glass of champagne again and gulp it down.
“I mean, how does that even happen?” Alex muses aloud, topping up my glass. “How do you end up in that situation?”
“Did he comfort you during some bad turbulence?” Michael suggests.
I grumble under my breath. If only I could tell them the truth: thatIwas the one looking afterhim. That might give me a little of my dignity back.
“Or maybe he gave up his seat so you could sit by the window and you couldn’t resist such a chivalrous guy?” Alex’s eyes become misty as her romantic imagination kicks into overdrive.
“Or maybe you threw yourself at him when he least expected it?” Luke chimes in and the other two roar with laughter. He gives me a knowing grin and I cut him a look of irritation.
“Um, no. That’s definitelynotwhat happened.”
“Really? Maybe you”—he gestures vaguely for effect—“threw yourself into his lap? Or lured him into the bathroom when he was vulnerable?” He nudges my knee under the table and I swing a foot out to kick him, but hit the table leg instead.
Ow.
“Oh my God, Harri, is that what happened?” Alex asks, noticing my grimace.
“What?” I glance at her, horrified. “No!”
“Or maybe you simply begged the poor guy for sex?” Luke says, his lips twitching deviously.
A laugh bursts from Alex. “Harriet’s not the type to beg for sex.” She wipes her eyes, then turns and leans close to Michael, whispering something to him.
“Exactly.” I send Luke a withering look. Honestly, I don’t know what’s gotten into him tonight.
“Are you sure?” he asks, swigging from his glass. “Are you sure you didn’t sayplease?” He cocks a playful eyebrow and my face burns with shame.
Because I did say please, I know I did. I wanted it.
“Well, anyway,” I mutter through gritted teeth, refilling my glass so I don’t have to look at him. He might think this is hilarious, but two can play this stupid game. “It doesn’t matter. I mean, the sex was alright, which is surprising considering howveryquick it was. The whole thing was over before it could even begin, really.”
I challenge Luke with my gaze, watching his smile falter. My mouth pulls into a satisfied smirk as his cheeks stain pink, and we stare at each other hard for a moment, neither one of us wanting to back down. Then his face falls, almost imperceptibly, and regret winds through me.
I suddenly remember Alex and Michael’s presence, and when I glance at them in panic, I’m relieved—and not at all surprised—to find they’re in a world of their own.
