Page 92 of Puck Me Back to Life

He points directly at Kai's wrist. “Oh, what the fuck happened there?”

Kai freezes. The reaction lasts less than a second, but I still catch it. His eyes flick downward.

Then back up. Then away.

He's trying to think of something.

I lean back and wait. This should be interesting.

“Uh.”

Dante waits patiently.

“Allergic reaction.”

Dante blinks. “To what?”

Silence. I can practically hear Kai's brain trying to assemble a believable answer. Unfortunately for him, panic rarely improves creativity.

“A bracelet.”

Dante narrows his eyes. “A bracelet?”

“Yeah. A leather one. I guess I have sensitive skin.”

The silence that follows is magnificent. The second the words leave his mouth, I lose the fight completely. A laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it.

Kai turns toward me. If looks could kill, I'd already be dead. The glare he sends across the room is spectacular.

Dante looks between us.

“Kai,” Dante lowers his voice dramatically. “Blink twice if you need help.”

Kai's face turns bright red. Mortified.

I've seen enough. I stand, grab Dante by the back of his shirt, and start dragging him away.

The man yelps. “What the hell?”

“Come here.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so.”

Dante attempts to resist. The effort lasts approximately three seconds. Mostly because I'm six-foot-five and built like a truck.

I haul him halfway across the room.

“Ow.”

“You're being dramatic.”

“You're kidnapping me!”

“You'll survive.”

Behind us, Kai looks suspiciously relieved.