Which explained why some people thought that Sienna was the cause of my “injury.”
Lovely.
But wait…
“Why would she still bethatangry?” I ask. “She got everything she wanted.”
Another grimace. “Rumor has it that you’ve been talking shit about her all over town, saying that she’s ‘an entitled, prissy bitch who needs to be put in her place.’”
Huh?
I find myself blinking several times before my brain manages to compute what he just said, becausehuh?“I never said that about her! Hell, I haven’t talked to anyone, period!”
At this, Jase actually chuckles. “Yeah, I figured as much. Didn’t sound like something you’d do, but then again, Sienna knows how to push everyone’s buttons. I’m just happy thatIdon’t have to deal with her for the next four weeks.”
I have to rerun the words through my head, feeling all the more confused. “Wait, why aren’tyouon the trip?”
“Similar reason to yours, I suspect.” He downs half the Long John in one massive bite, and the sight is enough to make my insides cry.
What would possess someone to do that? What’s the point of eating something delicious if you don’t intend to savor the taste?
Jase obviously misconstrues the visual daggers I’m throwing at him as skepticism. “Let me guess, you heard I’d been grounded over something having to do with four wheels and a bottle of whiskey?”
His little “indiscretion”hadcrossed my mind, but I also couldn’t imagine one of the Untouchables or even their allies ever dealing with something as banal as parental punishments.
“What you heard is bullshit. The truth is…I was paired up with Easton for the trip.” He says this like the words have weight to them, which makes even less sense.
“So?Isn’t Trent, like…your god or something?” Yeah, I blame my blood sugar, because my words are dripping with sarcasm. Not the best time to be a smartass.
Thank God Jase has a far better sense of humor than I gave him credit for, given that he actually laughs. “Trent definitely likes to think so.”
“Still, isn’t he one of your best friends?”
Jase lets out a long, exhausted breath, and for a minute, I don’t think he’s going to answer. When he finally does, he simply says, “I needed a break.”
“You passed up going to Italy for abreak?” I know it sounds hypercritical since I dodged the trip, too, but there’s a big difference between fearing Sienna Hawthorne may bust your kneecaps and just wanting some R&R.
Jase shrugs. “I told everyone I got in trouble with the ‘rents and that they wouldn’t let me go on the trip. The rumor mill filled in the details, and I didn’t bother correcting anyone.”
He polishes off the last ofmypastry and returns to the window, resolute in…whatever decision he’s made.
“You’ve got five minutes,” he announces.
I just stand there, staring at him with the kind of blank expression that probably ensures I look like an idiot. “Is that a threat?”
Seriously, were we going to recreateThe Most Dangerous Game, where Jase would give me a head start before he hunted me down and killed me? Becausethatsounds far more in keeping with a visit from the Untouchables’ top lieutenant than a casual conversation over breakfast.
But Jase looks back at me like I’m even worse than an idiot. He’s looking at me like I must be high.“What?No, we’re leaving.”
“We are?”
He doesn’t miss the fact that I’m slowly backtracking to the door, ready to bolt, and the sight only makes him laugh. “I’m not here to bite you, Birdie. I’m helping you fly the coop.” Jase nods towards the window. “Come on.”
“But I’m not supposed to leave—”
“Said Mother Gothel. But what does dear old Rapunzel want to do?” he quips, tugging softly at the bottom of my hair. “Stay locked up in her ivory tower, or go on an adventure with a charming swashbuckler?”
The warning bells may have quieted somewhat in my head, but I still can’t quite rid myself of suspicion. “This is supposed to becharming?”
