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“Duh,” Porter said, giving me a golden smile.
Phoenix screwed up his face, sticking out his tongue. “What did I tell you, pipsqueak? You’re not getting rid of us. I’ll stalk your ass if I have to.”
“Yes,” Rueben said, his eyes searing into me. They said so much more than that simple word.
I turned back around, my cheeks on fire. Otto lifted his brow, proving his point from earlier. They were all in.
“Okay then. I’d planned to leave in the middle of the night, but I could change my plans. I’m already checked out of the hotel, so I can move whenever.”
“We have the rental until tomorrow morning. How were you traveling? We haven’t purchased tickets yet,” Otto said, opening his computer and pulling up a travel website.
“Oh, well, you won’t need tickets. We can use my plane. They’ll leave whenever I tell them.”
Otto froze, turning slowly to me with wide eyes. I tilted my head, not understanding. I peered back at the others, who all wore similar expressions. Porter was the first to break, jumping off the couch and picking me up to spin us around as he chanted.
“Private plane! Private plane! Private plane!”
I laughed at his enthusiasm, loving how excited he got at things. “So, I take that as a yes?” I asked, peeking over his shoulder at Otto. While they were a group, it was clear Otto was the leader.
“If you’re offering, we’ll accept, Little Bird.”
“I’ll message them to expect five of us. Could I use your shower before we leave?”
“Need a hand?” Porter asked, wiggling his eyebrows. My face heated. That had definitely been a flirt.
“Tempting, but I have a feeling if we want to leave at some point today, I should go solo.”
His head moved closer, his lips brushing against my earlobe as he whispered, “The offer will never expire, babe. So, just let me know when you’re ready.” He kissed my cheek, sending shivers through me.
“Okay,” I said, my voice huskier than I’d ever heard it.
He smirked, looking more like Phoenix in that second, that I had to check his tattoo sleeve to make sure it had been Porter.
“Right arm,” I mumbled, making him tilt his head in question.
“Hm?”
“Nothing,” I squeaked, patting his arms to let me down.
The second my feet touched the ground, I grabbed my suitcase and hightailed it into the bathroom, too nervous to look at the others. Sprained ankle, who?
Things had definitely progressed since last night, and my body was fully on board with the invitations to explore things. It was just my heart and brain that kept getting in the way.
“Just go with the flow,” I said, taking a deep breath. “You’ll never learn if you don’t try. They won’t laugh at you like Mike.” A wicked smile spread as I remembered how Darcy helped me get back at him. “Who was laughing in the end, Mike? That’s right. You don’t mess with a Belladonna!”
I did a few air punches and kicks in the air, imitating taking down a foe. A knock on the door had me jumping; a tiny squeak that was nowhere near badass sounding escaped out of me.
“We’re ordering some food. Anything you don’t like?” Phoenix asked.
“Nope! I’ll eat anything,” I shouted back, hoping to sound more assertive than the squeak had portrayed.
Once I heard feet moving away from the door, I turned on the shower, remembering I was in here for a reason. Opening my suitcase, I pulled out my phone and checked in with Man, letting him know the first mark had been taken care of. Then I messaged Phillip, confirming my takeoff time and that there would be additional passengers traveling with us.
With both tasks done, I hit play on my “shake booty” playlist, stripped my clothes off, and hurried into the shower. The warm water rushed over me, soothing the aches from the night before. My ankle had mostly healed, only a little tender if I placed too much weight on it. I’d also gained a massive bruise on my sides from the window and the takedown with my nemesis. I’d put my body through the wringer yesterday.
Humming along to the music, I dried off and picked out some clothes. I selected my “I aim to misbehave” shirt and constellation skirt, pairing it with some lunar tights and black Converse. Spraying detangler in my hair, I opened the door and headed out with my comb. My hair took forever to comb out, and my arms always got tired halfway through, so I often did it while I watched somePhoenix Hospital,so I didn’t notice it.
No one was in the living room, so I sat down and turned on the TV, finding the channel we’d watched last night as I ran the comb through sections of my hair. I jolted when someone touched my knee, having gotten sucked into the show.
