Page 112 of Poison Aches

This time, I can’t help but smirk just a bit.

This girl is many things, but an idiot isn’t one.

She’s learned to stay on her toes, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. Judging by her recent acts, I can hazard a guess as to why that is.

“That’s a strange question to ask, don’t you think?” I say, slowly removing my jacket.

The flight attendant takes it and hangs it up somewhere. I wave my hand and she goes away.

“Knowing you, is it really?” she bites back.

“I guess when the question is coming from you, it isn’t.”

I watch as her eyes flit to the left just a bit and then they are back on me.

Angel is such a person. She’ll pretend to be perfectly all right when I’m pretty sure she’s about to have a panic attack.

Go ahead, Angel. Ask me.

“What does that mean?” she whispers.

Bingo!

“What do you think it means?” I counter.

We stare at each other.

From the very day we met, in the middle of a horrible, record-breaking blizzard, whenever Angel and I are alone, we’ve always been very direct.

Our friends think she’s very quiet, soft-spoken, and reserved.

If only they knew when we’re alone, she’s anything but.

“Since when do you fly commercial?” she questions, suspicion alight in her brown eyes that I always make sure never to stare into for long.

Ahh, classic change of topic tactic.Don’t worry, Angel, I have an entire flight and the next few days to get you where I want you.

“Since I want to congratulate you,” I say simply, and she perks up.

Something so familiar, it’s almost second nature at this point, flashes in her eyes.

Guilt.

“Congratulate me?” she croaks, watching me with extreme caution.

I can’t help but lean over, getting closer to her.

For some insane reason that I will never explore or study, this girl is not the only one that isn’t her usual self when we’re alone.

“Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten your triumph?” I mutter softly.

“I haven’t,” she whispers. “Color me shocked that you keep up with my affairs.”

“Oh, trust me, Angel, I make it a crucial point of my life to keep up withallyour affairs.”

Her eyes snap up to hold mine.

I let her see.

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