Page 198 of Positively Pricked
Chapter 68
I stood very still.She calls him Daddy?
I almost didn't know what to say. "Wait, so Bobdoesn'thave a daughter?"
"Oh, he totally does." Kayla looked heavenward. "But she issucha crybaby."
I felt my gaze narrow. "Is that so?"
"Totally," Kayla said. "She's like the most spoiled girl I know. Thank God she doesn't live with us."
"She doesn't?" I said. "So wheredoesshe live?"
"Right now? She's a senior at Purdue."
"The university?"
"No. The chicken plant."
"Huh?"
"I’m kidding," she said. "Of course, the university. She's like older than me, so you'd think she'd be past the whole crying thing, you know?"
What could I say to that?
Hell, what could I say toanyof this?
Fortunately, I was spared the need of making a reply when my cell phone rang in my pocket. I yanked it out and glanced at the display, only to feel the color drain from my face.
It washim. Zane.
I glanced in the general direction of his estate. If I didn't answer, would he come over in person?
Now?
Yikes.
I said to Kayla, "Can you excuse me for a moment?" And then, without waiting for an answer, I practically dove for the nearby powder room and slammed the door shut behind me. I answered with a hushed, "Hello?"
Zane said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"I'm coming over."
"What, why?"
"Because you sound scared."
"I'm not scared." I forced a laugh. "You just caught me by surprise, that's all."
He was quiet for a long moment. "All right."
Did he believe me? From his tone, I couldn’t be sure.
But I hadn't been lying. True, Iwassurprised that he called, and yeah, maybe alittlenervous, but that wasn't the same as scared.
I forced a smile into my voice. "Seriously, everything's fine."
