Capture

by Rachel Van Dyken

  "So…" Zane tossed a marshmallow into the air, caught it between his teeth, chewed, and swallowed. "… you had a fun night. Care to share intimate details of how you seduced poor Lincoln out of his designer jeans? Or is that a secret?"

  I tossed the pillow at his face. "I didn't seduce him."

  "Ha." Zane wagged a finger at me. "For shame, lying to your best friend."

  "Demetri's my best friend."

  "Right, but we talked last night, and you said now it was a tie because I'm so good-looking."

  "I was drunk."

  "On hot chocolate?" Zane cackled. "Oh, high school, I'm going to miss you when you marry Linc on your eighteen birthday, move into his love shack, and start having little children. I really am."

  "Married?" I repeated, incredulous. "You're high."

  "Never done drugs. I have too addictive of a personality. Besides, why do drugs when they cost so much damn money?"

  "You're rich."

  "Right. And I'll stay that way because I don't do drugs." Zane glanced at the TV, and his expression fell, like something had just sucker-punched him. I tried to look in time, but he'd already changed the channel. "So, details, or am I going to have to play back the nanny-cam I put in your room?"

  I felt my face pale. "Zane…"

  "Fine." He handed me a pink marshmallow. "So if there really was a tape, which there isn't, because I'm not a freak like Demetri…" Another jab at my best friend, because he apparently thought the position was open for negotiation. "… I wonder if it would be Lincoln attacking you with his tongue, or poor, innocent little Dani, seducing the shit out of him, basically dragging him by the hair into her king-size bed." A satisfied smile crossed his features as he sat back against the couch and crossed his arms.

  "You'll never know," I said, tossing my head in a show of confidence.

  He raised an eyebrow. "I already do know. Because I know Linc, and the last thing he would do would be having sex with you while Jaymeson's next door. That's like asking to get a bullet to the ass."

  "I may have…" I waved my hand in the air. "… encouraged…" I almost choked on my spit. "… a little bit."

  Zane grinned.

  Man, he was pretty and, of course, still shirtless. One day a girl would housetrain him, and she'd use little marshmallow trails to do it.

  "Look at you, growing up, making big girl choices. Man, it's like one day you're speaking in full sentences, the next day you're grabbing a man by the—"

  "We're home!" Jay shouted.

  "Do not finish that sentence," I warned Zane, horrified.

  "Dad!" Zane jumped off the couch. "How was work?"

  Jay groaned. "Zane, seriously. Wear clothes."

  Zane looked down. It hadn't occurred to me how many clothes he wasn't wearing until he stood. Boxers? No shirt? But he was wearing wool socks and still, still he looked good. "What's wrong with my uniform?"

  "Uniform?" Jay and Pris said in unison while I watched the exchange with vested interest. If they were concentrated on him, they weren't thinking about me. And then, it hit me.

  "Holy crap, we're siblings!" I said aloud.

  Zane winked. "Sis."

  "Ew, my brother kissed me!"

  "YOU KISSED HER?" Jay shouted.

  Pris grabbed Jaymeson. "We don't know that. Don't accuse until we know the details."

  Zane burst out laughing. "Aw, shit, I really love you guys. I know I keep saying that, but…" He offered Jaymeson a marshmallow. "… it's true."

  Jaymeson looked like he was about one second away from choking Zane with the spongy treats.

  "Accident," I piped up. "Zane was, uh, proving a point."

  Zane turned, his eyes evil as he added, "Why yes, I was teaching young Dani the perils of letting a celebrity seduce her. Well, don't say I didn't try, guys."

  I narrowed my eyes. "Traitor."

  He tossed me a marshmallow like that would make everything better.

  Pris, very wisely, kissed Jaymeson, whispered something in his ear that clearly distracted him enough to leave us alone and go upstairs to their master suite.

  "You're welcome." Zane joined me back on the couch. "Now, Housewives or Game of Thrones?"

  We shared a look then said in unison, "Thrones."

  I fell asleep halfway through the first episode and woke up a few hours later in bed.

  Zane.

  One day.

  Very soon.

  I hoped he'd find someone who took care of him the way he took care of everything and everyone else in his life.

  He'd stocked the kitchen, not just with marshmallows, but with food in general. He'd labeled plastic containers, had basically force fed me breakfast, and had always made sure I was okay.

  He was perfect.

  Not my perfect. Not for me.

  But… perfect.

  Which meant he was trying really hard to either hide a flaw or ignore whatever had caused him to land in Seaside in the first place.