Some Laneys Died: A Skipping Sideways Thriller by Brooke Skipstone

Author:Brooke Skipstone [Skipstone, Brooke]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733148863
Publisher: Skipstone Publishing
Published: 2020-08-09T16:00:00+00:00

19

I head for one of the kiosks outside the Alaska Airlines check-in counter. Just as I type my last name, I hear, “Hey, Laney.” I suck in a breath and jerk my hand back. Jag stands smiling to my right, his hand grasping my suitcase handle. “You need some help?”

I can’t believe he’s here. “Do you always sneak up on girls?” My heart pounds partly from fright, but mostly from seeing him again.

His beautiful eyebrows lift, crushing his forehead into three wrinkles. His smile widens, revealing more teeth. “Your face is bright pink. I wasn’t trying to sneak. I’m sorry I scared you.”

“It’s OK. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you again before you deserted me for a month and a half. Or longer. All I’ll think about is what we could’ve done during the holidays.”

An idea pecks at my brain. “Such as?” I’m going to be given a choice.

“Get a coffee. See a movie. I could cook you dinner.”

“Really? You cook?”

He looks down and scratches his chin. “No, but we could watch the Food Channel and try to make something together.”

I move closer. “And where would we do this?”

“At my house. In fact, we could’ve done that tonight. My parents left this morning to drive to Dallas. We’d have the kitchen all to ourselves.”

“And the rest of the house.” I search his eyes. “What are you suggesting?”

“I guess there’s no way you can change your flight to tomorrow . . . or the day after?” He sucks in his bottom lip then lets it slide out, moist and full.

The idea that pecked my brain now tingles my skin, and the hot air Mom mentioned has found at least one of my erogenous zones.

“There’s always a way, Jag. I could tell my dad my plane was grounded for mechanical reasons, but not tell Mom. Then book a seat for tomorrow.”

His face lights up. “Yeah?”

“Mom leaves for Chicago tomorrow afternoon, so I’d be alone in my house after that.”

His eyes bulge. “Would you?”

“No.” He deflates. “But another version of me will, and I’ll get to experience some of what she does with you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Every time we make a choice, we make a new universe. One version of you never met me last night. Imagine how sad he must be.”

“As sad as I’m feeling now.”

“Another version of us will be making out in your kitchen later. Maybe you’ll dream about it. I know I will.” I move closer and hug him. I can feel his hard abs against my chest and his bulging pecs against my face. I pull back and look at his face. “Are you an athlete?”

“Wrestler for the school and MMA for a club.”

I try not to think of seeing him in a singlet. Marissa persuaded me to watch a wrestling match at school last year, and all I saw were penises and testicles. She took photos while I covered my face and peaked through my fingers. “Maybe I’ll go to one of your matches when I come back.

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