Page 78 of Traded

He looks torn between amusement and horror. “Tell me you’re joking.”

“That’s nothing.” I lean forward conspiratorially. “Wait until you see whatKatie’sbought you—”

“We’re getting off topic,” he interrupts. His ears are red, and I snicker. Benji raises an eyebrow. “Been a while since we heard that sound.”

“What?” I take a sip of wine. Wine reallydoeshelp, I decide. “The sound of pure brilliance? You can hear that anytime I open my mouth.”

“You. Laughing.” Benji meets my eyes steadily. “You can talk to me, Rosie.”

My mouth snaps shut.Shit.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say after a moment. “I’m fine.”

“Heard that enough.” He glances down the luxury, carpeted aisle and taps his biker boot. “Quite a few times recently, actually.”

I can feel Liam’s eyes boring into the back of my head. I fight to keep my spine straight, to meet Benji’s gaze instead of dropping it. “What, you want me tonotbe fine?”

“I’m fineis what people say when they’re not.” He doesn’t falter at my inhale. Benji’s voice gentles. “I don’t think you’re fine, Rosie. You’re my friend. I’m worried about you. Tell me I shouldn’t be.”

I can’t help it. My head twists, searching him out. Liam is sitting away from me with Ryker beside him, arms folded as they listen to Martin. There’s a board on the table between them topped with little foam hockey players that Martin pushes around with a pen.

Jonas has claimed the empty seat beside Lauren. My lips part as I watch them talk, heads close together.

It… doesn’t hurt. In fact, I don’t feel anything at all.

Turning back to Benji, I shrug. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Benj. All good here.”

“Mind if I steal my girl, Laine?”

We both jolt at the interruption. Jonas leans over us, his smile showing off the dimple in his cheek. His hand finds the nape of my neck, massaging it gently. “Done talking shop for a bit.”

“Sure.” Benji slowly stands, shifting to let Jonas slip into his seat. He looks between us. “Remember what I said. I’ve got wine if you need it.”

Jonas huffs a laugh. “The last thing she needs is wine.”

Benji’s eyes slide to my empty glass, taking in my white-knuckled grip. “See you later.”

After he’s gone, I frown at Jonas. “What’s up?”

He smiles easily. “Figured you could use some company. That allowed?”

The warmth I’m used to is still missing. It has been since the night I dragged his scent match around by the hair and accusedhim of keeping his balls in Liam’s pocket. I suck on my cheek at the memory. “Of course.”

Awkwardness is the third participant in this conversation, closely followed by its close friend, silence. My eyes shift past him. Jonas pushes himself to the edge of his seat, his hands reaching out for my knees and gripping them.

“Don’t,” he snaps. “They’re only talking.”

Lauren has slipped into the seat beside Carter. His headphones are pushed back, eyes narrowed as he listens to whatever she’s dripping into his ear. Her hands move, gesturing in time with her words.

It looks easy. Effortless, even.

“Everything is good, you know? But she has to get to know him.” Jonas draws my attention back. His thumbs rub circles against my knees that I’m sure are supposed to be comforting, but the touch grates at my senses. When I move back, he only follows, his hands tightening. “Come on, Ro. You can’t make a scene here.”

Come on?

Comeon?

“I didn’t say anything.” Bile creeps up my throat as I turn to look out of the window instead. Anywhere instead of his face or theirconversation. My nails dig into the armrests on either side of me so tightly that I know the leather will bear my marks after we leave. “All good here. Peachy, in fact. Can you get my headphones from my bag please?”