All The Pretty Lights (The "A" List #1) Read Online Free Page A

further to our left as we change course and her grip reacts with it. She’s just freaking out some more. At least my thoughts are safe.
    My stomach drops the smallest bit as the large plane settles, reaching cruising altitude and leveling off. Her grip relaxes, but doesn’t release me. I don’t know why, but I find myself wishing that she wouldn’t.
    I see a bright flash from the edge of the seat across the aisle and whip my head around in just enough time to see the person tuck their phone back into their pocket, ignoring me even though I’ve practically caught them stealing a picture. Daphne hasn’t noticed, is probably too concentrated on the deep breathing she’s doing. My eyes dart down to the interlaced fingers between us and I start to picture the headlines.
    COLT AND HIS NEW SECRET GIRLFRIEND CATCH THE RED EYE TO SNEAK OFF TOGETHER.
    DOES COLT HAVE A NEW LEADING LADY IN HIS LIFE?
    COLT AND NEW GIRLFRIEND DO GOOD DEED TO ARMY VET WHILE JETTING OFF TOGETHER.
    Shit.
    That’s not exactly the kind of publicity I’m looking for.
    I test what’s left of her grip by twitching my hand. Still strong. There’s no way I’ll be able to pull back without blatantly whipping my hand back from hers.
    “Um, we’re good. High in the sky. Perfectly safe…” I speak low.
    Daphne’s eyes open wide. “Hmm?”
    Her color begins to return. Her deep blue eyes find mine and we hold the stare for a moment.  I watch as her eyes change, morphing while going through a multitude of emotions. Fear, obviously of flying, relief that we’re now cruising uneventfully through the midnight sky, and finally embarrassment when she realizes that she’s still holding onto me.
    Her hand awkwardly frees mine and moves to sit in her lap. “Sorry. I—I hate taking off.”
    I can see her begin to relax, and decide to help ease the tone a little. “Really? Hadn’t noticed.”
    She smiles and I can see just a hint of pearly white through her plump lips.
    “Seriously though, if you hate flying so much, why are you?” I’m curious.
    Her eyebrows rise and fall quickly as she ponders the question. “I try not to let it hold me back. It’s not so bad, really. I’m fine once we’re in the air. And besides, I thought I had a pretty good reason to suck it up. Turns out, I would have been better off staying at home and not going to L.A.”
    Overhead the lighted display changes, indicating we can now unfasten our seat belts and recline our seats. Don’t need to tell me twice. I search for the small circular button on my armrest and push.
    “Ah, fuck.” I try the button once more.
    “What?” Daphne searches between us to where my hand is playing with the armrest.
    I exhale deeply, frustrated. “My seat’s broken. It won’t recline back.”
    I’m practically punching the small flimsy button. Her laughter causes me to pause. “What?”
    She shakes her head at me. “Your seat’s not broken. You are reclined back. That’s as far as it goes. You’re in coach , remember?”
    Not believing this half an inch of extra room could be all that I’m allowed, I inspect my seat as well as those around me. “You can’t be serious?”
    When I finally give up and accept the fact that I’m given no more room than a fucking sardine, I drop my head back against the stiff cushion.
    “Don’t tell me you’ve never flown coach before” her voice is wobbling, fighting to hold back laughter.
    My eyes close as I resign myself to the amount of discomfort I’ll be enduring in this sorry excuse of a seat for the next four and a half hours. “So many years ago, that I’d forgotten what it was like. You? You had a first class ticket, so this must be new for you, too.”
    “I always fly coach. I didn’t pay for the first class ticket. It was given to me to come out here for a job interview. Waste of time.” There’s a layered depth to the last of her words.
    Shifting to try and get as comfortable as I can in this torture device of a chair, I angle