Jenna and I exchange a look promising details later as I take the plush expanse of gray leather next to hers, feeling hope after what Alec just said. I glance to Sean, wondering if he’s still mad. He nods a curt welcome from where he quietly sits with his ankle over his knee, his handsome elegance looking like he belongs in a plane like this. But my fears are realized because his soft, warm eyes are now hard, icy blue. I’m going to have to win him over again. That is, if I want to. The jury is still out on that. Both of my new brothers have thorns I couldn’t see at first.

Where normal planes have seats all facing the cockpit, this one’s like a long living room Chris Martin and all of Coldplay would be kicking it in, each holding a glass of five thousand dollar Scotch.

Everything is gray and silver.

Three round, shiny tables with mirrored glass tops are bolted to the floor. By the front of the plane is a projection screen for a movie from what I’m imagining is an extensive library to rival AMC’s collection. Our luxurious chairs swivel, or lock into place, depending on what’s going on with the plane. Along one side is an elegant bar with dark tinted-glass, the shelves designed to hold bottles in place regardless of turbulence.

I stare at Jack’s back as he helps himself to a whiskey. Realizing there must be venom in my stare, I glance at Sean, and find him watching me.

No expression.

No sign of how he feels.

Dear God, what am I going to do with these two?

Jack plunks one ice cube into the glass and side-eyeballs me over his shoulder before taking a seat.

I sigh and meet his glare. “Couldn’t find a bigger plane?” Jenna looks like she wants to kick me under a table. “What? I’m just joking.” I take off my coat and lay it over the arm of my chair just as the pilot opens the door to the cockpit.

“We’re ready for takeoff, sir,” he says to Jack, though we’re all looking at him. Then he locks eyes with me with a curt tip of his head, the top of his pilot’s cap briefly becoming visible. Behind him, his co-pilot’s back is to us as he pushes a zillion little buttons and nobs.

There’s no way they know how to work all of those things.

That terrifying thought launches into my brain. Suddenly, I’m positive we’re all going to go down in flames. My hands clutch the armrests and I sit very straight.

“Great. Let’s go,” Jack says casually, as if we’re not about to die a horrible death. He glances to me and knits his eyebrows. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing. I’m fine. What? Don’t I look fine?”

“No. But that’s normal.”

“Shut up, Jack,” I mutter, buckling my seatbelt too tightly. It’s got a silver, fuzzy cozy on it, and I look at it, and then to Sean, feeling the fire boil in my blood again. “Why does the pilot talk to Jack over you? Is it because Jack might punch him if he doesn’t get the respect he thinks he deserves… but doesn’t?”

Sean’s eyes don’t even twitch. He just watches me.

Jenna buckles herself in, mumbling, “Rue, you’re really enjoying stirring things up tonight.”

I ignore her, still staring at Sean. He inhales deeply, like answering this question is the last thing he wants to do. “Jack hired him. He sees him more as the boss.”

“Well, that’s a joke,” I say, rolling my eyes.

“You know what’s a joke?” Jack growls, downing his whiskey and setting it on the round table near his leg.

Sean puts up his hands, but it’s Alec who speaks up first. “Okay. That’s enough. You guys are acting like kids.”

“They’re acting like brother and sister,” Sean says, evenly.

Both Jack and I snort at the same time, and glare at each other.

I cut my chin cockeyed and raise my eyebrows. “I guess I’m just thinking about the pilot and the driver and the waiter all having to do what the great Jack says, and that makes you…” I point at him. “…think that I have to do as you say, too. I’ve been living on my own for a long time. And yet here I am, carted back to the West Coast as though you’re my keeper!” I lean forward, my eyes holding his as I slide in the knife. “All because you wanna run home to Momma.”

His jaw clenches and his lips tighten.

Sean drops both feet squarely on the floor, glancing to his brother for the eruption that’s about to come.

Alec sighs and gets out of his chair, walking to the bar, the tense air too much for him.

Jack and I are in yet another staring contest and I’m not letting the asshole win. His eyes glint green fury and after a moment of deciding how he’s going to make me pay, he pushes a button on his chair.

The pilot’s voice sounds through the intercom. “Yes, Mr. Stone?”

“Change of plans. We’re going to Ibiza.”

“What?!” Sean exclaims, grabbing the gray armrests.

I blink, surprised and wondering why this would be Jack’s penance.

Jenna asks, “Where is that? I forgot.”

Alec twists the cap on the bottle of Bookers before placing it back in its home. “It’s an island off the coast of Barcelona.”

The smile in his voice pulls my focus to his face and I meet his eyes with an excited look. From behind Sean and Jack’s back, he winks at me.

Jenna looks as excited as she did when we both got picked to dance in the Usher video. “Holy shit,” she mumbles. “Oh my God.”

I laugh and sit back in the seat, shaking my head. Spain? I’ve never been to Spain! I’ve never been to Europe at all.

“Jack, you really want to do this?” Sean’s leaning over to him.

Jack cuts his eyes to his brother and answers, “We’ve got the gas for the trip all ready to go. Do you have somewhere better to be?”

From the look in his eyes, he doesn’t. But for some reason, he’s not happy about the plan. Sean turns and asks my best friend, like maybe she’ll tip the scales, “Jenna, do you have anywhere you need to be?”

Jenna blinks like someone just threw something in her face. She laughs, unlocking her chair and swiveling around in a circle. “Um, YEAH!!! I need to be in Ibiza!!”