People are staring—they always do. Mia is the kind of beautiful that commands attention without even trying, but she doesn’t even notice. All of her attention is on me. Her smile is knowing, like she can read the secret written all over my skin.
Tori lags behind, her red hair catching in the sunlight like a warning flare. Isn’t that a law of nature? Some of the most poisonous creatures in the world have the most striking coloring—a red flag to those who risk getting too close.
“Oh shit,” Emmett mutters under his breath, grinning. “You didn’t tell me one of your friends is a redhead. Iloveredheads.”
“Slow your roll, Romeo,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him.
Ignoring me, he steps forward and grabs Tori’s suitcase. “Incredible hair. I wonder how pretty it’d look wrapped around my fist.”
My jaw drops, but Tori doesn’t blink. “In your fucking dreams.”
Emmett clutches his chest like he’s been physically wounded. “Aww, come on, baby. Don’t be like that.”
Tori gives him a flat stare—until he nods to her shirt, which readsNOT YOUR BABYin a bubblegum pink script.
“Yeah, no,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I don’t fuck men who lack basic reading comprehension.”
“Careful.” Emmett laughs. “Keep being mean to me like that and I might fall in love with you.”
She turns to me. “Jesus Christ. How have you survived here this long?”
I just shake my head and smile, tugging both her and Mia into a hug. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
Emmett tosses their bags into the truck bed and we pile inside. I hook up my phone to the Bluetooth, because there’s no universe where I’m enduring two more hours of Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson.
A text pops up at the top of my phone as I scroll for a song.
Vapid Dick <3
Can’t stop thinking about you. I want you again, every inch of you, riding my face until you’re crying my name.
You’ve ruined me, Sadie baby.
Heat flares up my neck. Mia leans forward on the center console and I quickly lock my screen. But I’m not fast enough.
“OH. MY. GOD.” She gasps, loud and theatrical. I wince. “Who is Vapid Dick?”
“I—it’snothing,” I stammer, shoving my phone deep into the glove box like it’s about to self-destruct.
Mia narrows her eyes. “Riding his face isnothing? You’re being weird. Spill.”
“Shut up. It’s not—”
“Wait,” Tori cuts in, tilting her head. “Is it that guy you’re seeing…Blaine?”
I whip around in my seat. “Lane?No. I told you guys that was over weeks ago.”
Mia groans dramatically, smacking Tori’s arm. “We literally swore to never to bring him up again. He’s like Voldemort.He who shall not be named.”
“Okay, sorry!” Tori holds up her hands. “Fuck me for asking.”
Mia leans forward again, resting her chin on the seatback, her grin sharp as a knife. “So…if it’s nothim, then whose face have you been riding,Sadie baby?” she teases.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
“Really? You know playing dumb doesn’t work with me.”
