Page 13 of Slick Trip

“Cooper.” He sounded dangerously close to how he had that night. I forced myself to remember—if there ever was anything between us, it had been destroyed.

I made myself sound small and vulnerable. “Please, Jon.” The plea slipped out too easily. Maybe it was weird to make myself sound like I was submitting over a bag of raisins, but I knew it would get to him. And I needed to win this round, because there weren’t many I’d ever won against Jon.

This time, his inhale was even sharper. He shoved the bag into my lap. “Don’t do that,” he said, his voice husky and strained.

“Do what?” I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs.

“You know exactly what.”

“But you told me to ask nicely.”

He turned his head away, his profile stony against the window. “Yeah,” he said. “I did.”

I leaned back slowly, trying to ignore the way my body practically vibrated. I wasn’t sure if I’d won or just made everything worse.

“Help yourself to my raisins,” I said sweetly.

“Thanks, but I brought my own snacks. They’re delightfully raisin-free.”

“Of course they are. All protein and no fun. Like you.”

I caught the twitch in his expression.

“Make fun of me all you want,” he said. “I like eating healthy.”

“I know.” I smirked. “You’re all about discipline.”

“Stop.”

“Never.”

We were silent for a few seconds before he spoke again. “I’m not hungry anyway. Did you forget breakfast?” The question made my eyes sting. It sounded too much like remembering. Like I mattered to him. He had no right to act like that. Not anymore.

“No, I didn’t forget breakfast,” I snapped. “Like you care,” I added under my breath. Instead of reacting, Jon chose to sit in the passenger seat like a poster boy for stoicism.

There was a strange, persistent pressure low in my stomach, a craving that chocolate raisins weren’t going to fix. It wasn’t hunger, exactly. I didn’t know what it was but it made me restless.

“Must be the excitement,” I snarked. “Being stuck in a car with you. I feel so very blessed.”

Jon muttered a curse. This was going to be a very, very long trip.

6

Fuck You

COOPER, 18, one year before the trip

Someone shoved past me with a drink sloshing over the rim, then decided to stop and chat. I ignored him as best I could, trying to get to the person I came to this party for. Jon. Even from across the room, I was aware of him. It was impossible not to be. He was standing near the kitchen doorway, watching me. Always looking, never touching. But just because he stayed back didn’t mean he wasn’t involved. No, he was very fucking involved.

Looking after his best friend’s little brother was what he called it.

Wanting me for himself and refusing to admit it was what I called it.

A silent warning flashed on his face as he stared down the guy who was talking to me. The guy backed off so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.

I rolled my eyes. Jon acted like nobody was allowed to breathe near me without his approval. Not only that, he also scared off every potential hookup. Not that I wanted to hook up with anyone who wasn’t Jon, but if he wanted me for himself, he should act on it and not traumatize innocent party people.

Anyway, I was done being managed from a distance.