“You’re awesome, but I think we’re better off as friends. And because I’m your friend, I don’t want to keep jerking you around or hurting you.”

His jaw tightens. “Dylan—”

“You’re gonna make some girl so happy one day.”

But that girl isn’t me.

His eyes narrow. “If that’s how you really feel, why the hell did you make me drive an hour out of my way tonight just so you could end things for good?” His face fills with outrage. “Why the fuck did you waste my time, Dylan?”

He has a right to be annoyed. “I’m sorry, I thought—”

A cold snicker cuts me off. “What? That we could paint each other’s nails and braid each other’s hair while we gossip?”

Now he’s just being obnoxious. “No—”

His mouth slams into mine so hard my teeth hurt. I slap at his chest, but he’s already pushing down the lever to my seat and climbing across the console.

No, no, no, no, no.

I bite his lip so hard I taste blood. “Get off me.”

He fists my ponytail, forcing me to look at him. “I tried to be nice and do right by you, but you kept teasing me.” I grimace when he licks the side of my face. “You know what I think? I think you like to be treated like a little slut—”

I knee him in the balls.

He falls forward and howls. “Jesus Christ. That fucking hurts.”

“Good.”

Reaching over, he opens the passenger door. “Get the fuck out of my car, you stupid bitch.” He pushes me when I don’t move quick enough. “Now!”

Gladly.

I climb out of his car and he zips out of the vacant marina.

As I look around, it sinks in that it’s after midnight and I’m stranded in the middle of west bubblefuck. Awesome.

The first person I call is Sawyer, but it goes straight to voicemail. Given she usually shuts her phone off when she’s at church or choir rehearsal, chances are she forgot to turn it back on. It wouldn’t be the first time.

I rub my hands on my jeans as I walk to one of the floating docks and sit down.

If I call my aunt, she’ll probably freak out and get my uncle involved.

Ugh. Oakley’s going to give me so much shit for this, but he’s my best option since Sawyer isn’t answering her phone.

Fortunately, he picks up after the second ring. “Yo.”

“Hey, are you busy right now?”

“Not really. Just smoking a little ganja.”

Surprise, surprise. “Oh, that’s cool. I…um. I was hoping you could do me a favor?”

I hear muffled voices in the background, but Oakley tells them to pipe down. “You don’t sound okay. What’s up?”

“I’m kind of stranded at the docks.”

“The docks?” he questions. “What docks?”

“At the marina in Richm—”

“What?” Oakley roars before I can finish my sentence. “What the fuck are you doing all the way out in Richmond? Do you know how dangerous it is there this time of night?”

No, but I’m really hoping I don’t find out. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m all alone then, huh?” I swallow hard. “I’m sorry I bothered you, I just didn’t have anyone else—”

“I’m on my way. Keep your phone close by and don’t talk to any strangers,” he says before hanging up.

Forty minutes later, I see the headlights of Oakley’s car as he speeds into the marina.

But upon closer inspection, I realize it’s not Oakley’s car.

It’s Jace’s.

Oakley is sitting in the passenger seat, and from looks of it, Cole is in the back.

Fuck. My. Life.

I’ve barely even started walking toward them when Oakley and Jace jump out, looking like they’re ready to pummel the shit out of someone.

“What happened?” Oakley yells. “Are you okay? Who did this to you?”

He can be so dramatic sometimes. “I’m fine.”

No way in hell am I telling Oakley a thing while Jace is here.

My eyes ping pong between my cousin and my nemesis. “I just really want to go home, okay?”

Grumbling, Oakley leads me to the backseat of Jace’s car.

Cole doesn’t say a word as I slink inside and I’m thankful for it.

Jace—as usual—pretends I don’t exist as he burns rubber out of the parking lot.

Oakley, however, talks enough for the both of them. “How did you get here?”

I pick at my cuticles. “One day my mommy and daddy—”

“I’m serious,” he mutters as Cole snorts. “There’s no way you just happened to go for a walk and end up in Richmond. Someone drove you.” Turning around, he glares at me. “I thought it was that punk-ass motherfucker, but you said you broke up with him at Jace’s birthday party.”

I really wish Oakley would learn to shut up and keep the things I tell him private. “I didn’t break up with him. We were never together.”

His eyes narrow. “I want a name.”

I smile sweetly and extend my hand. “My name’s Dylan. Pleasure to meet you.”

He looks at Jace. “Has she always been this much of a smart ass?”

Jace’s lips quirk. “Only when she’s nervous or hiding something.”

I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off but clamp it shut. If he doesn’t want to talk to me, I don’t want to talk to him. Two can play at this game.

Oakley pouts. “Why won’t you tell me?”

I wish he would stop drilling me. “Because it’s not a big deal.”

His mouth drops open. “Someone left you for dead and it’s not a big deal?”

“No one left me for dead, Oak.” I cross my arms. “Quit being such a drama queen.”

Cole laughs. “She—”

The sound of my phone ringing cuts him off.

I see Sawyer’s name flash across the screen and I press the green button. “H—”

Oakley swipes my phone and brings it to his ear.

I try to snatch it from him, but he motions for Cole to restrain me.

The jerk slides across the seat and sits on my lap.

“Hey, Sawyer. This is Oakley, Dylan’s cousin. Look, something very bad happened to her tonight and I need you to tell me everything you know. Starting with who she was with.”

He’s got to be kidding me. “Don’t tell him anything, Sawyer. I’m fine,” I yell.

“No, that’s not her,” Oakley says. “That’s my stepmom. Not only do they look alike, they sound alike too. Crazy, right? Anyway, I’m gonna need a name.”

“Stop talking, Sawyer,” I shout into Cole’s back. “Hang up the damn phone.”

“Romantic date?” he hums and I mutter a curse.

“Huh, that’s funny.” He looks at me. “I don’t find being stranded by yourself in the middle of the night very romantic, do you?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jace tense up.

Hypocrite much? Although Jace left me his car when he bounced, so it’s not exactly the same thing. Still fucked up, though.