"But you said--"
"I lied," she interrupts.
Gary growls, furious. "Don't bother showing up tomorrow."
Nina doesn't flinch.
Before any of us can react, Gary is in the car, reversing with the gas pedal pressed to the floor. Joey jumps out of the way to avoid getting clipped. Shifting to drive, Gary tears off down the street, covering us in a spray of gravel.
Waving my hand to clear the dust storm, I watch the taillights disappear in disbelief. "What the hell?! My bag's in his car."
Which means my house keys are too. I reach into my open jacket pocket, relieved to find I still have my phone and switchblade.
"I can't believe he just left us here." Tori has her hands on her hips. Looking around the dark, deserted road, she asks, "Where are we?"
"I think we're still a few miles away." Lincoln lifts his hand as if to touch her back, then stops himself and lowers it.
"There's no way I'm walking in these," she says, gesturing to her knee-high boots. She whips around and points a bladed nail at Vic. "Why do you have to be such an asshole? I swear--"
"What? She's the one who held the gun to my head." Vic jerks his chin aggressively toward Nina. "I didn't do anything wrong."
"Except have a gun to begin with!" Tori screams, her curls flailing.
"I brought it for protection," Vic argues.
"From us? You're fucking unbelievable."
Nina wraps an arm around Tori's shoulders, coaxing her away before it can escalate further. I turn my back to them, needing to escape the drama.
"You okay?" Joey asks, coming up beside me.
"Not even a little," I reply, taking a few steps toward the edge of the road.
He slips his arm around my waist, easing my back against him to shield me from everyone behind us. Tucking his thumb into the top of my shorts, he rests his chin on the top of my head. "Let's work on that. What do you think?"
I laugh lightly. "Go for it. Anything you can do to make this night better, I'm in." But I already feel better leaning into him. I'm convinced I could block out bombs going off--all he has to do is touch me and whisper in my ear.
I'm suddenly spun around, Joey's hands firmly gripping my hips. As aggressive as the move was, his lips don't crash down on mine. Instead they tease, barely touch. I'm breathless. I grab him by the back of the neck to pull him into me.
"Joey, give your brother a call. Maybe he can send someone to pick us up."
Yup. We're still not alone.
I ease away, my breath caught in my chest. I look around to find everyone staring at us.
Tori tilts her head to the side, not amused. "Stop groping her and get us a ride."
"There isn't a signal at The Point," Joey tells them.
Lincoln releases a heavy breath. "Shit, that's right."
"So what do we do?" I ask. I turn at the sound of a car approaching.
"Screw this," Tori says, striding out past the white line and halfway into the lane with her hip thrust out.
The headlights illuminate her fitted black shorts and sheer top over a hot-pink bra. She waves her arms in the air. They're either going to hit her or ...
They swerve, missing her, and then slow to a stop along the side of the road.