“Nobody,” Tom says, which seems to be his favorite word tonight.“Just go, Candy.I’ll call you later.”
“Candy?”I can’t help but smile.“Your parents actually named you Candy?”
“It’s short for Candace,” she says with wounded dignity.
“Of course it is.”I turn back to Tom, whose Adam’s apple is bobbing like a fishing lure.“So, Tom.Care to go for a ride with us?”
“A ride?”The boy looks uneasy.“Ah.Can’t we just talk here?I have some friends coming…”
“No.My brothers and I want to take you for a little drive.We’ll get you back in time to meet your friends.Won’t we, Jake?”
Jake shrugs.“Depends.”
“Depends on what?”Tom chokes out.
“Are we doing this or what?”Nick shows up with a beer in hand, looking vaguely annoyed.
“Come on, Tom.”I’m out of my seat and forcing him out of his.Jake grabs his other arm as we drag him outside.
“Really, guys, is this necessary?I don’t like going for drives.I don’t even like cars.I get carsick.”
“It’s okay.”I shove him into the passenger seat as Nick opens the door.“If you throw up, I’ll send you the bill for the detailing.”
The others get in, and I make sure to lock the doors once I slide into my seat.Winking at a terrified Tom, I say, “Relax.We just want to talk.”
“T-that’s not as reassuring as it sounds.”He fumbles with his phone.“I’m going to—I should let Megan know I’m with you guys.”
I pluck his phone out of his hands and toss it to Jake, who pockets it without a word.“Now, why would you go and do that?”
I start the engine and immediately floor it, tearing out of the parking lot like we’re being chased by the cops.Tom’s hand shoots out to grab the door handle as we screech around the first corner.
“Jesus Christ!”he yelps as I take another turn without slowing down.“Slow down!”
“I’m a very safe driver,” I say cheerfully, running a red light and earning a chorus of honks from other cars.“Ask my brothers.”
“He’s terrible,” Jake says conversationally from behind us, his voice perfectly calm despite the fact that I just cut off a taxi.“Got his license suspended twice last year.”
“Twice?”Tom’s voice cracks as I weave between lanes like I’m playing Grand Theft Auto.
“Would’ve been three times, but Jake got me out of the last one.”I grin at Tom, who’s gone pale.“Perks of having a lawyer in the family.”
Behind us, I hear Nick open something—probably his beer—followed by the most obnoxiously loud slurping sound I’ve ever heard.I glance in the rearview mirror and nearly laugh out loud.Nick has found a straw somewhere and is making direct eye contact with Tom while slurping his beer like he’s trying to drain an ocean.
SLURP.SLURP.SLURP.
The sound fills the car, rhythmic and maddening.
“What the hell is that noise?”Tom twists around to look at Nick, who just keeps slurping without breaking eye contact.
“That’s just Nick,” I explain, taking a corner so sharp that Tom slides across his seat.“He’s the quiet one.”
SLURP.SLURP.SLURP.
“Can he stop?”Tom pleads.
“Can you stop cheating on our sister?”Jake asks mildly.
Tom whips back around.“I’m not—I wasn’t?—”
