Bang (Blast Brothers #2) - Sabrina Stark Page 0,17

load up my two battered suitcases, along with a few boxes containing extra clothes, some of my favorite books, and other basic necessities.

Today was Sunday, which meant my youngest siblings – Carrie and Tanya, who were still in high school – were home today, and thus, able to gawk at Mason to their heart's content.

I couldn’t exactly blame them. Blast was the Home Network's number-one hit show of all time. With its killer ratings and wide appeal, it had made all three brothers famous.

My whole family loved the show, even my parents, who were not only supportive of my sudden career move, but viewed it as an excellent opportunity to bulk up my resume for next year's job search.

I saw what they meant. And yet, as I loaded up my things, next year seemed so very far away. At the moment, it was this year that was scaring the pants off me.

After a final round of hugs and goodbyes between me and my family, Mason and I were officially on the road.

I could hardly believe I was doing this.

But from the look on Mason's face, it was exactly what he'd expected all along. Ten minutes later, as we pulled out onto the highway, I gave Mason a long, sideways look.

He looked too smug by half.

In fact, he looked so smug that I couldn’t stop myself from saying, "Good thing I said yes, huh?"

With his gaze trained on the highway, he replied, "Meaning?"

"Well, if I didn't say yes, you'd have Livia in your passenger's seat. And she has a lot more luggage."

Sounding only mildly interested, he replied, "Does she?"

"Oh yeah. You'd probably need to rent a trailer or something."

I wasn't even lying. Livia and I had both gone to Michigan State. I'd roomed with her during my freshman year. She had a ton of stuff.

In the driver's seat, Mason said nothing in reply. But I swear, I saw the hint of a smile play across his lips. What that smile meant, I had no idea.

I decided to push the issue. "So you must be pretty relieved, huh?"

"No. Because I knew you'd say yes."

"Oh, so you think I'm that predictable, huh?"

"No. I think I'm that persuasive."

I almost rolled my eyes. "Well, someone's awful sure of himself." Even as the words left my mouth, I recalled the first time I'd said this to him. It had been just last night, when he'd told me flat-out that I'd be saying yes to his offer.

And I had.

How embarrassing was that?

When I gave Mason another glance, he looked doubly smug.

Well, this was just terrific.

I sank lower in my seat. "That doesn't prove anything, you know."

"It proves something," he said.

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"That you know a good thing when you see it."

I studied him from the corner of my eye. I did know a good thing when I saw it, but not the way he meant.

His hand was draped loose over the steering wheel, and he was leaning back in the driver's seat. Even so, the muscles in his forearms were a sight to behold as he navigated the next curve of the highway.

And now I was all distracted.

Desperate for a change of topic, I said, "So you stayed in town last night?"

"Well, I didn't drive back to Bayside if that's your other guess."

His sarcasm grated. Still, I pressed on. "I know. I talked to Arden. And I’m just curious. Why didn't you tell her – or even Brody – that you were coming to Petoskey to see me?"

"Because I didn't want you to know."

"Oh," I laughed. "So you didn't want her to warn me? Is that it?"

"Pretty much."

"But why?"

With a half shrug, he replied, "Call it the element of surprise."

"Or," I said, "we could call it an ambush."

"Call it whatever you want," he said. "You're here, aren't you?"

Terrific. Now his smugness grated. It was definitely time to turn the tables. "Oh, I'm here, alright, which means you owe me. Remember?"

"If you mean the bonus," he said, "it's already done."

I blinked. "You mean the tuition money?"

He flicked his head toward the passenger's side dashboard. "The check's in the glove compartment."

I glanced at the nearby compartment. "Seriously?"

"Look for yourself."

Feeling only slightly foolish, I did what he suggested. Sure enough, inside the glove compartment, I found a business check made out to me from Mason Blastoviak.

On the check, he'd used my full name – Camille Josephine O'Neal. But as far as the dollar amount, it wasn't quite accurate. I'd charged my tuition to my credit card. The amount had