The Enemy - Kelsey Clayton Page 0,27

forward and shoves her finger into my bare chest. “I swear to God, Cade. I'm not playing this shit with you. Stay away from my boyfriend.”

I look down at where she's touching me, feeling the fire that's radiating from her touch. I glance up to find her blatantly checking me out, like she's finally realized I'm in nothing but a pair of boxers. When her eyes meet mine, I smirk, and she snaps her hand back like it's injured. I can't help but notice the pink tint to her cheeks.

Unable to say another word, she turns around and walks out the door—leaving me to wonder why the burn of her touch is still there long after she's gone.

9

LENNON

Asher drives down the interstate and groans to himself when Tessa continues to whine like a child who missed her nap. I swear, if she asks if we're almost there yet one more time, I'm going to smack her. My feet rest on the center console, despite Colby complaining about not wanting them near his arm. I laughed at him, and he left them there. There aren't many times he's able to deny me, and I love that.

“Lennon,” Tessa says with a pout. “Stop reading your stupid book and entertain me.”

I glance up at her through my lashes. “You're seriously like a five-year-old.”

Her jaw drops. “Asher, Lennon called me a five-year-old!”

He snorts in response. “That was generous of her. I would have said three.”

She crosses her arms over her chest and pokes her lip out. Tessa never does well with long car rides, which is the main reason none of us wanted to let her drive. She'd be going 100 miles per hour just to get there quicker. Colby turns around in the passenger seat and sticks his tongue out at her. Now I know what Asher means when he calls them immature. Put the two of them together, it's like being back in elementary school.

“I'm going to die of boredom,” Tessa presses. “Colby, switch seats with me.”

“How would that solve anything?”

She shrugs. “Because at least then I can blow Asher while he's driving.”

The water Colby was pouring into his mouth sprays out and all over the dashboard. Asher sighs heavily and punches his best friend in the arm, though I can see the amusement on his face through the rearview mirror.

“Oh, come on,” Colby complains. “You can't possibly blame me for that.”

Asher chuckles. “Yes, I can. You should have expected it.”

He thinks for a second, and then nods. “Touché.”

Tess looks utterly satisfied with herself. I smile and shake my head. Asher is right; she's always been bold. Beating around the bush has never been her style. She just goes in for the kill and hopes for the best. I turn off my e-reader and slip it into my purse on the floor.

“All right, you win,” I tell her.

She cheers triumphantly and turns so she's lying with her head in my lap. “At least you love me.”

“Ay!” The protest comes from the front seat, but Tessa only laughs.

“I'm glad you decided to ride with us,” she murmurs. “I thought for sure you were going to go with Kellan.”

It was an option, and one I thought I'd choose, especially after that fight with Cade. I hated seeing him all beat up like that. I even tried to get my dad to rescind his offer for Cade to join us in Malibu, but he wasn't having it. Let's just hope they keep their hands to themselves while we're there.

“I thought about it, but he promised Skye he'd bring her with him. I love that girl, but I'd rather eat glass than be stuck in a car with her for six hours.”

Tessa quirks a brow. “Why didn't she go with Charleigh?”

“Because Charleigh isn't coming until tomorrow,” I answer. “Her, Tanner, and Oakley are leaving at like two in the morning so they'll get there in the morning.”

She doesn't sound convinced, but drops the subject anyway. I don't even mention the argument it caused when I told Kellan I was riding with Tessa instead. He insisted I only chose this car because I'd rather spend six hours with Colby instead of him. His jealousy used to be cute, but there's only so many times I can explain that Colby and I are just friends.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE DRIVE, we stop for gas and so Princess Tessa over here can stretch her legs. She and Asher go into the store in search of snacks while Colby fills up the