out on my bed, and change quickly into a pair of jeans, a bra, and a white t-shirt.
“No panties? I must remember that.”
I roll my eyes. “Why don’t you write it down?” I grumble, in a hurry to get out of the apartment.
“Be careful. That smart mouth knows what I’m capable of now.”
“This smart mouth also knows what she’s capable of.” I crawl to him on the bed and kiss his mouth deeply. Then I pat his chest. “Gotta go. See you later?”
Before I pull away he grabs my face gently. “You’re falling for me too.”
His statement catches me off guard.
“Say it, Rain. Don’t let me get in the way of this. I always get in my own way.”
Recovering, I nod. “I already fell, Kent. I’ve been waiting for you to catch up.”
“Go pick up your sister.”
The Jacksonville International Airport seems like a million miles away this afternoon. I race there, pulling up outside the terminal three hours late and driving slowly as I look for Becca. When I find her part of me considers driving past her and going home. She is seething. I can sense her anger all the way from inside of my car. When I pull up in front of her she looks up from her phone and rages. She’s sitting on her luggage wearing a black tank top that shows off all of her tattoos and a pair of cute ripped skinny jeans. Her black hair is in a messy bun and her skull earrings catch the sun.
I grin at her.
She glares at me.
I open my door and get out, running to my big sister. The moment she stands I jump and wrap my arms and legs around her. I inhale the smell of her perfume, a familiar combination of fruit and honey.
She hugs me back, her anger subsiding momentarily. “It’s so good to see you, Rain.”
“I know. I missed you big time.” I slide down and land on my feet, beaming at her. “Did you get a new tattoo?” I touch the blood red rose encasing her left arm, the silver thorns wrapping around her elbow. It’s beautiful. “Did you design it?”
“Why are you late?” she demands, in no mood for small talk. She takes her sunglasses off her head and puts them over her hazel eyes.
“I forgot to set my alarm and overslept.” She is in Mom Mode right now. “I’m sorry. Let’s go get something to eat and drink. My treat.”
“Better be your treat. I’m broke until next semester thanks to you.” She grabs her luggage and starts dragging it over to my trunk.
I hurry to unlock it for her. Together she and I lift the massive red and gold suitcase into the back of my car.
“How long are you staying?” I ask, slamming my trunk down.
She looks at me through her shades. “For at least a week. Lucky for you I don’t have any projects due.”
“You make it sound like I don’t want you here.” I frown at her, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You won’t once I get going. Why were you really late picking me up?”
“Let’s go eat, Rebecca,” I suggest again, using her full name for proper emphasis.
“Why are you so hungry, Raina? Have you been working up an appetite?”
To hide my smile I glare. “Listen, I haven’t seen my big sister in a long time and I miss her. I’d love to go get something to eat and have a few drinks with her. Is that such a bad thing to want?”
“Since when do you drink?”
She’s impossible! I open her door and wave my hand. “Get in the car, Rebecca.”
Rather pompously and slowly, every movement suggesting she’s doing it because she wants to and not because she has to, she gets into the car. I slam her door shut and walk around front, getting into the driver’s seat. When I pull away we’re trapped. She even locks the doors, probably sensing the similarities between the car and a prison cell. I am locked in the car with Rebecca O’Connor, and I’m absolutely terrified.
“What’s going on?” She takes her sunglasses off and hangs them from the collar on her tank top. “Why do you look like you got into a bar fight?”
I was waiting for her to mention my face. Some part of me had hoped she’d overlook it. “I got into a fight last night.”
She gasps. “A fight? With who?”
I pretend it takes a lot of concentration to switch lanes, subsequently taking a long time to answer