Whirling around, my mouth dropped open in disbelief as I laid eyes on the monstrous red truck, still idling at the side of the road with a low rumble.
The tinted window on the passenger side began to roll down. Even before I saw his face, the weird tingly feeling in my stomach — anxiety, or dread, or hatred,notbutterflies — told me who was behind the wheel.
You have got to be shitting me.
Dom’s lips curled into a grin, a flash of brilliant white teeth set against the dark copper color of his beard.
Of fucking course.
I wanted to smack myself for not considering he’d be involved in tonight’s plans in some way, especially since the two of them seemed to get along pretty well, despite the usual sibling bickering.
I had half a mind to simply turn around, go back upstairs, and forget about this whole having fun thing. But I loathed the thought of Dom knowing he’d gotten to me, of him knowing he had an effect on me. I couldn’t allow it.
Indifference was key.
Steeling my spine, I strode towards that red monstrosity. I was about to seek refuge in the back seat, my hand already reaching for the handle when Ella’s voice rang out behind me.
“Hold up! Dom, did you take your gear out of the back?”
She slammed her hand down on the rear door, physically stopping me from climbing in.
“Umm, no,” he replied sheepishly. “Sorry, didn’t think of that.”
“Ugh, okay.” Ella turned her head to me. “There’s no way I’m going to make you sit back here with his shit taking up most of the space. You go and take the front seat.”
“No, that’s okay. I don’t mind.” I tried to open the door, but she was surprisingly strong, and unsurprisingly unimpressed by my glare.Go figure.
“Forget it. It probably reeks back there, too. I’m not doing that to you, just because my brother is an inconsiderate little shit.”
“I really don’t—”
“Passenger seat.” Dom’s voice rang out firmly from the driver’s seat, leaving no room for arguments.
I snapped my mouth shut with an audible clack, clenching my teeth.
A shower of tingles lit up my insides, an unwelcome reminder that my body was not as opposed to him , as the rest of me was. Not wanting to make a scene, I let out a disgruntled huff before shuffling to the passenger-side door.
Even though I was tall, it was still a bit of a climb up, and I pointedly ignored his gaze, which I felt burning into the side of my head. He waited until we were both safely buckled in, then pulled away from the curb and rolled the window back up on my side.
“Your hair looks too pretty to be messed up by the wind,” he said casually, as if his fucking sister wasn’t sitting in the back seat.
I glanced back at her over my shoulder, only to see that she was completely engrossed in some TikTok — judging by the viral sound I heard from behind me — not paying any attention to us in the slightest.
Dom turned the music up a little as we drove in silence, eyes fixed on the road ahead. The next song on the playlist started playing, and Ella suddenly popped her head through the gap between the seats, making me shriek with surprise again.
“Fucking hell! What is it with you and startling me today?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Dom’s shoulders shaking with silent laughter.Bastard.
“Whoops. My bad. Hey, Dom, turn it up please, I love this song.”
Ella pulled her head back again, and somehow, I didn’t think she was sorry at all. Dom obediently turned up the volume, and I finally recognized the song.
I slowly turned to face him, casting major side-eye his way.
“This your playlist?” I asked mockingly, brows raised.
“Sure is.” He bobbed his head from side to side to the beat of the music.
