“Yes, I’m aware.” It’s a fact that both scares and depresses me since we graduate next month too, and then we’ll all go our separate ways to college. I’m losing precious time with my best friends, and who knows what will happen once school starts?
She stares at my profile. “You can’t come by yourself and awkwardly fifth wheel us and Emi and Daphne.”
“What?” Awkwardly fifth wheel them? Is that what I do? Is that what I am?
Whatever she’s going to say is cut off as Emi slams on her brakes and I do the same, barely avoiding rear-ending her.
“Sorry,” I toss over my shoulder as they get choked by the automatic locking seat belts.
“I thought Emi knew where she was going,” Kalani grumbles, adjusting her seat belt so it fits comfortably again.
Emi turns to her immediate left, not bothering to signal, and starts down a tiny gravel road at a speed I guarantee will leave chips in the Corvette’s paint. I follow at a more reasonable pace, concerned about preserving the paint on my Mercedes. It’s used and not the newest model, but it’s still gorgeous and mine. I’ve been working every summer since I was thirteen—and now all year round—and since my parents volunteered to pay for half of whatever car I chose, I went big.
The road, if it can even be called that, is barely big enough to fit one vehicle, and tree branches slap at my car as we drive through. Every scrape makes me wince. As we drive further and further away from the already deserted main road and into what looks like a forest in the middle of nowhere, I seriously question why we let Emi convince us to go along with her surprise plan for the night. If it weren’t so bright outside, this could be the start of a slasher movie where the stupid teens travel to the middle of nowhere and get murdered. Actually, the cheery atmosphere probably wouldn’t stop a murderer. Plus, sunset isn’t too far away, maybe an hour or two.
“Mr. Nakayama is going to kill Emi.” Kalani smirks as Emi’s car fishtails before righting itself and continuing down the twisting path.
“Her dad can’t kill her if she does it first!” Emmett exclaims, ignoring Kalani’s lack of concern. “Can you call Daphne and tell her to yell at Emi to drive more responsibly?”
Kalani sighs, but before she can unlock her phone, Emi swings into a clearing and parks near some other cars. I pull in beside her and shut off the Mercedes, surveying the ten other cars scattered around the makeshift lot. Considering it’s a “secret spot,” there sure are a lot of other people here.
“How did Emi hear about this place again?” I ask as I step out of the car, my stiletto heels unstable on the muddy ground. “And why did she tell me to dress like this?”
In my tight red minidress and strappy stiletto heels, I’m entirely out of place; it looks like we’re about to hike, not attend one of Emi’s dad’s prestigious parties. I could never outrun a serial killer like this. I eye Kalani’s looser purple designer dress and sandals, and yeah, out of the two of us, I’d definitely be the chick that dies first.
Holding onto my open car door for support on the uneven ground, I survey the surrounding area. There’s a warm breeze blowing where we stand surrounded by greenery, making the entire area smell fresh and calming. There’s a distinct sound of water rushing somewhere in the distance, though I didn’t realize we were near the water. Kalani and Emmett look around from the other side of the car. Emi and Daphne still haven’t emerged from the Corvette.
“Hey, Princess!” calls a deep voice from behind me.
When I turn, my breath hitches as I make eye contact with a boy—no, a man. I don’t know, but he looks to be around my age and, Emmett aside, is the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen. From the way he’s leaning against the side of a gray car, muscled arms crossed against his chest and a smirk on his face, it’s clear he knows that. He’s shirtless, leaving his broad shoulders, tall, toned body, and smooth brown skin on display—and what a display it is.
“Are you lost?” he continues, his voice laced with amusement rather than concern. He pushes off the car and rakes his eyes down my frame, slowly, leisurely, making me shiver and fold my arms across my chest self-consciously.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Probably,” I confess, glaring at the Corvette, from which Emi has yet to emerge.
He chuckles, and so do the two other guys standing with him, but it sounds mocking. The guy’s eyebrow rises as his gaze jumps from me to my Mercedes and back to me in my skimpy little outfit. He shakes his head as if he’s found me lacking, and my jaw clenches.
“You’re clearly in the wrong place, Princess,” he states with finality, giving me one last once-over before turning with his friends and heading off through the forest.
I scoff at the dismissal in his tone, watching as they disappear through the foliage, and only then do I realize they’re all in swim shorts. His were pink, and he rocked them.
“Yeah, well,you’rein the wrong place!” I call after him, groaning at my stupid comeback.
Kalani snorts. “Smooth.”
“Whatever,” I grumble as Emifinallygets out of her car.
When we met up to drive here, no one got out of their cars, so this is the first time I’m seeing her, and she and Daphne are dressednothinglike the rest of us. Emi is wearing her leather jacket, like usual, but underneath it is a triangle bikini top and ripped jean shorts. Daphne is in a flowy white dress with a pink one-piece swimsuit visible underneath.
“What the hell are you guys wearing?” Emi asks us, and we all glare at her.
“You told us to dress like this!” Kalani exclaims. “I asked you if I should wear my purple dress and you said yeah! You should’ve just told us where we were going instead of keeping it a surprise.”
“No,” Emi says, “I swear I told you to wear your purplebikini.”
The tension in the air thickens like it has since the beginning of this year whenever Kalani and Emi are in the same vicinity. Kalani pulls out her phone. “In the group chat, you said, and I quote, ‘Daphne’s friends invited us to a secret spot where only the hottest, coolest people go. I’m hijacking our Friday night, but it’s a surprise.’ And when Carina asked you if she should wear her red dress, you said, ‘Yeah, red looks hot on you. Kalani, wear purple.’” Kalani gestures at the two of us. “And here we are.”
“Well, I must’ve misread the text,” Emi says, her shoulders tensing. “Sorry for wanting to keep it a surprise.”