Page 2 of Shut Up and Drive

I refuse to let the fact that Thane has come home ruin my vacation.

I’ll avoid him. That’s what I’ll do.

I know we’ll be in the same lake house for ten whole days, and on the same flights to and from South Carolina, but if I close my eyes tight enough, and turn my headphones up loud enough, maybe he will fade from existence.

I climb from my car and let the door slam closed, locking it with the fob on my way across the lawn. Dad hates it when I cut across his perfectly manicured lawn, but it’s the quickest way to the front door. My success at avoiding Thane depends on it.

“Did you just lock your doors, Pigeon?” Thane laughs from behind me. “I’m pretty sure no one around here isgoing to steal Priscilla. She is the antithesis of status and clout.”

I freeze mid-step.

No. This isn’t happening already.

I need more time before I sink into the muddy brown eyes of Thane Donnelly: girding up my loins, sharpening my sword, fortifying the walls around my heart—you know,war prep.

But it’s too late for any of that. I’m caught unarmed and unprepared, and my whole plan to avoid him burns down around me. I sigh, turn slowly, and paste on my best smile.

“That goes for your bucket of rust over there as well,” I say through clenched teeth.

Thane laughs again, and I want to pour bleach into my ears to cleanse them of the sound.

So why do I want to simultaneously catch it in a jar to save for a rainy day?

“Ah, those locks haven’t worked for years. Don’t you remember that time we?—“

“Let me just stop you right there, big fella.”

Big fella? Who on Earth has taken over my brain?

The way Thane tilts his head in confusion shows he’s wondering the exact same thing. I double down, holding up my hand for emphasis.

“Memory Lane is closed.”

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go die now.

He flashes his irritatingly amazing smile at me and shakes his head. “Whatever you say, Boss,” he teases.

“I hate it when you call me ‘Boss.’ Why can’t you just call me Serafina like everyoneelse?”

“I’ve never called you by your full name, and I never will. Unless, of course, you’re being chased by a bear, or I’m inches from death and you’re the only one around to rescue me.” He walks a few long strides ahead to open my parents’ front door for me.

I stand there on the porch, arms folded, refusing to budge.

“Ladies first.” He gestures into the house with a hand-sweeping motion.

“I couldn’t possibly. I know exactly what will happen if I go in ahead of you.”

“Oh really? Enlighten me, then,” he challenges.

“You act all gentlemanly, I walk through the door thinking you’ve finally grown out of being the toad I grew up with, and you trip me on the way through. We’ve done that song and dance a hundred times,” I snarl.

“It’s been a few years. Maybe Ihaveoutgrown my toad-ness.”

“I doubt it. And I don’t trust you. You go first.”

“No.” He matches my stubborn stance, and I want to slap that gorgeous grin right off his face.

“Who left the door open?” my mom yells from in the kitchen. “You’ll let the flies in!”