Page 79 of Shut Up and Drive

I steady my breath, and for the first time in our relationship, I don’t cower. “This. Time. You. Do,” I counter with fire from my belly. I shove his backpack into his chest, knocking him backward. I throw open the front door and toss his suitcase onto the grass.

“You’re pathetic. Get out.”

From the corner of my eye, I see that tiny red Fiat pull up alongside the house. Bash and Thane are sitting inside, wearing matching pairs of Bash’s Secret Service aviator sunglasses. Thane steps out of the car, and I laugh through my anger because he looks like a tough guy sitting down, but when he stands he has on a pink flamingo swimsuit. He keeps his focus on Bradley as he grabs the luggage from the lawn and tosses it in the trunk.

“Looks like your ride is here,” I say, pushing him out the door. “I never want to see you again.”

I watch from the porch as Brad puts his bag in the trunk and folds himself in half to get into the back seat of the Fiat. He looks at me timidly out the back window, and I wave with my middle finger as they drive away.

“I should’ve done this a long time ago,” I say with relief, and step back into the house.

The next message I send is to Veronica, telling her everything.

Chapter 33

IT MIGHT HURT

Sera

Dark clouds roll in overhead while I watch out the window for the guys to return. When Thane and Bash pull into the driveway an hour later, they’re laughing. I walk up to Bash’s passenger window and lean onto the frame.

“So, how did it go?”

Bash and Thane exchange a glance and smile. Thane leans over the middle console to look at me out the window. “Let’s just say that Brad won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“You’re not going to give me any details?”

“Nah. It’s better that you don’t know,” Bash says with a grin, and Thane pounds his fist.

I fold my arms. “Try again, boys. I need to know that justice was rightfully served.”

They glance at each other, and with a simultaneous nod, Bash begins.

“Well, first, I took his phone and deleted your information from it. Then I told him to never contact you again.”

“When he called our bluff, I told him all the ways I could remove him from this earth that wouldn’t show up on an autopsy. Then I looked him dead in the eyes and explained that I wasn’t afraid of going to jail because of that one time in Peru,” Thane finishes.

“What one time in Peru?” I ask.

Thane’s grin widens across his whole face. “There isn’t one. But Brad doesn’t know that.”

“But the way the color completely drained from his face said he got the message loud and clear,” Bash says with a laugh, and Thane joins in.

I shake my head in disbelief. But deep down, the gratitude that I have not one buttwoprotectors watching out for me swells.

They climb out of the car and Bash hugs me. “Quit picking douchebags, please. You’re going to get me fired from my job if I have to keep rescuing you.”

I push back and laugh. “Easier said than done, Big Brother. Have you seen the dating pool?”

“I sure have, but don’t be an idiot when there’s a good one right in front of your face.” He smacks Thane on the back and heads down the driveway. “I’m on dinner duty with Jamie tonight. See you at the fireworks!”

“If the weather holds!” I shout back.

The air between Thane and me shifts as soon as Bash walks away. I kick at a rock on the ground and search my brain for what to say. A whispered “Thank you” is all I manage.

“No problem,” Thane replies. “So, what was the final straw for you?”

“I’ve known for a long time that he wasn’t a great guy, Thane,” I admit with shame in my voice.