Cadence held up the book, displaying the front cover.
Avery leaned forward to take a look. “Eh, never heard of it.”
“I know.”
“I read other stuff, Cadence. Okay? You know as well as I that I’m the smartest person in this car.”
“It’s not a car. It’s an SUV,” Dylan corrected.
“Dylan doesn’t like when I call his SUV a car,” Avery said to Cadence. “What difference does it make?”
Cadence shook her head and continued reading. It was her first official summer read, and she wished Avery would leave her alone. Exams ended a week ago, and they all decided to escape to the beach. She and Avery were exhausted from school. Mark needed a pick-me-up before his summer courses started. Dylan was sick of the people who visited his shop and walked out empty-handed.
Avery huffed. “Why are bitches always in the back?”
Mark laughed.
“Baby, you know I don’t treat you like a second-class citizen,” Dylan said. “I put you in the back because it’s the safest place to be.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Cadence! Pay attention to me! I’m bored.”
“Look out the window,” Cadence replied absently.
Avery snatched her book and tossed it in the trunk.
“Damnit, Avery!”
“Oh, get over it. They live happily ever after. That’s all you need to know,” she said.
“God, you’re such an annoying bitch right now.”
“If you two don’t cut it out back there . . .” Mark warned.
The girls giggled.
“What?” Avery said. “You gonna spank us like you did Cadence that one time?”
“AVERY! You weren’t supposed to tell!”
“You told her that?” Mark asked. He turned around and glared at Cadence.
“Dude, are we talking like sexy, playful spanking or you’re-really-in-trouble spanking?” Dylan asked.
Mark ignored him. He watched Cadence’s mouth move, forming the words, “I’m sorry.”
“The second one,” Avery said.
“Holy shit,” Dylan breathed. “Are you guys, like, into that whole BDSM stuff?”
“Oh my God,” Cadence replied. She turned to Avery. “I hate you right now.”
“What? I think it’s totally hot. I wish Dylan would spank me when I’m bad,” she said. And then she sighed, frustrated. “Somebody get me outta this car.”
“You?” Cadence replied. “Somebody get you out of the car? I don’t wanna be anywhere near you right now. How about somebody get me out of this car?! I can’t believe you told. You weren’t supposed to tell!”
“Do you tell Avery everything?” Mark asked. It wasn’t fear that permeated his voice. More like mild concern.
“She sure does. That’s what BFFs do,” Avery replied.
“Not anymore they don’t,” Cadence snapped.
“Oh, calm yourself down. You’re such a prude, Cadence. I mean, good grief. I would think that after your boyfriend bent you over the bed and wailed on your ass . . .” She couldn’t finish. She burst out laughing instead.
“Shut up, Avery!” Cadence cried.
“Dude, you bent her over the bed?” Dylan asked.
“How else do you spank someone?” Mark replied.
Avery gripped her stomach and doubled over.
“Everybody just shut up about my spanking!” Cadence screamed.
The front seat erupted with laughter. Avery wheezed, head tucked between her legs. Cadence sat with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Go on then,” she said sulkily. “Laugh it up. You know, I could barely sit the next day.”
Another burst of laughter. It drowned out DJ Shadow’s “Redeemed.” Cadence watched Avery, slightly alarmed. She heard people could die laughing, but come on. Really?
“Breathe!” she screamed at Avery.
“I . . .” She drew in a ragged breath. Cadence cringed at the sound. “I n-never told . . . you how f-fucking f-f-funny I . . . thought that was!”
“Whatever,” Cadence mumbled. “You acted all offended like you were mortified he did that to me. Like I’d been abused or something.”
Avery wiped her eyes and took another long breath. “I just did that for your benefit.”
Cadence rolled her eyes.
“You know you straight up deserved that shit,” Avery went on.
Mark was notably quiet in the front.
“Changing the subject now,” Cadence said.
“Fine. Just don’t be doing all that kinky shit at the condo. The walls are paper thin,” Avery replied.
They headed down Interstate 75 on their way to the Gulf Coast. Dylan’s parents owned a beach condo, and they nabbed it for the week.
“I still can’t believe your parents made us pay for it,” Avery grumbled.
“Hey. We’re adults, remember? Adults pay for stuff,” Dylan explained.
“But they’re your parents,” Avery pointed out.
“Yes. And they have a mortgage,” he countered.
Avery waved her hand dismissively. “Mortgage shmortgage.”
“What happened to grown-up Avery?” Cadence asked. “I thought you were all like, ‘Oh, look at my plans for the future and I’m saving all my pennies and—’”
“Fuck that,” Avery replied. “That was over the day I moved in with Dylan, and he wanted me to help pay rent.”
Cadence burst out laughing.
“You wanted a younger girl. You got her,” Avery said to Dylan.