‘Didja see the six-pack under all those bruises? And those arms … yum!’ She gives a little wiggle in her seat. I can’t decide what I hate more, that Rhi likes a Miller or that she likes Sam. Which only freaks me out more.

‘Are you going to go off about that whole Miller–Thomson thing too?’ Rhi asks. ‘This isn’t Romeo and Juliet. At some point we gotta get over this shit. Maybe us gettin married up would do it.’

I point an accusing finger. ‘Now I know ya fuckin with me, ya hate the idea of gettin married up.’

‘Not long term, but no harm in some fun, ay? Never keep a man round long, cuz, otherwise they get this idea they can tell ya what to do.’ She winks at me and I bite my tongue. It’s still sore from yesterday and it hurts enough to distract me from the feelings rolling through me. This is just too confusing for words.

I turn to face out the windshield. ‘You got a death wish, cuz.’

Rhi is a force of nature. Trying to change her mind is like screaming at the wind to stop. Once she gets something into her head you just have to let it play out, no matter what you think. I’ve been around to help pick up after a lot of those already and we’re only sixteen. Laney is usually the one who tries to talk her out of this stuff, not that it ever works.

I shake my head. If the Thomsons and the Millers don’t end up killing each other after this it will be a miracle. But who am I to judge? I’m the one that engineered everything. Rhi has stuck around like the loyal cousin she is, but she’s going to cop an epic load of shit for it.

I ignore the little voice inside me that says I’m upset about something else. ‘Okay. If that’s what ya want. But I’m tellin ya right now this is not a good idea.’

Rhi looks at me in surprise, then pouts. ‘Damn, I guess ya really don’t like him. What a waste, he’s freakin lovely. And I’d finally stop bein the drama-causin cousin.’

Frowning hard at her it finally clicks. ‘You troll.’ Laughing, I smack her on the shoulder. I’ll never admit she hit closer to home than she realises. This is going to the grave with me.

‘Come on, lil cuzzie, let’s go get wet.’ She wiggles both her eyebrows at me.

‘You’re disgustin.’