“A kiss for luck?” She leaned down in the window, managing to bump her ass against Manson at the same time. Okay, enough of this shit. I turned in my seat, about to tell her to fuck off —

The passenger door opened.

“Hey, Veronica, babe!” Jessica’s voice was dripping with so much fake sweetness it was practically syrup. She leaned over me from the passenger seat, waving her hand at Veronica before she gave Manson’s wrist a brief squeeze.

I didn’t know what exactly she was doing, but she’d staked her claim like a pro. I didn’t let anyone but the boys sit in this car, but fuck, I could make an exception. Jess could sit her ass on my goddamn face if she wanted.

Veronica’s lip curled as she took a small step back. “Oh, Jess, how nice to see you. Didn’t know you were back in town.” Her smile had become a grimace. If she were a cat, she would’ve been hissing. “I think the last time I saw you was…” She paused, with a little giggle. “It was in a video actually. From some Halloween party, I think? You were...well…” She let it hang. I glanced over at Jess, but she wasn’t even blushing. Not the slightest hint she was bothered at all.

Damn. That confidence made my jeans tighten.

“Move your ass, Veronica,” Manson said. “Unless you want your foot to get run over.”

Her eye twitched before she forced a smile back onto her face and turned away with a flick of her long hair over her shoulder. “Fine. Let’s get it started, shall we?” She sauntered forward, stopping and turning to face us once she stood even with the front of our cars. She didn’t look pleased as she lifted her arms and shouted, “Are we ready?”

There were cheers and shouts from the crowd. Alex revved his engine, and I adjusted my hands on the wheel, glancing over at Jessica right as she plugged in her seatbelt.

“You gonna move your ass too?” I said. I hit play on my phone and turned up the music, letting the heavy beat fill the cab.

“No.” She settled a little more comfortably in the seat. “I’m along for the ride.”

I shook my head in disbelief. What the hell had this night turned into? “Hear that, Manson? She’s along for the ride.”

“Better give her a good ride, then,” he said. “Turn up your AC. I think she’s feeling heated.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Manson. I’m fucking — fucking fine.” She hiccupped in the middle of her sentence. Poor girl was blitzed.

“Sure you are,” Manson said, giving me a wink. “We’re going to have a little talk soon about your drinking habits, Jess.”

“My drinking habits?” she sputtered. “The hell do you — Hey!” But Manson stepped back, waving at her with a smirk as he joined Jason and Vincent on the side of the road.

She was in for the ride of her life.