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“Are we there yet?”
Xaden groans. This is the third time Ridoc's asked in the last five minutes. Why did his girlfriend have to get saddled with the most annoying squad in the quadrant? Couldn't she have been matched with someone cool? Someone like Bodhi or Garrick.
“Not yet, Ridoc,” Violet says, endlessly patient. It’s one of the many reasons Xaden loves her.
“How much longer?” Her friend whines.
“About two minutes less than the last time you asked,” Xaden grumbles.
“What was that, Riorson?”
Xaden glances in the rearview mirror to see Rhiannon Matthias smirking up at him from the back seat where she sits wedged between Ridoc Gamlyn and Sawyer Henrrick. Xaden’s hands tighten on the steering wheel. His white-knuckled grip is the only thing keeping him from throwing one of these assholes out a window.
“I said it’s a nice day for the beach.”
“Uh-huh.”
Xaden tears his eyes away from the back seat. Because Garrick and Xaden are the only ones with cars, and because Xaden is dating Violet, he’s stuck driving the children instead of riding with his friends.
It’s a tight squeeze in his Sedan, a sleek dark blue Audi. The trunk is filled with their overnight back and floaties, which means that their beach bags are in the back seat. The cooler with their drinks and sandwiches is balanced on Sawyer’s lap.
The man’s legs keep jiggling up and down, jostling the ice and sloshing the water.
“I’m not the only one who’s bored. Sawyer’s all jittery.” Ridoc presses his face against the window. “I know! Let’s play a game.”
A groan comes from the other side of the back seat.
“Guys, I really have to pee.”
“I spy with my little eye something silver,” Ridoc says, ignoring Sawyer’s announcement.
“Can you hold it?” Violet asks. Xaden chances a glance at her, taking his eyes off the road. She’s turned around, looking at Sawyer in the backseat with concern. A car changes lanes and Xaden has to swerve to avoid it.
“Fuck,” Sawyer whimpers.
“Be careful, Xaden,” Violet scolds. “You need to keep your eyes on the road.”
“It’s in this car,” Ridoc hints.
“Shut up, Ridoc,” Rhiannon says. “No one cares what you spy.”
“We’re only forty-five minutes away,” Xaden says, irritation lacing his words. “You can hold it.”
“I can’t. I’m about to burst.”
“Can you just try, Sawyer?” Violet asks placatingly. She places her hand on Xaden’s thigh, rubbing gently to calm him down. Unfortunately, her touch excites another part of his body. A part that she’s getting dangerously close to. He’s going to have to immediately whisk her away to a secluded area when they get to the beach. Or a public changing room, whichever is closer.
“Then Ridoc has to take the cooler.” Sawyer shifts frantically, trying to slide the cooler across Rhiannon’s lap and onto Ridoc’s, but then they hit a bump and he starts to panic. “It’s pressing on my bladder.”
“Seriously, guys?” Ridoc’s voice is incredulous as he looks around the car. “No one has a guess for something silver.”
“It’s Violet’s fucking hair!” Xaden shouts. “It’s obviously her hair. What the fuck else would it be?”
Gods, Ridoc was so fucking annoying. Xaden could strangle him.
“Jeez, you don’t have to be so mean about it.” Ridoc goes back to looking out his window. “I’ll think of a harder one this time.”
“Please don’t,” Xaden and Sawyer groan simultaneously. Ridoc kicks Xaden’s seat in response.
“How about we play the silent game instead,” Violet suggests.
“This is so entertaining,” Rhiannon cackles. “I’m so glad you invited us to tag along, Xaden.”
There’s a high-pitched sob from the back right, and Xaden looks up to see Sawyer’s face turning red. A look of horror spreads across the man’s features. “Pull over. Right now.”