Rye is trying to do some weird sign language thing toward Dale, but I have no idea what it’s supposed to mean. Finally, he makes a show of flapping his arms like a bird.
“Wren?” Dale asks around a chuckle. “Wren’s not coming. They were doing something with Angel tonight.”
Rye drops his head back, and I laugh to myself. He and Kode don’t like each other, and apparently he didn’t realize Wren wasn’t coming.
I look over just as a group of guys surround the girls, and my jaw ticks when I see one grabbing Ruby’s leather-clad ass. Brin is trying to disentangle herself from the grip of some guy, just like all the others.
Rye shoves at me, and I start to get up, but Maverick slides over the table and stops me.
“I’ll handle this. You assholes will get locked up,” he says around a laugh. “Dale, help me out.”
“I’m going to kick their asses. Move!” Rye… yells…?
All of us stop, turn, stare, and erupt into laughter, forgetting all about what else is going on as Rye’s eyes widen and he slams his hand over his mouth.
Tears form at the edges of my eyelids, and my side sears with pain from laughing too hard. Fucking hell. He really does sound like Minnie Mouse on helium. Brin wasn’t exaggerating.
Maverick falls off the edge of the platform, landing hard on his ass, but he never stops laughing. Rye glares at all of us, but he doesn’t bother speaking again. If that’s what you can call it.
Instead, he goes back to silently brooding as Dale hops off the platform, helping Maverick up so they can go get rid of the assholes crowding the girls. My eyes move over, but I notice Ruby is no longer dancing with them.
When I spot her, she’s handing the DJ money, and her eyes shift to meet mine. Before I can even get curious, the song shifts, and all the blood drains from my face as I hear Shake That Ass Bitch start playing.
Noooo… How did I forget that fucking long-standing dare?
As my horror spreads, Ruby’s lips turn up in a cat-who-ate-the-canary grin—ironically enough. Fuck my life. Maverick is never ever going to let me live this down. Neither will Kode. Or Dane. Or hell, not even Dale will let this shit go.
My eyes narrow on the dark-haired spawn of Satan, and she gives me a little wave.
I hate her.
With every amount of reluctance ever felt by one individual, I slowly stand, cursing the day she ever made that dare. I really shouldn’t have made her wear that damn cat suit.
Kode says something, probably asking what I’m doing, as I hop off the platform and head to the dance floor. My fists clench and unclench before I reach for the hem of my shirt and pull it over my head.
Whistles sound out, and a few girls lose their footing as their mouths fall open. Tossing my shirt at Ruby, I take a breath and prepare for the mockery that will ensue.
Ruby is already laughing, clutching her side like she can’t breathe as she catches my shirt with her other hand. I really, really, really hate her right now. She’s crazy if she doesn’t realize she just declared war.
As everyone’s attention lands on me, I squat a little, place my hands on my thighs… and I… fucking… twerk.
***
RUBY
“Why are you ordering wolf piss and ladybugs?” I ask Brin with an arched eyebrow.
“April Fool’s Day is coming up,” she answers, as though that explains it all.
You really can get anything on the Internet.
“Okay…”
“I suggest staying away from me for that day,” she goes on. “It’s going to be apocalyptic.”
She says it as though it doesn’t sound crazy.
“Right. So, what did you need my help with?”
She looks away from her computer screen as she completes her order, and she hands me three cans of spray paint.
“I need you to work your artist skills.”
“I’m not committing a crime,” I tell her quickly. “I stopped vandalizing shit in high school.”
I try handing it back, but she just laughs while pushing it back toward me.
“I just need you to paint a mural.”
“A mural with spray paint? Where?” I ask suspiciously while she does a really good impersonation of someone sweet and innocent.
“Rye’s garage wall.”
I shake my head while putting the cans down. “Hell no. I’m not getting in the middle of your prank war. In case you haven’t noticed, I currently have my own war on my hands.”
She sighs as though she’s disappointed, but I’m not about to cross Rye. I don’t want to wake up with a snake in my bed or something.
“Fine. Fine. I’ll think of something else.”
She runs her fingers over the cans, and I start trying to creep out of the house.
“At least give me a lift?” she asks hopefully. “If he sees my car, he’ll know something’s up.”