dash

“She knows,” Evie hisses as she steps in line behind me at airport security. “My mom knows.”

“What?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at her as my eyebrows quirk together. “Why the hell would you tell your mother?”

“I didn’t tell her! Are you insane?”

“Well, then how the hell did she find out?”

“Because she’s smarter than us, you idiot,” she spits out, setting her things onto the conveyer belt. “She heard you talking to Mason in the kitchen this morning and she figured it out. Why didn’t you turn your freaking light off?”

“I forgot!” I whisper defensively, taking a step forward before giving her an accusatory glare over my shoulder. “Besides, he never would have seen that light if you could stay quiet,” I shake my head. “Twelve years now I’ve been telling you to shut your mouth. If you’d listen to me just one time…”

“Oh, bite me,” she rolls her eyes. “No one told you to go all cirque de soleil at five o’clock in the morning.”

“Well, I damn sure didn’t hear you complaining about it,” I retort. “I swear to God, the one time you’re not bitching about something, you get us into this heap of shit.”

“Ma’am?” the security guard pulls at her attention, replacing her glare with an awkward smile.

“I’m sorry. I’m traveling with a moron.”

The guard stifles a smirk, but for the most part ignores her and moves us through the line quickly.

“Well, is she gonna tell Mason or what?” I ask, gathering my things beside her. “If she is, I need a heads up.”

“I don’t know,” she sighs. “She didn’t say much, just gave me the look,” she admits, shaking her head and swallowing hard. “Just… she’ll be fine. Let me handle her and you keep Mason busy, okay?”

“No problem there,” I agree immediately. “Trust me. The last thing I want to do is spend two hours alone with your mother immediately after she finds out I’ve been fucking her daughter.”

“She was pretty shocked,” she admits with a smirk. “I’m pretty sure she always thought it would be you and Mason.”

“You’re so stupid,” I chuckle. “I’m so sick of you.”

“I know, babe,” she sighs, hoisting her purse onto her shoulder and slips her sunglasses back on before spinning on her heels toward where Mason and Donna are waiting for us. “Seriously. Stay the hell away from my mother.”

evie

“We didn’t really get to hang out much this week,” Mason says as he looks down at me from our place in line, his brown eyes filled with regret.

“Yeah, I know,” I sigh, leaning my head on his shoulder. “I get it, though. You were busy.”

“Yeah, I was,” he nods. “But I still wanna hang with you this week before you go back.”

“Me, too,” I smile.

“Mason, you’re right. You and your sister haven’t had nearly enough time to catch up since she’s been home. I’m sure she’s got lots to talk to you about,” my mom offers sweetly, flashing me a smirk when my eyes go wide in panic. “Why don’t you trade seats with me once we board?”

“Are you sure?” he asks, the idea clearly one he already loves.

Normally I would, too. Right now, though, I’m freaking the hell out.

“Mason doesn’t want to sit with me,” I try, releasing a light chuckle. “Not when Dash is here. I’m sure he’d much rather hang out with his best friend, Mom…”

“Are you kidding me?” Mason says, looking down at me like I’ve lost my mind. “I can look at that ugly mug anytime,” he teases. “Mom, you sure you don’t mind?”

“Don’t be silly,” she waves him off, smiling wide at me before she glances up at Dash’s blank expression. “I’m happy to spend the flight talking with Dash.”

She playfully pats his cheek, but much harder than usual, making him flinch before biting his lip.

“Geez, mom!” Mason laughs while I clamp my hand over my mouth, stifling my own reaction. “Beat the hell out of him, why don’t you?”

“Oh, he’s fine,” she replies dryly before beaming up at him. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he nods, rubbing his jaw as he reaches for her bag. “Here. Why don’t you let me take that for you, Donna?”

“Thank you, sweetheart,” she replies, her saccharin sweet tone short as she steps forward in the line, passing her ticket to the agent.

Mason ushers me forward, my eyes meeting Dash’s for a moment. His face is expressionless, but in his eyes, I can see his anxiety. As his gaze reaches mine, though, it quickly shifts to annoyance.

“Are you okay?” I mouth, handing my ticket to the agent as he steps in behind me.

“Yep,” he says, his low voice matching mine as he flexes his jaw. “I think I just figured out who you got your right hook from.”

dash

Once Donna ushers both Evie and I into window seats, sealing our fates for the next two hours as she and Mason block us in, I release a long sigh and settle in for the ass reaming.

I’d always assumed if Evie and I were ever found out, I’d be the one answering for it. Evie was good at handling her shit when it came to school and responsibilities, but she’d always found a way to get out of sticky situations with her family, especially Mason.

Evie’s had Mason wrapped around her finger for years. No matter what she’d ever done, one little sad look from Evie and all would be forgiven. I knew at the end of the day if Mason ever found out, it would be my ass and mine alone on the line. He’d kick my ass six ways to Sunday, but he’d never even raise his voice to her.

Her mom’s a different story.

Since their father died when they were both young, Donna King was tougher than nails. She was one of the kindest people I’d ever had the pleasure of knowing, but if you fuck with her kids? All the pleasantries fly out the window and her claws come out with a vengeance.

She’d always treated me just like one of her own. Always included me in everything and made it a point to make sure I knew that losing my mother never meant I was alone in the world. She’d been damn good to me over the years, never whispering a harsh word to me once.

Less than two hours after finding out I’d been sleeping with her only daughter, she slapped me across the face in the middle of airport security and had me cornered on a metal capsule flying more than thirty thousand feet in the air.

I’ve been an adrenaline junkie since I was a teenager, but as she settles in beside me, her stone expression shifting into a wicked smile, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared shitless.

“Donna,” I start, my voice low as I adjust my seat and glance over toward where she’s settling in herself. “I can…”

“Dash, it’s a long flight, but we’ve got lots to discuss. I know after the night you’ve had, you’re probably beat,” she cuts me off, my cheeks blazing as she meets my gaze. “You just sit there and hush up, honey. I think it’s best if you let me do the talking.”