Page 20 of Switching Skates

Chet raises his hand hesitantly, and I can’t help but smirk.

“Yes, Chet?”

He purses his lips before giggling. “Yes, sir. I understand the orders. One question: how long have you been in love with your sister’s best friend?”

My eyes close in annoyance. “Shut the fuck up. Let’s go.”

Ignoring their schoolgirl laughter, I grab my phone from the holder on my dash and tuck my keys in my pocket before throwing my door open.

The cabin seems even bigger as we walk up to the entrance, climbing the few stairs to the porch. Music thumps inside, and I would worry about cops getting called by the neighbors but the next one isn’t for, like, a half mile down the lake.

This place is pretty isolated, which is good for tonight, but it makes me nervous that they’re so alone out here every night. Maybe I need to install some security cameras this weekend or something, for their well-being and mine.

Twisting the door handle open, I lead the way inside, finding too many jocks scattered about the big room.Great.

Chet rubs his hands together like a little fly and beelines it for the kitchen entrance across the room to get a drink. I knew he wasn’t going to be too much help.

Scanning the room, I search for that fiery-red hair, but I don’t spot it anywhere. I head toward the kitchen, where Chet disappeared, hoping to find one of the girls there.

He’s already talking some brunette up, and I roll my eyes at how fast he found a distraction from the mission tonight.

“Hey, Mase.” Ross taps my shoulder, and I turn to the right to face him. He’s holding his hand in the air, pointing to thetwinkle-light-decorated porch out back. “Does that count as too handsy?”

My gaze tracks his direction, and my blood runs cold. “What the fuck?!”

I’m moving, speed-walking, jogging, running until I burst out into the night air, boiling rage consuming me.

“Get off me!” Maeve whines.

I’m two feet from rescuing her when she grabs his shoulders and drives her knees between his legs.

He stumbles backward, crying out, and I catch him by the back of his neck.

Digging my fingers into his skin, I tear him off of my sister, turning him to face me. His eyes widen, fear taking over his features as he holds his hands up. I have tunnel vision, tinted red.

“Whoa, whoa! Mason, I didn’t know she was your girl!”

I don’t recognize who this piece of shit is, but he clearly knows me.

I make a mental note that he’s wearing a Mammoths basketball shirt.

Staring down at him, I put my face in his. “Mysistertold you to get off of her.”

He nervously chuckles, holding his hands up at his sides. “Look, I’m sorry, man!”

In my peripheral vision, I see another guy approach Maeve, but she welcomes him with open arms, and he engulfs her.

If he wasn’t comforting her right now, I would have the back of his neck in my other hand, smashing the two guys together like rag dolls.

Turning to the new face, I growl, “Andyouare?”

He ignores me for a second, pulling back from Maeve, cupping her face, and looking down at her with kind eyes. “I’m guessing that’s the guy that wouldn’t leave you alone?”

She nods, clearly shaken up.

Maeve’s guy turns to me with an evil smile on his face. “Mason, right? Maeve’s brother?”

I nod sharply. “This really isn’t the time or place, dude.”