Page 19 of Her Devils

My best friend has always been stubborn, though, so he continues complaining. “We’re a fucking skydiving team. I don’t understand why we aren’t flying to San Francisco.”

Kyle’s scolding was probably motivated by the attempt to avoid pissing off my mom even more than she already has been lately. Let’s face it, Darrius hasn’t been in her good graces in the past few weeks. The worst part is that he doesn’t even seem to realize it, because rather than flying under the radar—pun intended—he seems to be getting more vocal every day about his displeasure with how the team is being run.

As if on cue, Mom chides him. “The aircraft we use for the competition has already been flown there by our pilot, and we don’t have a plane big enough to fly all of us. It’s just a four-hour ride, and this bus is equipped with every amenity you can dream of. Wait until you see it.”

He doesn’t quit while he’s ahead, however, and continues to argue. “That’s because rather than flying there as a team, you decided to invitethemalong,” he retorts, throwing a furious glare to one side where Peyton, Channing, and Jameson stand next to Sarah and me.

But not every member of the Penn family hates the Cove Devils.

“Oh, come on, D!” Anna says, beaming and batting her eyelashes in Jameson’s direction as she climbs the first step onto the bus. “We’re one big, happy family now. There’s nothing wrong with fraternizing with our former enemies.” She looks inside then turns back to look at us before boarding. “Plus, this place is super cool!”

“Aww, Penn.” Channing chuckles, striding toward the bus with a shit-eating grin on his face and clapping Darrius on the back way harder than a friendly gesture would imply. “Listen to your big sis, dude! I promise the guys and I don’t have cooties, so you’re more than safe riding with us.”

He climbs on, never hearing the words Darrius mutters under his breath. “I’m not worried about cooties, but I’m not going to let my ass touch anyplace you sit just to make sure I don’t get an STD.”

That’s enough. He really needs to accept the status quo, or his position in the team might really be at risk. “Stop it!” I whisper, elbowing him in the side and immediately feeling guilty when he flinches, remembering the bruises he showed me the other night. “Just board the damn bus and worry about tomorrow’s jumps instead of bitching about the travel arrangements.”

Obviously I don’t have anything against the new “friendship” between Angels and Devils, but I want both teams to do well. After all, the Angels are still mypapà’slegacy.

Darrius shakes his head, still trying to get his temper under control, and begins climbing the three steps onto the bus, followed by Kiara.

“Don’t worry, bae,” she soothes loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Rachel and I have been stocking the bus’s pantry and fridge, and this place really is cool. It’s like one of those buses rock stars take on tour. It has a bedroom in the back with a queen-sized bed. Let’s get in there, and I’ll make you forget that we have unwanted company on board.”

Eww. I’m about to say something, I’m not even sure what, but Sarah beats me to it.

“Gross. I guess Darrius’s concern about catching something on that bus isn’t that far-fetched.” She smiles at me. “Len, let’s make sure we sit far away from that bedroom.”

Kiara turns with her hand already on the bar by the door and one stiletto-clad foot on the first step and flips us the bird.

I swear to God, I’d never noticed howclassymy former bestie could be.

“You’re just jealous because you don’t have anyone to hook up with on the way to San Francisco,” she snaps.

“I’m afraid that you don’t either, Kiara,” Mom says with an apologetic smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Someone has to follow the bus with the Range Rover. We need a car so we can move around more efficiently once we’re on site, as the bus will mostly be parked.”

It doesn’t take a fortune teller to predict Kiara’s reaction to Mom’s request. “What? Why me? I want to ride with the team! Why can’t Rachel drive the Rover? I’m important for the team’s morale and—”

“Right. With her on board, who needs groupies?” Sarah snickers in my ear, but I don’t say anything in response, focused on Mom’s reply.

“Our offices stay open on competition days, so Rachel is needed here at HQ to hold down the fort.”

“But this is so unfair! I want to stay on the bus withmy boyfriend.”

Mom’s voice is calm and almost soothing, like it used to be when we were younger and we fought over the same dolls. “Darling, you’re part of our admin team, and as such, you technically aren’t invited to travel with the team. Today is a normal working day for you, and I’m letting you tag along—onfull pay, may I add—because you’re dating our team captain, but the only way I can justify bringing you with us and leaving Rachel on her own is by having you pull your weight and do some actual work.”

Kiara’s biggest flaw has always been that she doesn’t know when a battle is lost and it’s time to cut her losses. It’s always been her downfall, even at school when she got in trouble with the teachers. I guess I had never really noticed before how that’s a trait that she and Darrius have in common.

“What about Lenley?” she argues. “She’s admin too! She isn’t dating anyone on the team, so why can’t she drive the car?”

Mom’s gaze hardens. “Lenley isn’t admin, Kiara. She’s in charge of social media and official press releases. She’s covering for our social media manager who’s on maternity leave, so as you can imagine, she’s needed on site during competitive events. I’m giving you the courtesy of explaining this to you because you’re a family friend and Darrius’s girlfriend, but I’m disappointed that you didn’t familiarize yourself with the company hierarchy during the six weeks you interned with us. Now, the keys are in the Rover, and we really need to leave if we want to get there in time for registration and the press conference.”

Kiara storms off toward the Range Rover, typing furiously on her phone—no doubt telling Darrius about the injustice of her situation.

Mom winks at me before boarding the bus, and I realize that she got Kiara to travel on her own for my benefit.

The bus really is everything that Kiara described. It has a kitchenette, a bathroom, and a living room area with a couple of booths and tables. There’s a gaming area with a flat screen TV and a couple of game consoles, and two separate sleeping areas with bunk beds in addition to the master suite, which has a private bathroom too.

Mom and Ken sit in a separate alcove that’s equipped as an office space, right behind the driver seat which is occupied by Kyle with Anna by his side in the front passenger seat.

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