Page 2 of Rebel Summer

Dax glanced in the rearview mirror. “I mean…there’s not a lot to do here.”

Things began slowly ticking into place.

“Is this golf cart stolen?!”

To my dismay, Dax laughed off my question.

“Let’s just say borrowed.”

“Stop right now, and let me out!” Panic surged inside me. I glanced down at the road, now a blur beneath my feet, and considered the physical damage if I were to jump.

“No can do, Books. He’ll catch up. Just hang on. I’ll outrun him in a sec.”

“If you get me in trouble, my dad will kill us both.”

“Hey, you got into this cart of your own free will.”

“I didn’t know it was stolen!” I smacked his arm with my purse.

Dax’s hand pressed on the top of my hair, pushing me down in my seat. “Get down, then. Your curly mop’s a dead giveaway.”

I smoothed down my hair, slinking further into my seat. He took a hard right, down a dark street just past the shops on the town square in the center of the island, causing me to slide against his body. For one blinding moment, it felt like we could be out on a date. An evening ride coming back from watching the sunset while I sweetly laid my head on his shoulder. I righted myself immediately. He was a criminal. Now was not the time to feel attraction.

“Where are we going?” I demanded.

There was a slight pause before he said, “Your house.”

My jaw dropped as he turned down my street.

“No! There’s a cop back there. I’m not a part of this!”

“Ever heard of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Ivy Brooks? It’s usually pretty normal for politicians.”

“Pull over right now!” I yelled, ignoring his crack about my dad.

“If I pull over, he’ll see you. If you start running, he’ll probably tackle you to the ground.”

I squeezed my hands on the handrail. “Dax, I hate your guts. It’s official.”

He nodded toward my garage. “Get ready to open the door.”

“I’m not letting you in.”

“Then I’ll be parked outside your house when he drives by. You’re an accomplice either way. If you hide us both, then you’re home free.”

His logic was flawed. I knew that, but still, my heart thundered inside my chest when the cart came to a roaring stop on my driveway. I flew from the seat, clutching my shoes in my hands, and stormed toward the doorway leading into the garage. Adrenaline coursing through my veins, I didn’t give myself time to think as I pounded on the garage door opener. Dax rolled inside, and I punched the button again. It closed, leaving us in complete darkness.

No more than thirty seconds later, flashing lights lit up the garage, giving me a chance to find my bearings and to see that Dax was now out of the golf cart and striding toward the small windows at the tops of our garage doors.

He found my dad’s stepladder and used the extra height to peer out the window.

“Is he coming?” I whispered frantically, making my way closer to him in the dark. If I were caught harboring a fugitive, I would be disowned.

Dax watched out the window for another long moment before he said, “Nah. He’s just turning around.”

I let out a breath before saying, “I’m going to kill you.”

“Where’s your sense of adventure?”

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