Page 81 of The Bad Girl List

“Take the next right and park in the pull out on the left,” I say. “There’s a secret trail that leads to the back entrance of Skyview Villa.”

“You sure about this?” Thomas asks me. “You graduated high school, like, a long time ago. You sure the trail is still there?”

Before I can answer, Dom slaps her forehead in an exaggerated motion. “That’s right! There’s a trail. You told me to wear hiking boots.” Her eyes are wide when she looks up at me. “I’m wearing regular sneakers. What if I slip and fall off the mountain?”

“You’ll be fine,” Annika says. “We’re not hiking Half Dome.”

“Will I be fine?” Dom asks me.

She’s so cute I want to kiss her, but I don’t. “Yes, sneakers are fine.”

“Thank God,” she says loudly.

Everyone laughs. Minnie pulls over and parks on an unlit street. Luckily, the nearest house is a good fifty yards away, the lights barely visible through the trees. We pile out of the car, releasing yet another cloud of marijuana into the air.

“So where is this place that’s gonna help me cross number eight off my list?” Dom cries, flinging her arms wide and spinning in a circle against the car.

Annika and Minnie hiss for her to shut up, then all three of them collapse into a giggling circle.

“Ladies,” Thomas says, “I would like you to know that if you embark on this mission in your current state, there is a very good chance you will all end up naked in the town's drunk tank. And as long as I’m naked in the drunk tank with you, I have absolutely no problem with that.”

“We aren’t drunk, dummy,” Annika says. “We’re stoned. They don’t have tanks for that.”

Another round of giggles. I try not to notice how adorable Dom is when she’s stoned.

“You guys, we have to be quiet,” I say. “Come on, follow me. This is a secret entrance to the hiking trail. If anyone hears us, they’ll call the police, so be quiet.”

Feeling bold, I grab Dom’s hand. She gives me a glassy-eyed grin before plunging into the trees with me. The others fold in behind us.

CHAPTER 25

Skyview Villa

DOMINIQUE

I hadn’t thought about the wisdom of getting high before seeing Trevor again.

Turns out, it had been a brilliant move. Brilliant. All my worries about what I was going to say or how I would act went out the window in exchange for holding his hand. There’s no trace of any awkwardness between us now.

I’m not sure how long we wander around in the dark forest. Trevor gets us lost a few times, forcing us to backtrack at least twice. He refuses to let us use the lights on our phones because he doesn’t want anyone to see us.

Thomas gives him endless shit for every time we take a wrong turn, but Trevor ignores him and doggedly keeps us floundering around in the woods. Since he’s with me and holding my hand, I really couldn't care less about how long we bumble around in the dark.

Or at least, that’s what I think at first. But I’m starting to get cold. I’d been warm in the car and hadn’t thought to put on my jacket when we headed out into the woods for this crazy adventure. In nothing but a tank top and cargo pants, I’m already covered in goosebumps. The saran wrap around my middle crinkles as I move.

By the time we finally arrive at the fence that Trevor claims is the backside of Skyview Villa, I’m covered in a light sheen of sweat and even colder. My body is also buzzing with the knowledge that, very soon, I’m going to be naked in a pool with Trevor Moretti.

“This way.” Trevor beckons us along the side of a tall wooden fence. We stop when we reach an old redwood tree stump.

“This is the way in,” he whispers, patting the stump. “On the other side of the fence is an air conditioning unit. You can use it as a step to get down.”

Trevor goes first. When I scramble after him, he helps me down on the other side.

I find myself in an alleyway between the fence and a building. His hands around my waist linger there longer than strictly necessary. I take advantage of the moment to look up into his eyes, wondering if he’ll kiss me tonight.

He tightens his grip on my waist, crinkling the saran wrap beneath my clothes. “Dom–”

Whatever he’s about to say is cut short as Thomas hops up on the fence and scrambles over. Trevor gives me one last squeeze before releasing me.

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