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Bryn’s head. “You’re such an ass.”
    “Yeah, really. What are you compensating for?” Veta asked.
    “Guess you’ll never know.” Bryn tossed the lid at her.
    She caught it before impact and clenched her fist. “Thank God for that.” Her eyes softened when they fell on me. “I’m hungry. We should give Jasmine a C-Side initiation.”
    “And if we pick Jasmine, we will,” Bryn said.
    Veta’s lips barely held back a smile. “It’ll give us a better idea of who we’re dealing with.”
    Bryn chuckled. “Fine, whatever.”
    “I’m sorry—are you guys a band or a cult?”
    “It’s just a little bonding thing we do every week.” Veta winked. “Don’t worry. You’ll love it.”
    I wasn’t so sure.

Chapter 4
     
    The sound of grinding chains and heartfelt screams warned me against taking another step. Seventy-five feet in the air and nothing but rickety beams of wood to keep me alive? Veta failed to tell me that the C-Side initiation was a death mission.
    “I think she’s scared,” Bryn said. “We might have to carry her on.”
    “What’s with the wide eyes, Goldilocks? It’s only one of the shortest roller coasters on the planet,” Veta said, tugging my arm.
    I tore my arm from her grasp and bumped right into Sean. His hands gripped my shoulders as the heels of my boots probably mangled his toes.
    “Sorry.”
    He pushed a lock of hair out of his eyes, and the setting sun ignited the yellow in his irises. “I’m getting used to it.”
    I backed away from him, nearly colliding with a woman pushing a baby stroller this time. The Boardwalk was a smorgasbord of boldly colored shirts and cheesy visors; crowds always made me dizzy.
    “I’ll sit this one out. That pizza didn’t agree with me.” I clutched my stomach and tried to look queasy, which wasn’t difficult with the scent of cotton candy and waffle fries dominating the air.
    Veta peered at me under a fan of mascara-caked eyelashes. “I smell bullshit.”
    I looked up at the red train of contorted faces zipping around the track. The wooden beams shivered with every twist and turn. “Isn’t this thing, like, a hundred years old?”
    “Pretty much,” Sean said. “And sometimes you can hear the wood crack just as you’re about to take that first plunge.”
    Before I could respond, Bryn scooped me up in his arms and threw me over his shoulder like a rag doll. I sucked in my breath and tried to squirm out of his grip, but he just held on tighter. We headed down a long, narrow hall toward the boarding area. The spicy tomato sauce from our dinner crept up my throat.
    “I think I’m going to puke,” I said.
    He lowered me to the ground as soon as we reached a line of people. “Don’t do it on me.”
    I sighed. Jason had tried to get me on a roller coaster numerous times, but I’d always bolt as soon as we came close to that cold, metal turnstile. I hated the way it counted people. Spin. Click . Spin. Click . That click seemed so final.
    As we reached the front of the line, Veta waved to a blond ride operator. “Bianca! Save the front car for me.”
    Bianca grinned and motioned for her to come over. Veta grabbed my hand, but I hung back, shaking my head. I didn’t want to be the first to take that plunge.
    “I’ll go,” Bryn said, taking Veta’s hand.
    I glanced back at Sean, regretting my decision to stay behind. Sure, the front would be freaky, but being alone with him was downright awkward.
    “You’re holding the line up.” Sean’s breath tickled my ear.
    I picked the first empty row I came to, figuring he’d ride in a separate car. But the heat of his skin stayed behind me. He smelled really good, like cedarwood and motor oil. Then again, I also loved the stench of gasoline. My olfactory system couldn’t be trusted.
    The next train pulled up, all squealing brakes and cranking metal. I balled my hands into fists and took a deep breath. “So, you’re going to ride with me?”
    A flushed-face couple exited the coaster