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is hard. He takes the cigarette from my mouth with a sharp little yank. “Relax, Jenessa,” he says. “You’re so tense. Did you think I was going to hit you or something?”
    Funny, that’s exactly what I thought. My heart is racing.
    â€œYou shouldn’t smoke. It’s bad for your health.” He holds the burning cigarette just out of reach.
    Now it’s my turn to laugh. His words are absurd. “Oh, and drinking and driving isn’t?” I say. It spills out before I can stop it. But I’m pissed that he scared me like that.
    Cody looks at me for a moment, then throws the cigarette onto the pavement. He ignores my question. “Put it out,” he says. His face is dark. “That shit’s toxic. I don’t want it stinking up my stage.”
    I can’t believe this. Stinking up his stage? Who does this guy think he is?
    I don’t like being pushed around. “I’ll go finish this somewhere else,” I say, bending down to pick up the smoke. “Where it won’t bother you.”
    He lowers his boot onto my hand. Gently.
    â€œI said, put it out .”
    The other guys are watching, shifting nervously. My face reddens with shame. But I don’t want to make him angrier.
    â€œOkay.” It comes out sounding weak. “ Okay ,” I say, louder. “Get off me.”
    He takes his foot off my hand. I stand up without looking at him. I step on the burning end and grind it out with my shoe. I want to say something nasty, something to put him in his place and tell him that I don’t like the way he’s treating me. But I can’t predict his reactions. He’s freaky. I don’t know what he’ll let go of—and what’ll flip him out.
    As soon as I’ve put the cigarette out, Cody’s all friendly again. I lean against the car beside him, and he puts his arm back around me.
    I’m sickened when I realize I feel relieved.
    A few minutes pass without us talking, and then he offers me another beer. I say no.
    â€œWhat do you mean, no ?” he asks.
    I’m careful to choose the right words. I don’t want to make it seem like I’m accusing him of anything. “I mean,” I say slowly, “if I drink any more, I won’t be able to drive.”
    â€œSure you will,” he says, moving to stand in front of me. “You’ll just go faster.” His tone is playful. He grins and slides his hands down to my butt.
    Wow.
    He’s not at all the same guy I saw a few minutes ago. He presses himself against me and nuzzles my neck.
    I can’t help it. I smile.
    Then he kisses me. It’s not like Dmitri’s kiss, not by a long shot, but I find my body responding to him of its own accord. I like feeling his hands around my hips, his rough stubble on my chin. No butterflies with this guy. Instead, my stomach sends out a warning signal.
    Danger.
    I ignore it. Give me the danger. I’ll take it. I’m no lightweight.
    Unbidden, the words pop into my brain.
    I bite my lip against sudden tears.
    I grab Cody’s butt and press into him. I pull him closer. He kisses me hard, liking my body language.
    But when he moves to put his hands under my shirt, something in my core shifts. I feel sick, nauseated.
    I put my hands over his to stop them. I think as fast as my beer-fuzzed brain will let me. I don’t want to offend or embarrass him, so I think about my words.
    â€œNot here,” I say, nodding toward the others. I fake a smile and punch him lightly on the chest to soften my message.
    I catch something in his eyes, and the signals in my gut go all weird. I don’t understand what I want. My heart is beating fast.
    I want him to kiss me again. I want to be stupid.
    Danger.
    I lean forward again, but he just laughs.
    â€œLet’s go.”
    â€œGo?” I parrot.
    â€œYeah, let’s race.”
    I blink. “What? Right now? I can’t drive like this.” If