“I don’t have the hots for her,” I say quickly. “I hate her.”
“That’s what they all say,” Easton teases, grinning stupidly at us.
Throwing my arm around my mom, I give her a half hug.
“I’m sorry. We’ll be safe though.” I glance at Riley, narrowing my eyes. “I’m driving, so that should make everyone feel better.”
His mouth hangs open. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Releasing my mom, I step forward and pull the door open and ignore him.
“Let’s go,” I mumble, not knowing why I’m so hell-bent on going.
Why does the thought of her sitting in that airport, all alone during a storm, make me feel like shit?
Why can’t I just let my little brother be her hero?
And the biggest question of all:Why do I have to step in?
Who fucking knows?
Riley is quiet in the passenger seat, just like he has been the entire ride. We should have been at the airport twenty-five minutes ago, but because of the terrible road conditions and low visibility, we’re not there yet.
He’s played on his phone, but Riley isn’t usually the type to be quiet, so I know something is wrong. And because I’m the asshole that I am, I can’t bring myself to just ask him what it is. But I’m not stupid. I know it has to do with Stella and me demanding to drive to get her.
“Can you just say whatever it is you need to and get it out now?” I finally blurt out. “The whole silent treatment is annoying me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says in a less than convincing tone.
But I know Riley, and he isn’t going to stop at that. He’ll spill his guts. That’s how he is.
“Why would it bother me that my control-freak big brother had to invite himself to come with me to pick up the girl I like, but also … didn’t even trust me to fucking drive?”
His words hurt to hear because he just admitted he likes her. I like her too. But unlike my little brother, I’m too much of a stubborn prick to just admit it out loud.
“I’ve had my license for four years longer than you have, Ry. I just thought it would be better if I drove.”
The truck slides a little on the snowy roads, but I straighten it out. My knuckles are fucking white from gripping the steering wheel so tightly, and once I have two passengers in here, I’ll no doubt be more stressed than I already am. I’m not worried about me losing control of my truck; I’m worried about someone else on the roads doing that and hitting us.
When the conditions are this terrible, I suppose one good thing is, there’s really no way for anyone to be driving fast. So, even if they did hit us, it would be low impact.
“Why were you so hell-bent on coming tonight?” Riley asks the question, and I don’t even know how to answer it.
Stella is a city girl. I’m a fisherman who only leaves Maine in the winter for a month or so. I like the quiet of my town while she thrives in the city that never sleeps. Even if I do like her, what would be the point of telling anyone? It would never work.
“I just …” I pause. “I didn’t want you on the road alone, I guess.”
He’s silent for a moment, but with his next words, I can almost hear his smirk. “That would be nice and all, if only it were true.” He sighs. “You like her too, huh?”
I chew my cheek awkwardly. Riley loves women. He loves flirting with them, loves dating them, and even though he’s had a lot of relationships, he’s that guy who somehow always ends things on good terms. Because how the fuck do you get mad at a guy like Ry?
Me? I used to sleep around a bit. I’ve had a few short-term girlfriends, but I can never stand anyone to stick around too long.
And I’ve never been the jealous kind.
Until now.
“I don’t know,” I mumble. “I can’t stand her most of the time. But every now and then …” I stop, feeling like a pathetic loser for what I’m even saying. “Not to mention, she came here to try to buy up our land. That land means everything to me.”
