Page 44 of Come to Me

Unfortunately for Patrick, Mitch’s encouragement did little to motivate his vehicle. Patrick's 4-wheeler stalled halfway up the incline, teetering on the brink rolling back, front over back. Patrick had a moment to wonder if this was how he was going to die. Squashed underneath a 4-wheeler.

“Lean forward and gun it!”

“Heaven help me,” Patrick muttered as he did as instructed. With each lurch and stall,Patrick’s confidence waned, and with it, irritation grew. He came to Virginia to find peace away from his failures, not to experience more of it. But there was little he could do about it now. He was in the middle of thick woods with no idea how to get back to the resort. His only recourse was to keep going.

They reached a creek crossing, and Mitch and Logan zoomed through it, the water arcing around them. Patrick approached the creek with caution, slowing down as he considered all the possible ramifications of this not turning out well. His 4-wheeler hit the water not with a splash but a plop.

“You need to go faster, Andres,” Logan called from the other side. He said something to Mitch and they both laughed.

The heat of embarrassment crept up Patrick’s neck, along with more annoyance and a growing resentment. Was it possible he was encouraged to go along with this escapade as comedic relief? To make fun of the shiny New Yorker?

"Don't worry, man, we all had to learn,"Mitchcalled out, revving his engine and splashing through the water once more.Loganfollowed suit, his machine carving a path through the creek with ease.

Swallowing his pride,Patricktook a deep breath and gave it another try, his 4-wheeler lurching forward with more speed this time. He didn’t have the effortless grace of his companions, but he managed to cross and joined them as they sat idling.

“It rained last night so the bit up ahead is going to be muddy,” Mitch explained. “If you can, try to follow us.”

Patrick managed a smile, but it came out as a sigh. Logan went first, navigating around a wet boggy area without incident. Mitch followed and he too made it through. With intentions of following exactly what they did, Patrick drove through the mud, lurching to a stop and sinking into the mire.

Embarrassment mixed with frustration as he wrestled with the controls. The tires spun sending globs of mud behind him while the machine remained in place. Logan and Mitch laughed.

“Sorry, man. It’s a tough spot,” Logan said, not hiding his amusement.

Covered in splatters of dirt and with his dignity in tatters,Patrickgave up.

“Everyone gets stuck. It’s part of the fun,” Mitch said as he maneuvered his 4-wheeler to edge of the mud. “Here, hook this to the front and I’ll tow you out.” He tossed a line from a winch on his machine. Patrick trudged through the mud to hook the line on his four-wheeler. He never thought of himself as a prissy sort of man, but he was rethinking that as he slogged nearly knee deep in gloppy mud. It added to the mud sprayed over his body. He could only imagine the intimate places mud was seeping into.

Once free, they continued on to a meadow where they stopped, and Patrick hoped it meant that they’re adventure had come to an end. Unfortunately, it was just a rest spot. Logan handed out beers and kicked back against rock.

“Should you drink and drive?” Patrick couldn’t 4-wheel with all his wits. What would happen after a beer?

“It’s just one. Nothing like a cold brew in the middle of nature.”

What the hell? Why not? Patrick opened his bottle and guzzled down several gulps. Admittedly, it quenched his thirst. Patrick closed his eyes to enjoy the quiet of nature. That was why they were there, right? He enjoyed the hike with Michaela much more than getting caked with mud and risking life and limb four-wheeling.

“My sister says you’ve been helping Tate.” Logan interrupted Patrick’s quiet moment.

There was an edge to Logan’s voice that had Patrick worrying he had the same feelings about his interference as his parents.

“More like he’s helping me.” Which wasn’t a lie. Time with take was easy, calming. “Not only do I suck at 4-wheeling, but at skipping stones as well. Fishing, I’m so-so.”

Mitch laughed. “Sucking at 4-wheeling is as fun as being good at it.”

“Tate hasn’t been so surely.” Logan’s comment was a statement not a question.

“If he’s different it’s probably because he feels good about helping me.” Patrick remembered the boy’s statement about worrying he’d forget his mom but decided that was told in confidence. “He’s a good kid.”

“Of course he is,” Logan said defensively.

“He didn’t mean anything, Log,” Mitch cut in. “He’s reassuring you.”

Logan sniffed and looked away as he sipped his beer.

Patrick wondered how much longer this day was going to last. It wouldn’t be long before he wore out his welcome with Logan. If Mitch knew Patrick’s activities with Michaela, he might drive Patrick into another bog and leave him there for the bears and snakes.

Logan glanced over at Patrick. “You seem to be some sort of pet project for my sister.”

Patrick wasn’t sure what he meant, although he knew he didn’t like it. Was Michaela’s attention simply out of pity? Even the sex?

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