Page 42 of Fastlander Fallen

“Fuck, Corey. I don’t know what I’m doing.” He leaned down and paused an inch away from her lips, waiting.

For what? For her?

He’d been open with what he did and didn’t want. He had told her she was a friend. Right? So why did she want to kiss him so badly?

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair! He was a boy who toyed with girls’ emotions.

She shoved him back. “Kiss me when it means something to you, Ace. I’m not an easy girl, and I don’t need you.”

She walked to the exit and pushed the swinging door open. Owen was waiting outside. “What?” she asked testily.

“Waiting to see if you need a ride back.”

“You’ve been drinking, fuck off,” Ace growled from behind her.

“Ask her who she wants to go with!” Owen yelled.

“Oh, we’re going to play the whose dick’s bigger game?” she belted at them. “You can give Gunner a ride home. I’m riding with Hallie.”

She made her way to Gunner’s motorcycle, where he was waiting with a helmet for her. Hallie was already on the bike, waiting.

“She can ride?” Ace asked.

“She’s fine,” Gunner murmured, but even Corey didn’t miss the growl in his tone.

He handed Corey the helmet. She pulled it on, and didn’t even bother to fasten it before she climbed on the back of Gunner’s motorcycle and wrapped her arms around her cousin.

She watched Owen and Ace track their exit, but she didn’t care. Stupid boys—both fighting over a prize they didn’t even want.

Hallie rode slower than Ace, but that was okay. She was proud of her cousin for learning to ride such a heavy bike, and she did well.

She heard an engine behind them, and she turned to see Ace riding slightly behind them, followed by a few cars behind him.

When they got to Winding Creek Way, Hallie split off toward Corey’s cabin while the others picked their way up the gravel road toward 1010 Winding Creek Way, where their temporary housing would be set up for the next few days while Crew-applicant decisions were made.

Corey watched Ace split off at the fork. He had his helmet on, but he turned toward her and gave a nod before he disappeared into the trees. A hollow feeling took over her middle, and she closed her eyes the rest of the way up the hill to her cabin to just feel the swirl of emotions in her middle.

“Boys are hard,” Hallie said as she cut the engine.

She thought she’d misheard her through the helmet, so Corey asked, “What?”

Hallie took her helmet off and put the kickstand down, waited for Corey to dismount. “I said boys are hard.”

“That’s what she said,” Corey teased half-heartedly.

“I saw what happened. I didn’t hear all of what was said, but I saw your face when Ace was talking to you outside. You like him, huh?”

Corey shrugged and put her helmet on the seat. “Doesn’t matter. I’m fine the way I am.”

Hallie studied her. “Want to do a slumber party?”

“What?” Corey asked hopefully.

“The boys will be fine without me around. Gunner has his hands full getting them settled into their tents. Want me to spend the night?”

“Yes!” Corey exclaimed. “Hell yeah.”

Okay! Neither one of them had work tomorrow morning, so this could work!

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