Page 28 of Force of Nature

“I don’t care if he becomes a millionaire. It won’t change anything. I don’t care about the money.”

“Says the girl who moved to L.A. to become an actress.” Thad throws me a disbelieving look.

“Because I love acting. I’d do it for free if it weren’t for needing money to live.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“I don’t care what you believe. You know my family and therefore probably have a really good idea of how I was raised. Why would you ever believe that I would choose my career or my future husband based on money?”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately? You don’t exactly fit in with the rest of your family.”

“What? Because I take pride in my appearance suddenly I’m a money hungry wench who cares about nothing else?” I can’t shake the irritation from my voice.

It’s like he’s purposely taking shots at me and yet I have no idea why.

“If the shoe fits.”

Even though he says it almost teasingly, it snaps the thread holding my temper at bay.

“You know what? Screw you. You don’t know a damn thing about me,” I bite, crossing my arms over my chest as I shift my body toward the passenger door.

“I know you’re easy as hell to make mad.” He chuckles to himself which only serves to piss me off more.

“Are you purposely trying to make me dislike you?” I say to the window.

“Depends. Is it working?” There’s still humor in his voice.

“What do you think?” I grind out, not willing to play into his hand further.

“Look,” he says after a long beat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I think that’s exactly what you meant to do,” I accuse, whipping my gaze toward him. “You wanna know what I think?” I don’t wait for him to answer before continuing, “I think you want me and this is your way of keeping me at arm’s length. Piss me off and insult me so you never run the risk of me getting too close.”

The statement is total bullshit. I don’t really think that’s what he’s doing. Or maybe I actually hit some sort of truth. I mean, it would explain why one minute he’s flirting with me and the next he’s stone cold. Why one day he volunteers to ride horses with me and the next three or four days he avoids me like the plague. It’s like he wants to be around me but once he is, he pushes me away.

“Got it all figured out, don’t ya?” He smirks, shaking his head.

“Damn right I do.”

I want to say more, to push the issue and find out if I really am onto something, but before I have the chance, Thad pulls the truck behind a long line of cars. They stretch along the whole side of the road–the party already in full swing. Several people are hanging back around the cars. A few are talking and drinking, while others are grabbing stuff to take down to the water.

When Thad shoves the truck in park and kills the engine I’m not sure if I want to jump out of the cab to escape the way he makes me feel or beg him to keep driving and take me somewhere where we can be alone and I can prove this wild theory I’ve suddenly concocted in my head.

Before I can even think to suggest the second option, I catch sight of Brylan making his way toward us. A wide smile on his face. I don’t even question how he knows it’s me. The truck is a dead giveaway.

He looks good–I’ll give him that much. Not nearly as good as Thad, but good enough that I’m forced to take notice. Dressed in jeans and a red ASU shirt, he looks every bit the popular jock he was in high school.

“You made it.” He steps up next to the passenger side of the truck and reaches for the door handle.

“Oh, it doesn’t work,” I quickly inform him, deciding to climb out of the open window rather than ask Thad to let me out. “You coming?” I look back through the window the instant my feet hit the ground.

Thad, who looks like he’s not quite sure what to think about me right now, nods once before quickly exiting the truck.

“Who’s this?” Brylan steps back when Thad crosses around the front of the truck and stops directly next to me.

“Brylan, this is Thad. Thad, Brylan. Thad’s a family friend,” I explain.

“Nice to meet you, Thad.” Brylan gives Thad a curt nod before his attention comes back to me. “Come on, let me get you a drink.”

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