Page 4 of Force of Nature

“I meant no disrespect,” said Zeb. His handsome smile seemed practiced now. “I was just thinking about what an exciting time this must be for you, Willow. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you.”

“Where do you go to school, Willow?” Duke asked.

My dad growled, “Don’t answer that.” His grip on my shoulders had tightened to the point of discomfort. He was a rubber band doomed to snap at any second.

Martin ambled toward the center of the pool on his knees, as though he intended to check out the bubbles. But the way he positioned himself, directly in my line of sight, told a different story. I couldn’t look up without seeing his sweaty reddened face staring back at me.

Disgust pinballed around my stomach.

“So young,” Duke said. “So many rites of passage lined up in front of you like dominoes, begging to be knocked down.”

Zeb and Ox laughed as if Duke had just told a hilarious joke. Nothing had changed about the men’s demeanor, but I sensed the pressure mounting beneath my father’s outward calm.

“It’s time to go, Willow.” My dad rose from the water, hauling me up alongside him. I winced as he seized my arm in a viselike grip.

“But we were just getting to know each other,” said Zeb.

My dad ignored his words. I nearly lost my footing trying to keep up with my dad as he steered me out of the pool on a roundabout path that wouldn’t bring us closer to the men.

As soon as we reached our bags, my dad wedged his feet into his boots without bothering to put on socks. He stuffed his clothing into a side pocket. I had just pulled on my hiking tights when he shoved my trail shoes into my hands.

“You can put your socks on later,” he rumbled. “We have to go now.”

The sense of urgency in his voice made my hands tremble. I fumbled with my laces. He sighed, dropping to one knee, and brushed my hands out of the way so he could tie my shoelaces himself.

“Dad, I’ve got it—”

“No, you don’t. If you did, they’d already be tied.”

“Now that’s adorable,” Duke shouted. “Does he wipe your ass for you, too, little Willow?”

Their laughter licked at my skin like flames threatening to burn me alive.

“Dad, please—”

“Ignore it,” he barked.

More laughter. More jeers.

I stood there like a little kid waiting for my dad to finish tying my shoes so I could go and play. As soon as he completed the final knot, I threw on my backpack and set off down the path that would lead us to the main trail.

“Watch out for those grizzlies,” Zeb taunted as we reached the trees.

“Don’t look back,” my dad growled. I suppressed a shiver, bristling at his commanding tone. The jagged edge to his voice had nearly rendered the sound unrecognizable. He’d never snapped at me like that before. Was he pissed at me? What for?

I wanted to kick the nearest hornet’s nest and direct the swarm to Mr. Bubbles. Everything had been perfect before those guys showed up. Now it was all ruined—the priceless memory I was meant to carry with me to college, something to look back on when I was alone in a strange city surrounded by strange people.

Those creepy assholes robbed me of that comfort and laughed about it.

Against Dad’s orders and my better judgment, I pivoted at the last second and raised my middle finger in a final fuck-you.

Chapter2

Erik

I wrappedmy fist around Willow’s small hand and dragged it out of sight.

“Stop fucking around,” I warned her. She took her hand back, hitting me with a look of righteous fury.

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