Page 2 of Regaining Integrity

“Ihaveattempted to help you, and nothing worked. You’re on your own now.” Shutting down my emotions, my incessant and unwelcome warmth I have whenever he looks at me, even if he isn’t seeing me or when he talks, I put my focus back in front of me.

“Don’t be stuck up.” He pouts.

My back stiffens once more for an entirely different reason, and my jaw ticks. Whipping around, I set a hard glare on him. “It isn’t being stuck-up if you’re telling someone to do something for themselves. Get off that pedestal others put you on and do something for yourself other than hooking up with every girl who’ll spread her legs for you.”

I turn back just as Mrs. Wagstand comes back into the room, taking everyone but me by surprise as they rush to get back to work and hide their phones.

“I see another phone out, it’s mine for the rest of the week.” Her chair scrapes against the flooring as she sits at her desk in the back right-hand corner of the classroom. “I have your parents’ permission to do so.”

I smile to myself. I have a phone but never have it on in school. My mom wouldn’t care either way. I just don’t have anyone Ineedto talk to while I’m here. At school, my mind focuses on what I need to get done and learn from my teachers.

“Please.” I feel the heat of Chase’s body near my back. “I promise to pay attention.”

“Please, leave me alone,” I whisper over my shoulder without looking back.

“Mr. Thorne, could you please do your work and leave Miss Reece alone?”

The thud of his body sitting back in the desk chair expresses his defeat. As annoying as he is and as unwanted as his attention should be because of my math smarts, I don’t want his focus and hate myself a little when I blush at the thought of him seeing me as something more.

The bell rings seconds later, and I quickly put my folder, planner, notebook, textbook, and pencil back into my bag before I duck my head and rush out of the room. Ignoring everyone trying to rush out, I still feel Chase close behind me.

I hear the giggling of a girl and foolishly look back to see him instantly have a girl latch onto his side and walk off in the opposite direction. I keep my head ducked all the way to the science wing.

“Uh-oh, it looks like you had a Thorne encounter.” Head snapping up, I find my best friend, Lorelei Spencer, leaning against the door to our next class, books cradled in her hands and a terse look on her face.

“Shh.” Hushing her, I don’t stop to say a word. This can wait until after school when no one is around to hear.

After all, I’m just the hyper focused sophomore no one will never truly notice.

Chapter One

Chase

Ten Years Later

Stepping off the smaller plane I boarded in Denver to bring me to Missoula, Montana, I take a deep inhale of the fresh air that only the Western mountain states can supply. It feels fucking incredible to bring some refreshing air into my lungs that isn’t dry as fuck.

Don’t get me wrong, Montana has dry air, but it’s rare this time of year as the summer heat begins to fade. Fall is in the air; the smell of dead and decaying leaves, the damp texture in the air that comes right before the winter snows, and of course, a smell those who have hunted before can feel.

That’s right, hunting season is in the air, and I’m glad to be home in time to pick up a leftover tag. I haven’t hunted in years, and I miss the taste of deer I’ll bring home to process myself.

Chase Thorne is back, bitches.

I’ve been home on leave and visited plenty of times. When my older brother got married, I was here. When my nephew was born, I got to come home and meet him as well. I was even back home in Centennial for the wedding a long time in the making between Patience and Duke.

Unlike the rest of the fuckers I call friends, I’m the only one who comes home for visits, but I’m home for good now.

Being close to home, the place I made my old stomping grounds with my friends, feels freeing. No more Army, no more being a staff sergeant, no more having others looking at me for advice and leadership, and to guide them back home safely.

Yeah, me, the one who could never take a single day of his life seriously. I managed to get to a rank where other lives were in my care, and I was in charge of shaping, molding, and advising young men and women coming into the United States Army.

It was no joke, either.

It was hard for everyone who knew me well to believe it, but I took my job seriously. Not now, though. I’m ready to cut loose and have fun again while helping take over my family’s ranch with my brother.

Grabbing my bag from the single flight attendant, I walk toward the building where my family waits. I can’t wait to see them again and bug the shit out of Will, corrupt Ridge while I get on my mom and sister-in-law’s nerves for teaching him the tricks I used to pull, and work hard for my dad.

“I’m back, motherfuckers!” I grin broadly as every one of their joyful smiles falls from their faces and is replaced with an expression ranging from pure annoyance to disappointment.

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