“PIPPA!” I scream, wiping mud from my helmet. I push down on the throttle of the ATV, racing after my best friend.
Her squeal of laughter rings through the air as I try to close in on her. She cuts through another mud pit to avoid me, knowing I won’t follow her into it. She loves to get filthy in the mud when we go riding, I don’t mind it, but I won’t do it on purpose either.
Cade’s friend, Brendan, pulls up next to me and we both come to a stop. He flips the visor up on his helmet. “Not going to follow her in?”
The ATV rumbles between my thighs as I shake my head at him. “If she wants to get dirty, that’s her choice. I’d prefer to not spend the next hour soaked and muddy as we get to the campsite.”
He laughs. His eyes focus on me a little too long, looking up and down my body. It feels good to be appreciated by him. It just feels better with Cade. “How about you and I veer off on our own trail?”
I’m quiet for a moment, content that he can’t see my face through the helmet as I think about his offer. Cade has barely looked at me since that incident in the kitchen a few hours ago. He pretty much pretended like I didn’t exist as we packed.
He’s giving all sorts of mixed signals, and the last thing I want to do on my birthday is spend the day trying to decipher every one of them. If he wants to act on it, he can do something about it. I wouldn’t even mind making the first move if he would even bother to look my way.
I stand up, stretching my legs out for a second. “Only if you can catch me,” I yell.
Before he can respond, I push down on the throttle and leave him staring behind me. I hear his ATV fire back up a few seconds later, but by the time it does I’ve already cut down a different path than the one the rest of the group took.
I know these trails like the back of my hand. I can find my way around the mountain just fine.
My T-shirt rides up in the wind as I navigate the terrain. It doesn’t take long for Brendan to pull up next to me. I like that he doesn’t try to pass me or pretend that he’s more familiar with this mountain than me. Brendan, Cade, and all their friends come out here sometimes, but I still know it better than any of them do. I like that Brendan’s not like other guys who have to be in control at all times; like Cade, who is a control freak. There’s no way his overprotective personality would’ve let me take the lead.
Once we reach an open stretch of land, I slow down before coming to a complete stop. Pulling off my helmet, I turn to find Brendan stopping next to me. He follows my lead, pulling his helmet off and showing off his clear blue eyes.
“You’re a wild one, Marigold Evans,” he says, hanging his helmet off the handlebar.
“Yeah?” I counter. “And why’s that?”
He tilts his head backward and his blond hair falls into his eyes. “Because I have guy friends who wouldn’t dare go through tight trees like that at the speed you did.”
I shrug. “I didn’t even realize how fast I was going.” It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to take it a little more easy to stay safe.
“That’s why I called you wild.”
He gets off his ATV and stops next to mine. His elbow rests on my handlebar. I love his body language. It feels good to have a clear picture of what he wants.
I pull on the hair in my ponytail. “Normally Pippa is called the wild one.”
His eyes flick to my lips. “Maybe she’s got some competition.”
When he leans in a little closer, I wonder if he’s going to kiss me. If he wants to, will I let him?
I’m not given the chance to make the decision.
The sound of an engine racing toward us catches our attention. I narrow my eyes on Cade. His T-shirt flips up in the wind, showing off his toned abdomen as he hauls ass right at us.
He jerks his handlebars to the side, narrowly missing crashing right into both Brendan and me. Mud sprays from his tires, coating both of us.
“Cade!” I scream.
“What the fuck, man,” Brendan says right after me, wiping mud from his cheeks.
Cade angrily rips his helmet off. His chest heaves up and down as he stares daggers at me. It’s like Brendan isn’t even here. It’s just Cade and me.
“Just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he grits out.
I angrily wipe mud from my eyes, wondering why the hell he’s mad when he’s the one who just barged in on my moment. “What am I doing?” I shriek. “What are you doing? You could’ve killed us!”
He scoffs, ripping his eyes from mine to look at his friend. “What are you thinking breaking away from the group like that?”
Brendan doesn’t seem fazed by his friend’s outburst. “I’m thinking that Mare is fully capable of handling things out here herself. I trusted her to know where she was going.”
“Something could’ve happened,” Cade bites.
Brendan looks at me, giving me a questioning look. He shrugs. “Something could happen whether we’re in the group or not. What’s your problem, Jennings?”
“Right now, you,” Cade fires back.
Oh my god, is he jealous?
I roll my eyes. “You’re overreacting. I’ve been out here alone with Pippa. Alone with you,” I say under my breath. If Brendan catches the added comment, he doesn’t say anything. “We’re fine. You can go now.”
“Oh, I’ll be going. So will you.”
“I’ve got her,” Brendan interjects.
Cade gives him a scathing look. His jaw clenches so hard I wonder if it hurts his teeth. They have to be grinding against one another. “Like hell you do. I’d love to see you try and find your way to the campsite from here.” He hooks a thumb over his shoulder. “Go for it.”
Brendan looks uneasily at me. He’s probably just as confused at Cade’s terrible mood like I am.
“Stop being a dick,” I scold. “You know he doesn’t know where to go. But I do, so we’re fine.”
Cade revs his engine for theatrics. This man is going to drive me fucking insane.
“We’ll all go,” he states. He holds eye contact with me for a few beats before he shoves his helmet back on, keeping his visor open so I can still see his eyes. “Let’s go.”
I decide to try and wait him out. Maybe he’ll take off angry and leave me and Brendan to it.
He does no such thing. We’re in a battle of wits, and poor Brendan is just a spectator.
“Now,” Cade snaps. The tone of his voice has Brendan leaving my side and getting back on his ATV.
I walk up to Cade’s ATV, leaning over it to bring my face close to his. “You had no right. We’ll talk about this later.”
He laughs. It’s dark and twisted, the sound doing funny things to me. “He has no right being alone with you.”
Rage courses through my body. “You don’t get to decide that.”
Cade’s eyes darken. They flick to my lips for a moment before he looks over to Brendan waiting at the ATV. “You know what,” he says mockingly, “it kind of looks like I do.”
Letting out an annoyed sigh, I pull my helmet back on. There’s no point in arguing if Brendan is going to listen to Cade.
But I’ll make sure to say something about it later. He’s not getting off this easily. If he’s going to be a jealous asshole, then I’m going to give him even more of a reason to be.
