Chapter Four

"Oh! Sorry." I jerkily stepped away from him and stared up in shock at Gregory's face looking down at mine. We were all alone in the little foyer that separated the men's and the women's rooms.

"I—uh, are you all right?" his eyes searched mine.

What? Automatically my heart began to race. "Y-yes." I managed a weak smile. "I'm fine. Thank you."

"Did I hurt you just now?"

"H-hurt me? No."

"You're sure?"

I smiled. "Yes, I'm sure. Thank you, I—"

"Excuse me," he nodded his head and then walked into the men's restroom.

Oh. He left.

It wasn't until I sat down at the table, that I realized he probably didn't want to be seen with me when I returned.

The rest of the night went as well as could be expected. Dinner was delicious, the company was polite and the conversation remained awkward free.

Later however, in my room, I replayed that scene in the foyer over and over again as I attempted to make more out of it than there was.

It was obvious I was just another person in his eyes. As many times as I tried to replay those brief words to my advantage, my mind always wandered to the smiles he gave my stepsister. And more importantly the arm that was wrapped around her shoulders during the whole dessert course.

It was a hopeless cause, and one I would have to learn to be very grateful for.

*****

"Come on! You have to say you'll come with us!" Kylie pleaded into the phone at my ear.

"Kylie, four-wheeling is not my thing. Plus I'm not sure if I have to work yet or not." The game that my little cheerleading squad was performing for looked like it'd be cancelled, thanks to the other team getting hit hard with some sort of summer flu. I was still waiting for the official call that said if we were cheering or not.

"You are the weirdest girl, seriously. I'm not sure why I even bother. It's just a little tour of Farmington." She laughed. "Besides, can't you call in sick?"

"A tour? When do we have four-wheeling tours here in Farmington?"

"Ever since Carson Franklin started up his own business last week. We're his first real big group."

I vaguely remembered the Franklin brothers. Carson was a year or two older than Ethan, Farmington's four-wheeling champ. Ethan had graduated this year and Carson had graduated a couple years before that. Not only were they the best drivers Farmington had ever seen—thanks to their dad teaching them everything he knew—their vehicles were constantly featured throughout sporting magazines worldwide.

"Wow! That's really cool Carson got his business license. I bet he's pretty excited right now."

"Are you kidding? He's totally stoked! Everyone knows he's going to be a huge hit. Come on, with as many awards as that guy has, who wouldn't want to ride with him? You have to come. We're gonna have a picnic and everything."

Picnic? Darn, I love picnics. "Well, who's all going?" Perhaps the team will cancel after all.

"I'm not sure, but as of right now I think it's the new guy, Gregory..." As soon as she said Gregory, I blanked out everyone else's names.

Gregory will be there. Yes, Gregory will be there! Ack! Wait. I don't know if I want Gregory to be there. I didn't realize Kylie had stopped talking until it was too late. I tried to cover the pause. "Uh—wow! That's a big group. Are you sure there's room for me?"

"There's just nine of us."

"Yeah, but, how are we all going to fit?"

"Amanda. Ugh. Stop worrying about everything. Carson totally owns a Land Rover with twelve seats, now."

"Twelve seats?" I was shocked. "Is there something that big that can take us all off road?"

"So are you coming or what?"

"Uh..." I stalled.

Kylie began to use her whiney pleading voice, "Come on, Amanda, and say you'll come, okay? Everyone's going to be there and I don't want to go without you. Please? Please, please, please, please...?"

"All right. Fine. I'll call and see if my junior cheerleaders have a game—if not, then I'll go."

"Thank you. I'm going to let everyone know. I'll be there at three to pick you up since Sydney is riding with Gregory. Make sure you're wearing stuff to hike in, in case we have to."

"But, Kylie wait—!"

"Bye!" I heard Kylie laugh as she hung up the phone.

Great. What in the world have I gotten myself into? Four-wheeling with Gregory and Sydney... I don't think I'm ready for it. Please let there be a game. Please, oh please, let there be a game.

There wasn't. The game was cancelled. As soon as I hung up the phone with Kylie a text came in from Lacey, the head coach, saying the game was called off. Resigned to my fate, I dug out my tennis shoes from the box I'd already packed. Then I grabbed a book to read while I waited for Kylie to pick me up. Since I knew there was no way she'd let me say no now.

That's how it had always been with me and Kylie. She could talk me into anything and she knew it. We were so different that sometimes I wondered what it was that made us friends. Of course, since her mom and my stepmom used to be friends in high school when they were growing up, it just was one of those things that happened. Kylie was the same age as me and Sydney. The only problem was Sydney never shared her stuff when we were little and I always did, so Kylie naturally hung out with me more.

I sighed, as I flipped the page to a new chapter and then glanced at my watch. Two, forty-five. I had decided better get downstairs and let Veronica know where I was going. At least she'd be happy Sydney and I were spending quality time together.

There was a guy standing near the fence talking on his cell phone when we arrived.

"That's Carson," stated Kylie as she drove past.

That's Carson? I looked again and really noticed him this time. He's cute. After he gave a quick wave towards our car I watched him turn slightly and laugh into the phone. I decided I liked his smile. It was a friendly, easy-going grin that lit up his tan features.

When we parked and stepped out of the car I was drawn to him again. At this angle with his back toward us, I admired the way his bright red shirt spread across his shoulders and fell slightly over his khaki knee-length cargo shorts. One foot was resting on a cement parking median near the fence and his left hand was fiddling with the chain links. For a moment I just stood there and watched him talk on his cell. After a few more seconds, he turned slightly and rested his shoulder against the fence. His profile lit up as he laughed again and removed his dark army green hat to reveal short cropped blonde hair. Carson paused a few seconds and then chuckled into the phone while he rubbed his hand briefly over his hair—spiking it every which way--before setting his cap back on. His wristband caught my attention as he lowered his free hand and rested it in his pocket. It was pink.

"Isn't he hot?" Kylie's voice at my right surprised me.

"Yeah, he's cute."

"Don't get me wrong, he's not Gregory Wentworth hot—"

"No, definitely not."

"—But, he can still hold his own. I'm sure there are girls who would totally flip over that rugged outdoors look," she grinned. "But I'm Team Gregory all the way.

Me too.

"Oh, look! There's Madison and Collin."

I followed the direction her finger had pointed to and watched a sleek silver sports car come into the parking lot.

Madison had graduated this year. I had seen her around a few times, but I had never really met her or her boyfriend Collin. I wasn't surprised to see how good-looking he was when he stepped out of the sports car.

"Good morning!" Madison cheerfully called out as she approached.

"Hello," Kylie and I chorused together.

I watched Collin smile vaguely in response.

"So are you ready to go four-wheeling?" Madison smiled and rubbed her hands together. "I am so excited you have no idea."

"I'm ready," Kylie answered.

Madison grinned some more and then--when no one else said anything—asked me, "You're Amanda, right?"

"Yeah." I smiled back at her. Her peppy grin was irresistible.

"Have you ever been four-wheeling?"

"No." My smile faltered a bit.

"Don't mind her." Kylie rolled her eyes. "Amanda's afraid of everything."

"Not everything."

"Okay, so almost everything." She laughed, and flipped her short stylish brown hair before she asked, "So Collin, that's a nice car. What is it?"

"Uh, what?" Collin glanced up from the phone he had pulled out of his pocket.

Madison nudged him. "Your car. Kylie's asking about your car."

"Oh, thanks. Yeah, it's nice. I like it."

Madison chuckled and answered, "It's a Nissan Skyline."

"Oh." Kylie had already lost interest.

"Alright guys." Carson grinned as he jogged up to us. "I've got great news! That was my little bro, Ethan. He said he's headin' on over here. Man, if you think I can drive just wait till you meet this guy."

"Really? That's so cool!" gushed Kylie. "I can't wait to see him again."

I couldn't remember much about Ethan; just that Kylie hadn't liked him until he had made prom king a couple of months ago.

Carson must've known Collin, because he was able to distract him long enough from his phone to shake his hand. "Farnsworth! Nice set of wheels you got there. Impressive ride."

"Oh, uh, thanks," muttered Collin before he smiled vaguely and walked to a bench under the awning of the sporting goods store that booked the tours.

Carson shook his head confused slightly by his mannerisms before turning to the rest of us. "Well, girls, are you ready for this?"

Just then Kylie's cell rang. We waited awkwardly as she turned it on and started chatting. After a moment she made a little sorry gesture, and then wandered over to the bench Collin was on. She leaned against the wall next to him.

"You're Madison right?" Carson's friendly smile included me, but he was staring right at Madison.

"I'm impressed you know my name."

"Well, when a guy purposely asks his brother for it, it's hard not to know who you are." He really had a great smile. Perfect white teeth, dark khaki green hat, playful hazel eyes... Madison was charmed.

She chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Does that line usually work?"

"Yeah, usually."

Maybe she's more than charmed.

"Usually?" Madison raised a mischievous eyebrow.

"Of course. So did it?" His eyes sparkled into hers.

"Work?"

"Yeah."

"No."

Yep, she's definitely charmed.

"No?" His grin deepened. "You sure?"

Madison looked toward Collin. "I'm taken."

"You are?" Carson followed her gaze. "Oh." I watched as his features scrunched in confusion a bit before he turned flirtatiously hazel eyes back to her. "Well that's an easy fix."

Carson smoothly covered over Madison's growing blush by turning his attention toward me.

"And you must be Amanda, right?"

"Yeah." I smiled back. I couldn't help it.

"Kylie's friend?"

"Yes."

"She says you haven't been four-wheelin' before. You nervous?" His exciting eyes drilled into my ordinary light brown ones.

"N-no." I attempted to sound brave.

"No?" I could tell he didn't believe me for a second.

"Okay. Yeah, I am," I admitted, and then blushed when I realized my eyelashes had fallen against my cheeks.

"Great!"

My eyes flew open. "Great?"

"Yeah, I love newbies. –Especially honest ones. You'll have a blast, I promise."

"Are we going to go anywhere dangerous?" I had always seen pictures of four-wheeling vehicles stuck in the mud and upside down and stuff.

"Dangerous?" Carson chuckled. "Nah, well, it all depends on how you look at it. With an amateur, sure it could be considered dangerous. Even driving in a car on a street could be considered very dangerous if you were with someone who didn't know what they were doing. But me, nah, you're never in danger with me."

"You really have nothing to worry about," Madison reassured me. "Ethan and Carson Franklin have had the best four-wheel training New Mexico's ever seen."

"Yep. You honestly think I would've started up my own business if I didn't know what I was doing? Come on. I'll show you The Beast. Maybe then you'll be happier about travelling with her." Carson motioned us to follow him.

"The Beast?" Madison chuckled.

Carson grinned over at her, "Yeah, she's a real beaut! Get it?" he glanced over to include me. "Beauty and the Beast?"

Madison laughed out loud at his 'knee-slapper.' He turned toward her and winked his appreciation before stating for my benefit, "People fall in love with The Beast as soon as they see her. She hasn't failed to win someone over yet." With another quick wink to Madison he stepped forward and would've kept walking had Gregory's vintage Mustang convertible not pulled into the parking lot right then. Sydney was smiling and waving in the passenger seat as they parked a few feet from us.

My heart stopped when I saw Gregory get out of the car. How can I still be stunned by how gorgeous he is? It really was like looking at a movie star.

My wayward thoughts were interrupted by Sydney getting out of the car. And for the first time, I noticed that the girl from Bloomfield that Gregory had brought to Kylie's party was with them, too. He helped her as she cautiously descended from the backseat.

4