OUR WEEKEND TRIP HOME HAD thus far been tense. Not only because of Hunt and the grudge he seemed to hold against me since he met Joy in the quad but the quality of the road. I'd be lying if I said my neck wasn't stiff from trying to remain cool as we carved around mountain bends that could ultimately lead to our demise.

I focused on the wipers of Hunt's truck. My socked feet propped on the dash and knees bent, but I couldn't ignore the scowl he gave the road—his elbow resting on the door, a hand on the wheel. "No music today?" I asked, hoping to break the silence.

Our week had been quiet. Hunt only spoke to give instructions or to ask a question during our tutoring sessions. I did my best to keep my temper in check, but it aggravated me. He was usually so talkative and exuded such enthusiasm it made me want to punch him in the throat, but this Hunt—

He didn't say a word as he reached for the stereo, turning it on.

The music drowned out the rain assaulting the windshield—the mountain mist making it difficult to see.

I thought about staying behind this trip, primarily because of Hunt's abrupt change of attitude. It wasn't my fault my friends had their judgements. Hunt and I were sworn enemies, but the thought of him driving through a storm alone, had me reconsidering.

My frustration reached bone-grating heights, and I leaned forward as we pulled into the gas station at Raven's Pass, turning off the radio.

Hunt's brows furrowed, putting the truck in park behind a long snaking line of vehicles waiting for a pump.

"What's your problem?" I demanded, having enough.

"What do you mean?"

My brows raised in time with my temper. "All week, you've been distant. Giving one-word answers. Sloughing me off after the gym without even saying goodbye."

Hunt casually shrugged. "I'm just your trainer, remember? I'm trying to keep it professional."

His cool indifference drove me insane. I adjusted after shoving on my shoes so I faced him. "Spit it out. You're not getting out of this truck until you tell me what your problem is."

He quirked a crooked grin, looking out the driver's side window, but there was nothing joyous in it. "You'll go to Jace's races but not mine."

I crossed my brows. "Is that what's bothering you?"

He said nothing.

"Seriously? You're pissed because I won't go to your race?"

"You went to the others."

"Because I was required to be there," I hissed. And Jace was actually my boyfriend. Hunt was the son of my father's nemesis.

"Bullshit," he cursed. "You went to every race because you wanted to. You stayed for Nico's, all your friends."

"Nico's my brother," I threw back, "and the rest of them are on my team."

He scoffed. "Why don't you just say it?"

"Say what?"

"That you're embarrassed to be seen with me. You're worried about what your friends and family will think if they find out about us hanging out. That's why you never accepted my follow request on Instagram. Why you didn't bother saying anything to Olivia and Joy. You said it yourself the night you kissed me."

Rumours will spread. "I was trying to protect you. Look at the judgements they've flung your way." They as in my friends and family.

"You were trying to protect yourself," he countered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm a Hunt!" he snapped. "I'm not like Jace! I'm a spoiled piece of shit. It doesn't matter how nice I am, how polite, or friendly I come off. Everyone back home doesn't like me, and they sure as hell don't like me with someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"Oh, come on. You're Nadine Baker, the town sweetheart. You're the daughter of Snocross legend Nick, and your mom is the head of a multimillion-dollar marketing firm. Everyone loves you."

"They love me because of what I can give them," I shot back. A meeting with my dad, connections to my mother, a job with Austin, a spot on the team. "I thought you, of all people, would've understood that."

I gave Hunt a full two seconds to say something before I opened the door to the truck and hopped out.

He hit the steering wheel as I slammed the door, opening the back to grab my things.

"I'm trying, Nadine!"

"Why now?" I snapped back, squinting through the rain. "You didn't give a shit about me or my life until recently. Now because Jace is close to beating you this season suddenly, you wanna be friends? I'm not that stupid, Hunt!"

I slammed the door of his truck, slinging my bag over my shoulder, but that didn't stop him from following.

"I came back because of your grandma!" He shouted over the downpour, following me towards the diner. "Because I thought you might need someone!"

"I don't need you to feel sorry for me!" I flung back, whirling so quickly my hair slapped the side of my face.

He stopped, nearly colliding into me.

"Sound familiar, Hunt?" I asked, my sarcasm dry despite how soggy my shoes were. "I took it when your mom got sick and again when you lost it on me after her funeral. You're pissed because I won't immediately let you into my life? Why would I?"

"Because I'm the only one here!" He tossed back, the rain rolling down the angles of his stupidly perfect face.

"Because it's convenient for you!"

Hunt looked sidelong, his breath clouding his face. "I'm here because I care about you," he said, calmer now. "Do you not see that?"

My eyes ticked in his, searching for a lie because I needed to believe that Hunt was as bad as they said he was. Because he didn't match the version of the boy others had sculpted in my mind—spoiled, selfish, entitled. Anything for a win. That's what they said. Just like his dad. But the man standing before me—"So am I supposed to pretend everything's alright?" Splaying my palms. "To trust that you won't snap and leave me hanging because we have history? I don't even know you anymore, Hunt!"

"You're right," he said, stepping forward and closing the little distance between us. "You don't know me, yet you have me pegged at being this monster."

I said nothing, needing to look up.

"Why did you agree to the training?" He asked, pointing a long arm. "If I'm so bad, why did you say yes?"

"I thought I could confide in you!" I hollered, two inches away from his face. "I wasn't ready to open up to anyone because they didn't understand what it was like to see the person you love wither to nothing, to take care of them day after day and just... stop because they were gone!"

I felt my lip wobble, but I wasn't ready to cry because crying meant acceptance, and I couldn't let her go. I hated how I didn't know how to move on. I hated that everyone else moved on so easily. I was angry with my family, my friends—everything. I wanted to wake up and outrun the burgeoning sorrow nipping at my heels. But maybe that wasn't what I wanted at all.

Hunt's grey eyes darted in mine, the heat curling off the shoulders of his grey hoodie as if he could feel that pain.

I wanted someone who could brave the dark. Someone who wasn't afraid to face the ugly chaos wreaking havoc within me when that grief finally caught up. Someone who wouldn't judge me and bolt when things got bad. Jace had, and it hurt.

My throat constricted. Jace left me alone because he couldn't handle that version of me. He ran like everyone else because they didn't know how to talk to me, but Hunt...

He said nothing. He just stood there staring down at me.

"Just forget it," I said, having enough and feeling like an idiot for revealing that vulnerable piece of myself, "I'll find a way back home."

I was alone, and that was something I would have to accept. At the end of the day, everyone had a pillar to lean on, except for me. My mom had my dad. Lily had the team, Nico and Logan had each other. I thought Hunt could be that person. That he might accept the ugly parts of me and be strong enough to stay because he, of all people, understood. I thought he might guide me back or help me tackle the tangled snares I'd created for myself. Clearly, I was wrong.

"What are you going to do?" Hunt shouted when I walked away, bags growing wetter and heavier by the second. "Walk down the pass?

"I have friends!" I snapped over my shoulder. "People who actually give a shit about me!"

He jabbed his chin. "Yeah? Where were they when you needed them, Baker?"

I was glad he couldn't see the tears welling up behind my eyes. "Go to hell, Hunt."

A/N: Looks like she's not going to the race 🥺

Nadine Baker: