Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,100

my friends. On the off chance we did see each other, we wouldn’t talk. That’s what this was about—setting a tentative peace. But no matter what we said today, we both still had issues to resolve. And those issues didn’t really have anything to do with each other.

And I didn’t want to deal with those right now.

I drew in a deep breath and reached forward, turning the engine on.

There were two ATVs right underneath us. I could jump them both if I had enough momentum.

Not saying another word, I began backing up until I had enough space.

It was like Cross knew what I was doing, because he waited, watching me.

I gunned my engine, shot past him, and flew in the air.

There were screams from beneath me, but I cleared both with a little extra distance. I left a wave of sand raining down, and I laughed, loving that.

After that, I headed back.

I wasn’t surprised when Cross wasn’t too far behind me.

We turned in our rides and gear, and oddly, we walked beside each other back to the campsite. We didn’t say a word, but it felt nice.

I’d admit that to no one.

46

Aspen

By Saturday night, the trip was winding down.

Blaise had gone out early in the morning to ride, and later in the afternoon. I’d realized he enjoyed doing that stuff when no one else was around, but he’d said he was going to take me out in the morning.

I hadn’t been sure what to expect from this trip, but it was fun.

While Blaise was gone, Bren and Taz had come over and sat with me at our camper. When he came back, he and I went inside. He’d held me while I read until Zeke came over, and then Blaise had gone off with the guys. They’d taken a trip to town and came back with more food and booze.

A few people had started drinking early in the morning, but once the guys came back, party mode got cranked up a notch. The music blared, they fired up the grills, and the drinks were flowing.

Now it was the evening, and Blaise was drinking while I sat on his lap. We’d moved from in front of our camper to join Blaise’s friends around the fire. Bren and Taz stuck with their group, and they were laughing a lot. Taz sat on her boyfriend’s lap, and Bren sat close to Blaise’s brother. The other guys were eyeing a few of the girls on our side of the campsite.

At one point, I saw Mara Daniels break away from the main group, and I sighed, figuring maybe this was the time for our showdown.

I knew it was coming. Everyone had been waiting, or they had been in my head, at least. People watched whenever Mara came close to where Blaise and I sat. Blaise would stiffen too, until she moved to a different group. Then he’d relax. The other girls in her group had left me alone. I’d gotten a few dirty looks, but that was it.

Whatever Blaise had done, it had worked to warn them off.

But still, this was my fight. He couldn’t take this on for me. As I saw Mara head over to a camper by herself, I slid off Blaise’s lap.

He held me in place. “Where you going?”

I rested my hands on his chest. “I’ve got something I need to do.” I pushed off of him.

He started to stand, and I shook my head. “No. You stay. I need to do this alone.”

He growled. “I don’t like this, Aspen.”

I snorted. “I don’t care.” I gave him a smile and leaned down, brushing my lips over his. “I have to do this. Let me.”

He scowled, but stayed where he was.

“Keep him back,” I told Zeke.

He laughed. “Yeah, right. Good luck on that one.”

Blaise’s scowl shifted to his best friend.

Zeke shook his head.

I headed around to Mara’s camper, but when I looked back, I wasn’t alone. Her girlfriends were right behind me.

Penny raised her eyebrows. “You think we’re not going to rally around our girl? Blaise warned us off, but it’s different when you’re the one seeking her out. All bets are off.”

Well then. Lovely.

I eyed them. All four gave me varying hostile looks.

Then I heard a scrape behind me, and saw Bren and Taz walking to join us.

Penny raised her head. “This doesn’t concern you, Monroe.”

Bren snorted. “It’s a chick fight. Of course we’re coming to have Aspen’s back.”

Penny’s gaze turned wary. “We don’t fight like you do.”

“I hope not, but