More than Distance

16

“Yeah, I was. I don’t know what to do now. And the craziest part is that she asked me to go on Road Trip Race instead.”

He frowned. “Like, as a contestant?”

“Yep.” I laughed, a pathetic sad laugh, and leaned against the side of my car.

“Are you going to do it?” Ryan asked.

“No, of course not.” I shook my head. “I’ve had my fill of being on a reality TV show as a contestant already. I don’t need to go through that again.”

“You love Road Trip Race.” Ryan wiped his hands on a rag and tossed it aside. “You should do it.”

Daniel shot him an incredulous look. “No way. She can’t go on the show.”

“Why not? She might have fun.”

“Yeah, why not?” I didn’t want to do it, but it annoyed me that my brother was so adamant against it.

Daniel shook his head. “It’s not a good idea. Driving across the country on your own? Hell no. That’s way too dangerous.”

I crossed my arms. “It’s not dangerous. You’ve seen the show as many times as I have, and you know there are cameras everywhere and people from the show around at all times. Plus I’d have a partner.”

Daniel scoffed. “But who would your partner be?”

“Um. You?”

He laughed sharply. “Yeah, right.”

“Come on! We’ve always said we wanted to go on the show. Now’s our chance.” I wasn’t sure where the words were coming from. A second ago I’d been determined not to go on the show, but with Ryan saying yes and Daniel saying no I suddenly wondered, why not? It wasn’t like I had anything else going for me right now.

“This is the worst possible time for me to leave with the new location opening soon. Especially since Dad is so distracted by this mess with Mom. He needs me here more than ever now.” Daniel waved his hand dismissively. “But if you’re so determined to go, ask that boyfriend of yours.”

My eyes dropped to the oil-stained floor. “I can’t. We… I broke up with him.”

“Oh yeah? Finally!” Daniel let out a sharp whoop. “What’d he do? Did you catch him with another girl or some s**t?”

He was joking, but my cheeks flushed and I turned away. Toward Ryan, whose gaze was as intense as the sun on a hot day. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to grab me in a hug or punch someone for me.

“Oh s**t,” Daniel said, quickly sobering up. “He really was cheating on you? Son of a b***h. I’ll murder him.”

“Yes, he was,” I said quietly. “He had been for a long time. With multiple girls.”

Ryan moved to my side, his hands clenched and his body tense like he would defend me with his life. “Where is this guy now?”

“That asshole.” Daniel straightened up to his full, massive size. “He’s going to pay for hurting my baby sister.”

I held up my hands. “No one is making anyone pay. I handled it.”

Daniel paced back and forth, like an angry panther. “I always knew he wasn’t good enough for you. If I ever see him again, I swear to god…”

“I’m fine, really. I’m over it already. Although it’d be nice if he would stop texting me.”

“He’s texting you?” Ryan asked, his voice quiet but hard as steel. “Tell me where he is. I’ll get him to leave you alone.”

“I don’t need you to protect me,” I said, looked up at his eyes. They were such a dark brown that they looked almost black. If I let myself, I’d get lost in them forever.

He set his hand on my shoulder for a brief moment. It sent a little thrill through me, and at the same time it annoyed me. My brother took overprotective to the next level, but Ryan was just as bad. It didn’t mean anything though. If he cared about me at all, it was like a sister, nothing more. I didn’t need two overbearing big brothers.

Daniel wrapped an arm around me. “I don’t like the idea of any guy messing around on my little sister. What kind of i***t would cheat on you anyway? You’re a f*****g model!”

“I seem to have a habit of falling for guys who don’t return my feelings.” I didn’t look at Ryan when I said it, but from the corner of my eye I saw him stiffen.

“Some guys are assholes.” Ryan’s voice was so quiet I almost didn’t hear him. My eyes lifted to his and he stared at me with such force that my heart skipped a beat.

“See, this is exactly why you can’t go on the show,” Daniel said. “You’re too nice. The other contestants will take advantage of you so they can win.”

“I’m not that nice.” I yanked away from my brother’s arm. His words stung, probably because there was a hint of truth in them. I always tried to be positive and to see the best in people, at least until they proved me wrong. But that hadn’t worked out for me very well so far, had it?

“I just don’t want you to get hurt. Or, god forbid, what if you got sick during the show?”

Ah, there it was. The real reason Daniel didn’t want me to go on the show. He was worried I’d relapse. Like our parents, he still saw me as that frail teenager who almost died, even though that was a long time ago.

“I’m not going to get sick.”

“Carla.” He reached for my arm but I stepped back.