More than Distance

17

“You think I’m some weak, fragile girl who needs to be protected at all times. You don’t think I can win because I’m ‘too nice.’ But you’re wrong. I know that show inside out, and I know cars and maps, and I bet I could win.”

“Of course I think you could win. You’re not fragile or weak or any of that. But you do need someone to look out for you on the show. Everyone does. And the only person I trust to protect you on the show is me.” He paused and glanced at his best friend. “Or Ryan.”

Ryan stiffened. “That’s not an option.”

“No, definitely not.” Like I’d want Ryan as my partner. Anyone but him would be better. Except my choices were pretty limited. I didn’t know a single other person who was free this summer and who would go with me. “I guess the show could assign me a partner.”

“Not going to happen,” Ryan said, his face stern.

“No way,” Daniel added. “You can’t go on the show with some stranger. Our parents would never let you, anyway.”

“You don’t control me and neither do they. I’m twenty-two years old. I can make my own decisions.” I threw up my hands. “Forget it. I’m not going on the show anyway so this entire conversation is pointless.”

I grabbed my purse and headed for the door. I hated abandoning my car when I wasn’t finished working on it, but I couldn’t stand being around those two for another minute. Maddie’s car was parked down the street and I made my way toward it. She’d let me borrow it for the day, since she would be with Becca at practice.

Rushed footsteps sounded behind me. “Carla, wait.”

I stopped, took a deep breath, and turned to face Ryan. “What is it?”

“I’ll go with you.”

I blinked. “What?”

“On the show.” His gaze held mine, dark and hypnotic. “I’ll be your partner.”

Seven

Ryan

I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. What the f**k was I thinking? I couldn’t go on a reality TV show. I had a company to run. My father was sick. And Carla couldn’t stand me.

“You want to go on the show…” Her eyebrows slowly lifted up. “With me.”

“I do.”

She regarded me skeptically. I’d never been obsessed with the show like she and Daniel were, although I’d watched it with them a few times. Not in many years though. But after she’d told us how she’d lost her job and how her boyfriend had been cheating on her, she’d looked so lost and alone it made me want to take care of her, to do whatever I could to make things better. And even though she was far more capable than Daniel gave her credit for, she was way too nice of a person for her own good. She needed someone to protect her on the show, to make sure no one took advantage of her, to watch out for her both emotionally and physically. She needed someone she could trust. Someone like me, who wasn’t a good person, who could insulate her from all the bullshit so she could have a fun time and maybe win some money too.

After the shitty summer she was having, she needed something good to happen to her. I wasn’t it, but I could help. Besides, like Daniel, I didn’t trust anyone else to go on the show with her. The thought of some stranger driving across the country with her made me see red. No, it had to be me.

She swatted back a stray curl that had fallen over her eye. “Why would you offer to do this?”

I gave a casual shrug. “You need help and I need to get away for a while.”

It wasn’t a lie. I’d gone back to my father’s house this morning, but was told by my stepbrother that Dad refused to see me. Then he’d slammed the door in my face like he had more right to be in that house than I did, the little prick.

I’d gone to visit my father’s office after that, to see how things were holding up. Dolores was running the place by herself, but it seemed like it was doing well even without Dad around. I’d tried to picture myself working in the place, running the construction company, dealing with housing projects and permits and construction crews, and felt sick. I’d never wanted that life and I never would.

But the moment I’d gotten on my bike to leave, I’d caught sight of the Evans Construction sign and felt the guilt like a punch to my gut. If I sold my company to Slade Industries, I’d be able to run the family business. It was a good deal Slade was offering too. I’d be compensated very well, my employees would keep their jobs, and I could make my father proud for once in my life. If it was his dying wish for me to continue the family business, could I really turn him down? Even if doing so made me miserable? There was no good answer. No matter what I did, I would hate myself for it.

“I don’t need your help,” Carla said. “I don’t want your help.”

“No?” I looked around us in an exaggerated way. “I don’t see anyone else lining up to offer.”

She crossed her arms. “I have other people I can ask.”

“Like who? That cheating ex-boyfriend of yours?” My hands clenched into fists. “Over my dead body.”

“No, not him.”

“Who then?” She huffed. “It doesn’t matter. You are the absolute last person on my list.”

Of course she wouldn’t want me as her partner after what I’d done, after the way I’d treated her. She hated me, and I didn’t blame her. But I also wasn’t letting her go on the show with anyone else.