Alec’s house was about twenty minutes from mine. He lived on the opposite side of town. I’d been to his home once before, so it wasn’t hard to find. He’d gotten a call from his mom on his way to pick me up the first time we decided to hang out. She’d needed milk for a recipe she was making. To this day, I suspected she hadn’t needed the milk, but instead wanted to see whom he was with.

She’d been decent to me when I met her, but it had also been clear she knew where I came from and didn’t like it. The second I’d offered my last name, her entire demeanor had changed. I knew it was because she didn’t want me hanging around her son. Alec hadn’t seemed to catch on, though. If he had, he was good at hiding it and okay with going against her wishes, considering we were still hanging out weeks later.

Nervous butterflies broke out in flight in the pit of my stomach as I rounded the final corner before Alec’s house. His place was coming up on the left. Even if I hadn’t remembered, the vehicles parked in his driveway would have tipped me off. Both Shane and Benji were here, which meant I was late.

I pulled in behind a silver truck and noticed someone sitting inside. It had to be Becca.

I debated if I should cut my engine since I’d probably have to move my car in a second anyway. It dawned on me then that I should have opted to meet Alec at the track. It was beside my place anyway. Would have saved me gas, and no one would have had to wait around on me. I wished I’d thought of that before.

Screw it. I was here now. There was no going back.

I cut the engine on my car and climbed out. My tank top stuck to me in places as I made my way to where Becca sat in the cab of the silver truck. Gracie was right. I was probably going to melt in these jeans.

“Strap that one down tighter,” I heard Alec say. “I don’t want it to slip off when I go around a corner.”

“There, that good?” Benji asked. I recognized his voice clearly. His words always sounded muffled from the dip in his mouth, and he had a slightly more southern accent than the other guy had.

“Yeah, that should do. As soon as Mina gets here, we can leave,” Alec said. He didn’t sound agitated, but I doubted he enjoyed waiting around on me.

“I can’t believe you invited her,” the other guy said. Shane. His name had been Shane.

“Why?” Alec asked. The defensive tone to his words warmed me. It wasn’t that I wanted him to butt heads with his friends because of me, but it was nice to know he was down to stick up for me if need be.

“She’s weird, man.”

“She’s not weird,” Benji said, surprising me. “She’s freakin’ hot.”

“Watch yourself,” Alec said. I could hear a smirk in his tone.

“Just sayin’.”

“Whatever. There’s something weird about her. I’m telling you. There’s something weird about everyone in that trailer park,” Shane insisted, causing my heart to thunder in my chest.

“You’ve been listenin’ to the old timers way too much, dude. There’s nothin’ wrong with the people who live in the trailer park,” Benji said.

“Sorry about Shane,” Becca whispered as she leaned her head out the window and eyed me. Her cheeks were pink. I wasn’t sure if it was from the heat, or because of what her boyfriend had said. “He’s the one who can be weird sometimes.”

I hated that she felt a need to apologize for him. No one should. Not because I felt he should own up to what he was saying, but because he was right. There was something weird about those of us who lived in the trailer park, and out of the four of them, he was the only one smart enough to realize it and listen.

“It’s fine,” I said with a shrug.

A light breeze blew, sending hot air blowing around me. I wished I’d kept my shorts on.

Becca tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear and flashed me a shy smile. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re coming today.”

“Really?” Was she screwing with me or being serious? It was hard to tell.

“Yeah, I mean it’s always fun watching the guys horse around on the track, but it can be boring when they do it every weekend.”

“You just watch? You don’t ride with them?” What was the point in going if you weren’t going to ride?

She shook her head. “No. I just watch.”

“What’s the fun in that?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I rode on the back of Shane’s a couple of times before, but that’s about it.”

“You should drive one today.”

Her doe-like eyes widened. “No way! Shane would never let me drive.”

“Why not? I don’t see what the big deal is.”

“That four-wheeler is his baby. So is this truck,” Becca said.

“What you’re saying is he’s never let you drive his truck either?” The guy sounded like a real ass.

“God, no.”

“Well, from what you just told me about him, it doesn’t seem like he’s much fun.”

“He is. He’s just…”

“Weird?” I offered with a wicked smirk.

Becca laughed. “Yeah, definitely.”

My smirk widened. I had a feeling I’d enjoy hanging out with Becca today. She might be shy, but inside resided a girl who wanted to have fun. I could sense it, and I was going to make sure I found a way to let that girl out today.

“Hey, there you are,” Alec said, drawing my attention to him. He flashed me a large smile.

“Yup, here I am. I didn’t mean to keep you guys waiting.” I flashed the guys a little wave. Benji was the only one who returned it. Shane flat-out ignored me.

“You didn’t keep us waiting. We had a hard time getting the four-wheelers on the trailer,” Alec said. “Now that they’re strapped in and you’re here, you ready to head out?”

“Yeah, sure. Let me back my car out so everyone can get out.” I hitched my thumb over my shoulder and started walking backward.

“Just pull it in the grass,” Alec insisted.

“Are you sure? It’ll only take me a second to get out of everyone’s way.”

“Nah, it’s fine.”

“I don’t want your parents pissed at me for ruining their grass.” They didn’t need another reason to dislike me, especially his mom.

“They won’t be.” Alec laughed. “Seriously, just pull it in the grass and get in my truck.” A wiry hint of a smile curled the corners of his mouth. He seemed to like bossing me around in a flirty tone. I didn’t mind.

After I moved my car to the grass, I headed to Alec’s truck. He was already positioned behind the wheel, engine cranked, and Benji leaned against the passenger door. He was waiting for me to get in so he could sandwich me between the two of them.

“You ever rode one before?” Benji asked as I slipped into the cab and scooted across the leather seat.

It was a good thing I hadn’t worn shorts. Humid temperatures and leather seats were not a good combination for bare legs.

“Nope, this will be my first time,” I said.

“You serious?” Benji asked as he slipped in the cab beside me and closed the door. He reached for a plastic bottle on the floorboard I’d somehow missed when climbing in and placed it to his lips. Brown liquid oozed from his mouth and congregated inside the bottle.

“Yeah.” My upper lip curled. “And that is seriously disgusting.”

“This?” One of Benji’s bushy eyebrows raised as amusement flitted across his face. “Hang around me enough and you’ll get used to it.”

“He’s right,” Alec offered. “You will.”

“You don’t dip, do you?” I’d never noticed Alec having gunk stuck in his teeth or a fat lip from a wad of the crap crammed between his gums and his teeth, but I knew that didn’t mean anything.

“Me?” Alec popped his truck into reverse and crept out of his driveway. “No way. My momma would kill me.”

Thank goodness. I didn’t think I could handle seeing him spit nasty brown crap in a bottle all day, too.

“Woo wee, this is gonna be fun,” Benji chimed as he rolled down his window and smacked his hand on the side of the truck.

“Damn right,” Alec said, flashing me a tiny grin as he shifted into drive.

Adrenaline rushed through me. I had a feeling today was going to be fun, regardless of Shane and his obvious dislike of me. I could ignore him. Heck, I ignored people all the time. He would be no different.

* * *

I stood at the back of Alec’s truck, watching as he helped the guys get their four-wheelers off the trailer. The lean muscles in his arms flexed as he pulled and jerked the big pieces of machinery. Beads of sweat built across his brow, and his cotton T-shirt seemed to stick to him in places. Part of me wished he’d go ahead and shed the shirt. It would help with the heat and give me a view of the abs I’d felt the other night when he’d kissed me goodbye.

“Let me take a quick ride around the track to make sure it’s free of branches from the last storm before everyone rides out,” Alec insisted. He climbed on his four-wheeler and revved its engine to life. Did he always act so by the book with everything? He’d never seemed like a safety-first kind of guy until now. “It’ll take me a second. When I get back, I’ll give you a ride,” Alec shouted over the rumble of his engine to me.

I nodded and flashed him a smile, watching as he started around the track.

“I’m sure he wants to give you a ride all right.” Benji nudged my shoulder.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The guy was turning out to be quite the character.

“Mina, do you want a bottle of water?” Becca asked from where she sat on Shane’s tailgate.

“Yeah, sure. Thanks,” I said as I made my way toward her. My mouth was super dry.

Becca pulled a cooler to her and flipped the top up. She reached in and dug around, searching for a bottle. When she found one, she wiped away a few pieces of ice stuck to its sides and handed it to me.

“We can sit over there in the shade if you want. That’s normally where I sit,” she said as she pointed behind me and then jumped down from Shane’s tailgate.

“For a little while, but I’m not planning on sitting there all afternoon and neither are you.” I flashed her a pointed look while I twisted open my water.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Shane asked. I didn’t care for the hostility in his words.

“Becca isn’t sitting out this time. I’m going to get her on the back of one of those things today,” I said as I nudged her shoulder with mine. “Then I’m going to get her to drive one.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Shane scoffed.

Wow, I’d thought he’d be happy she wanted to participate. “Why do you say that?”

“Um, because Becca has only ridden one a couple of times. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her drive mine.”

“Who said it has to be yours?” I asked. There were two other four-wheelers here, and I doubted either of their owners would oppose to sharing. Unlike him.

“Oh, man. She got you.” Benji chuckled from where he sat on his four-wheeler, waiting for Alec to come back with an all clear.

Shane pressed his lips together in a way that emphasized his jaw. His eyes narrowed on me, but I didn’t look away. He didn’t intimidate me. Once he figured that out, he hopped on his four-wheeler and started the engine. His gaze flicked to Becca, and I was pleased to see she held his stare dead on instead of looking away like I’d expected. Maybe she had more backbone than I gave her credit for.

“Come on, let’s get in the shade. We’ve only been out here a few minutes and I’m already burning up,” Becca said. She started walking, opening her water as she went.

“I’m sorry, but Shane is an ass. I don’t know why you’re even with him,” I muttered once we were away from the guys.

We eased into the shady area, and I swore there was a ten-degree difference. No wonder she was content to sit here all day while the guys rode around on their toys.

“He’s not always like that,” Becca insisted. “I think he got his man feelings hurt just now or something.”

I started to say maybe it was my presence bringing out the worst in him, but bit my tongue instead. While I liked Becca, I still didn’t know her well, and I wasn’t about to continue to beat a dead horse. She knew I thought her boyfriend had asshole-ish tendencies. That was enough for now.

I took a sip of my water and spotted Alec on his way back around the track. He wore a calculated look on his face as he crept forward at a snail’s pace.

“Is he always that serious?” I asked Becca.

“Only the first time around the track. After that, he loosens up.”

I sat down in the grass. “So, what do you normally do while they goof off on the track? Sit in the shade and watch?”

“Sometimes.” She shrugged. “Sometimes I bring a book or do my homework. The cell phone reception sucks out here, so I can’t cruise the Internet for anything.”

“Oh my God, that sounds so boring.” I hung my head back and glanced up at the lush branches above me. “Not reading, but watching them and doing homework. I don’t think I could focus with as loud as those things are.”

“You get used to it.”

“Mina, you ready?” Alec shouted to me.

“Yeah, just a sec.” I took another sip of my water and then set it in the grass before standing. “Why don’t you ride with Shane?” I asked Becca as I brushed off my bottom.

“Nah, I’ll let him go a couple laps without me first. Let his temper cool off.”

“All right, but I am getting you out there today. Mark my words.” I pointed my index finger at her and narrowed my eyes.

“Okay.” She laughed.

I jogged over to where Alec was waiting.

“You and Becca seem to be hitting it off well,” Alec said as I climbed on the four-wheeler behind him. “Told you she was pretty cool.”

“Yeah, she’s nice. Wish I could say the same about her boyfriend.”

“Shane is a good guy. He’s just different. He has one of those personalities you either love or hate.”

Right now, as things stood between us, I was leaning toward hate. I didn’t say so, though. Instead, I wrapped my arms around Alec’s waist.

“Better hold on tighter than that,” he insisted.

“Why? You plan on giving me the ride of a lifetime?”

“You bet.”

As soon as I adjusted my grip, he took off. Dust flew behind us as wind whipped against my face and arms. I glanced around Alec, trying to see where the others were in relation to us. Shane was in the lead with Benji trailing close behind him. We barreled around the first corner, closing in on the guys, and laughter bubbled up my throat. My grip around Alec’s waist tightened, and I pressed my chest flush against his back, making sure I wouldn’t fall off as we drifted around the next corner.

“Told you you’d better hold on tighter,” he shouted over the roar of his four-wheeler.

“Can this thing go any faster?” I asked even though I wasn’t unimpressed with its speed.

“Faster, she says?” Alec chuckled as he twisted the throttle until it wouldn’t go anymore.

The wind stung my face, causing my eyes to water. Trees blurred by and the sun beat down on my shoulders, but I didn’t mind. I was having fun. Never had I felt such a rush of adrenaline through my system. How had Becca not enjoyed this? How could she sit out each time the guys brought their four-wheelers to the track?

I lost count of how many times we went around, but when I noticed Shane stopping at the bed of his truck, I tapped on Alec’s shoulder, letting him know I wanted to take a break too. He slowed immediately.

“You done?”

“No, I just need a sip of water.”

“Yeah, I could use something, too.” He pulled up beside Shane and waited for me to slip off the back of his four-wheeler before he did. “So, what do you think? Is it as fun as you thought it would be?”

“Better.” I started to where I’d left my water. Becca scooped it up and held it out to me. It was nearly warm from the heat. “You ready to ride with Shane once or twice?” I asked her.

“Yeah, I guess.” She chewed her bottom lip. Why was she being so mousy about it? Did Shane not like her riding with him? Was he so selfish he didn’t want to share his four-wheeler with anyone? Was she nervous about riding?

“Let’s go, then.” I motioned for her to get up, then twisted the cap off my water and took a swig. “Becca is riding with Shane this time. We should have a race,” I said as I wiggled my brows at Alec.

“Really?” Alec shifted his gaze from me to Becca. “Out of all the times we’ve come here, I’ve seen you ride like twice.”

Becca said something, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was too busy having a showdown with Shane. The second I mentioned Becca was riding with him, his gaze had drifted to me, and I could tell he wasn’t happy about the change I’d persuaded in her. What was his deal?

“Is that okay with you?” Becca asked as she stepped between Shane and me, blocking my view of him unintentionally.

“What?” he asked. His tone was rough and harsh. It had Becca’s body tensing instantly.

“If I ride with you a couple of laps. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, I guess. I just don’t see why the sudden change of heart. You’ve always been fine sitting in the shade, watching.”

Becca shrugged. “I don’t know. I just think it might be fun today.”

“Fine, whatever. Hop on.”

I took another sip of my water and watched as she climbed onto the back of Shane’s four-wheeler. She looked so tiny and frail, but I could make out the buzz of excitement vibrating from her. Shane said something as she wrapped her arms around his waist, but over the sound of Benji revving his engine as he passed by I couldn’t make out what.

“Ready for another round?” Alec asked as he slipped back onto his four-wheeler.

“Oh yeah.”

I positioned myself behind him again and wrapped my arms around his waist. This time I knew to hold on tighter than I had before. I didn’t mind. In fact, I relished the feel of his abs beneath my fingertips.

When Alec took off this time, I was prepared. We raced around the track a couple of times, passing Benji and gaining on Shane and Becca. She molded against Shane’s back while she gazed over his shoulder. A wide smile had plastered itself on her face that had my grin growing. Mainly because I liked to think I was the reason for it. After all, I’d talked her into riding.

Shane sped up, putting more distance between us once he noticed we were neck and neck with him. Becca glanced at me and laughed. Yeah, it was safe to say she was enjoying herself. I tightened my grip on Alec’s waist as he picked up speed, trying to catch up to them, and a laugh burst from my chest.

It was safe to say I was enjoying myself as well, more than I’d thought I would, considering some of my company.