Rivals In Love (Love In Montana Book 4)

It was past dinner time when Georgia reached her aunt Dorothy's house in Laramie, Wyoming. Parking her car in front of her aunt's house, she breathed a sigh of relief seeing the familiar house which had been her home since childhood.

She climbed out of her car and slowly walked up to the main door and rang the doorbell. The door opened and a stunned Phil walked out seeing her at his doorstep.

"Georgie? What a pleasant surprise!" Gasped Phil. After her mom's death only aunt Dorothy had attended the funeral and returned back the same day without staying over at Georgia's house. Cameron too peeped out and saw her, gasping with surprise.

"Thank God you've come home, dear. We were so worried about you," said aunt Dorothy as she came out to see her. Cameron took the car keys from her to drive her car into their garage while aunt Dorothy hugged her to her bosom. Aunt Dorothy's husband, uncle Will too approached her to welcome her. It was already late and as her cousins unloaded her luggage, aunt Dorothy served her dinner.

The next few days, Georgia settled to her old room at aunt Dorothy's house. She discontinued at the Great Falls College and applied for a Transfer Certificate. Afterwards, she took admission into the University of Wyoming in Laramie to continue where she had left off. She had comfortably settled down when the news of her dad's death, disturbed her. She didn't want to go back to Fordsville to attend the funeral all alone so uncle Will drive her to attend it. It was a dreary event and Georgia didn't talk to her brothers. Uncle Will drove her back after the funeral and that was the last time that she visited that dreadful place.

Georgia's feelings for Ryan had been crushed after the way he had hurt her. She hadn't found the time to heal her broken heart in her haste to leave Fordsville. But now that she had settled down, she knew that she had to move on. Her heart was broken when Ryan had lied to the professor to get his way. She had expected him to understand her but when he too took advantage of her, she realized that she would never want to have anything to do with him ever again. He was just like her brothers, selfish and disgusting! She didn't cry over her broken heart. Why would she? Ryan didn't care about her at all, he didn't care whether she lived or died, whether she was happy or sad. So Georgia wiped away all memories of Ryan from her mind. She realized that her first kiss as well as first love were a mistake and decided to move on with her life.

She settled down at her new college, made new friends. Her cousins were a handful and there never was a dull moment with them at her aunt's house. They went out for trips, went fishing, enjoyed picnics and it was a free life, the type of life a young adult girl deserved.

At Fordsville, on the contrary, Ryan went into a shell after Georgia left forever. The guilt of what he had done ate him alive. He wasn't able to concentrate upon anything thereafter. He spoke less, he left football forever and most of the times, his friends and family found him near the creek at the backside of Alpine Dairy Farm where he had kissed Georgia. His heavy heart and guilty conscience didn't allow him to move on and forget Georgia. Everyday he wished he could get an opportunity to apologize to her and beg for her forgiveness but his wishes never came true.

Months passed by yet there was no news of Georgia. With each passing month, Ryan started to realize that he had lost his chance with Georgia forever. His family left him alone as Rihanna was busy with her career. Rhett was heart broken too when Adelaide left Fordsville and returned to New York. Even Ryder was heartbroken when Anastasia went back to her parents in Las Vegas. Even Renée was devastated since Sawyer disappeared on the night of her eighteenth birthday, without informing anyone.

"Georgia, I think Wyatt is interested in you," said Georgia's new friend Gabrielle. They had met on her first day at the University of Wyoming and instantly clicked and became good friends. Gabrielle was popular and easy going and very helpful. She always looked out for her quiet friend and soon Georgia started looking forward to going to college.

"I'm not interested in any guy," shrugged Georgia, ignoring Wyatt who stood at the corridor, gazing at her like a lost puppy. Wyatt Franklin was their class mate who was a grade A student having aced in all the semesters so far. He was the most popular guy in college with his good looks and awesome tattoos marking him. A typical notorious boy, he was always surrounded by his group of notorious friends. His dad being one of the members of the college trustees, he was powerful and could get away with anything. In other words, he was bad news. So it was a surprising that he actually found her interesting.

Gabrielle looked shocked at her revelation. "Are you into girls?" She whispered. Georgia looked at her with a horrified expression on her face.

"No. Not at all," she answered vehemently. Gabrielle chuckled.

"Thank God! Else, I would have escaped from you," she said, rolling her eyes. "Then what's wrong with Wyatt? Why can't you talk to him at least?"

"I just lost my parents, Gabby. I liked a guy and he hurt me badly. I'm not in the frame of mind to go down that path again, " Georgia said with a sigh. She didn't mention to her friend that Wyatt was a type of person she'd be least interested in. Gabrielle caught her hand and squeezed with reassurance.

"I know, Georgia. I was just kidding, " she said softly.

But life had different plans in store for Georgia. Her stunning looks made her the hottest girl on campus and all the guys were whipped with her. Wyatt and his group of friends devised ways to make friendship with her. Georgia had no idea about what was going on behind her back. She was a freshly bloomed flower who had finally found her happiness at her aunt's house.

"She'll fall for me easily if I try," boasted Wyatt with a smirk. His friends, Callum, Dan, Kent, Rob and Davis laughed it off.

"Then let's see you trying, dude. In fact we can have a bet. Whoever gets to win Georgia McLean and convince her to be his girlfriend wins 1000 dollars. The ones who lost the bet would have to contribute to the prize money. What do you say, guys?" Asked Callum whose dad was most sought after lawyer in the whole state. Everyone else agreed.

"No, there's a change of plan. I'll try my luck first. If I fail to win the girl in a month, then you all can try one by one. If I fail, I'll pay the full amount of the prize money to you. Agreed?" Asked Wyatt.

"Sure, dude. You can have a go first but I you'll surely fail, man. She's shit scared of you already," joked Rob and they all chuckled. Wyatt was not a guy who'd give up that easily.

"Wait and watch. When Wyatt has his eyes on a chick, he can stoop to any level to get her," warned Wyatt and stormed out.

So while an oblivious and happy Georgia had no idea of what was being plotted and planned behind her back, Wyatt was determined to pursue her in the next one month. His self-esteem was at stake and he couldn't afford to fail. He watched Georgia everyday like a hawk, trying to figure her out before approaching her. He laughed in his mind, realizing that she was a naive and dumb country bumpkin and therefore winning her would be a piece of cake for him.

So, one day when her shrewd friend Gabrielle hadn't turned up at the college, he stalked Georgia about the whole day till he trapped her just outside the library. "Hi!" He said,  blocking her way. Georgia looked up with dread at the worst boy of the college. She had avoided him successfully for the last few days. But today, to her dismay, he just followed her around since the moment she had arrived at the college.

"Bye," she said, pushing him to escape but it was a wrong move for he caught her hand and didn't let her go.

"What's the hurry, kitten? Are you afraid of me?" He asked.

"My name's Georgia, puppy," she said, her eyes flashing angrily at the nickname. "No, I'm not afraid of you. I just dislike you, that's all," she said.

Wyatt loved her defiance. She wasn't what she seemed to be. This would actually be fun. "Puppy?" He asked with an amused grin on his face.

"Yes dumba**, if you call me kitten, I'll call you a puppy," said Georgia.

"Right! Smart. Very smart. I'm impressed, Georgia. I'm Wyatt. Would you like to be my friend?" He asked, changing his technique.

Georgia shrugged. "No thanks. I have a friend, already, " she said, snatching her hand away and walking away. Wyatt was impressed and all the more determined to have her by hook or by crook.