Rivals In Love (Love In Montana Book 4)

Georgia hated the way Brian escorted her to college and brought her home the next few days. She felt claustrophobic in his presence. He wasn't concerned much about her welfare, it was only to ensure that she didn't associate with the Wilsons in any way. Georgia was so upset by his constant nagging questions that she couldn't make friends with a single soul in her college. Thankfully Ryan was busy with some football match and didn't pay her much attention. The only time she saw him was in the presence of the professors. Their eyes met many times across the classroom and each time strangely Georgia's heart skipped a beat and she was the first one to look away. Ryan didn't approach her directly and she was glad of not having to lie to Brian. She hated lying, it wasn't in her nature to bluff. 

So, when Brian's car broke down, Georgia was the happiest girl alive. She took a cab to college much to Brian's displeasure. They wouldn't buy her a car although she was nineteen and it pissed her off all the time, making her dependent. She wanted to earn something to be able to buy herself a car but at nineteen with a crazy family who was always after her, the options were limited. 

She reached her college earlier than usual but it was no fun since she hadn't yet made a single friend to hang around with. As she sat alone in the classroom, texting her aunt Dorothy, pouring her heart put to her, she felt a movement beside her. Turning to look, she was surprised to see a girl standing awkwardly beside her, watching her in the otherwise deserted classroom. She had noticed the girl many times in her class. She was the only other topper in their batch who could give Ryan some serious competition. 

Her face brightened seeing that Georgia had noticed her. "Hi! I'm Macy Stoneham. And you?" She asked with a smile, placing her hand forward for a shake. 

"I'm Georgia McLean, " she introduced herself, clasping onto her hand. 

"Can I sit with you?" Asked Macy, hopefully. 

"Sure," said Georgia, shifting to make space for her. Would Macy be interested to make friends with her? Macy sat down beside her. 

"So, you're the new girl. Where did you study before coming here?" She asked with interest. 

"I was in Wyoming," said Georgia with a shrug.

"Oh! Do your parents live there?" Asked Macy. 

"No no, my aunt lives there. I was brought up by her. My parents and brothers live here in Montana. My house is in  Fordsville, " she told her. Macy nodded, having heard of Fordsville already. Everyone in the class knew that Ryan lived there too. 

"Are you related to Ryan Wilson? He too lives in Fordsville," asked Macy with avid interest.

Georgia looked at her with a horrified expression on her face. "No. Are you crazy? The Wilson's and the McLean's are business rivals. We're not even supposed to look at one another," said Georgia with rounded, wide, shocked eyes.

"Are you sure? I've seen you guys staring at one another all the time," pointed out a confused Macy. 'Oh! So she noticed?' Georgia blushed crimson at her remark. She would never admit to her that she did stare at Ryan. Never!

"Maybe out of hatred!" She answered with disinterest.

"Oh! You must be the only girl apart from me who's disinterested in Ryan and his twin," said Macy with a laugh. Georgia looked at her with disbelief. 

"Why? What's with him that makes him so popular?" She asked with a shrug. Macy gave her a duh look and pulled out her mobile from her pocket. She opened Ryan's Instagram account and clicked on his profile picture. 

"See that?" She asked. Georgia's mouth hung open at the picture of Ryan riding a horse, through the beautiful Montana countryside, on the banks of Bearhead Creek. He might have taken a dip in the river since his ripped, bare, wet body glistened under the morning sunshine and beads of water droplets trickling down. The black stallion he was riding had its front hooves up in the air as Ryan held onto its reigns with one hand. There was no denying that he was extremely gorgeous. He was clearly every girl's dream, wet dream to be precise but she was different. She wasn't interested in him. Right?

"Lost your tongue? I understand completely. You'll find every girl on the campus drooling either on this photo or his twin's," said Macy. This was news to Georgia. She had no idea that Ryan was so popular with the girls here.

"Nothing special. You'll find most of the boys in Fordsville posing in a similar manner," she shrugged. Macy looked at her with disbelief. 

"You mean to say that all the guys in Fordsville are this good-looking? Asked Macy. Georgia shrugged. 

"I want to marry one of them, then," said Macy with a grin. Georgia was glad that they had connected. She was lonely with no one to talk to. Her mom didn't talk much and she missed life at aunt Dorothy's house. She missed the crazy fun that she had with her cousins, Phil and Cameron who were a year older than her. 

"Do you live here at Great Falls?" Asked Georgia with interest. Macy nodded.

"Yeah, my house is just a five minute walk away. Wanna come over today, after classes?" She asked excitedly. Georgia shook her head slowly although she wanted to go very badly. 

"Maybe some other day," said Georgia. 

Ryan came into the class and his eyes sought Georgia out the moment he walked in. He saw his only competitor Macy Stoneham sitting with Georgia and rolled his eyes. He could see that the rival's daughter and his sole competitor had become best friends. He had expected to get Georgia alone since she didn't mix up with anyone. He had been restless for the last few days seeing her dejectedly wandering around in the college all alone. He hated the sight of her brother who religiously escorted her to and from college everyday. It was clear from their interactions that they didn't get on well with each other. Ryan had noticed the strained relationship between them. 

The last few days he hadn't spoken to her but he had observed her closely, without her knowledge. He hadn't been able to stop himself despite his hectic practice sessions. There was a strange quality in Georgia which attracted him to her. He had noticed one thing about her and that was she never smiled. It drew him towards her more and he felt strangely interested to know the reason behind it. She seemed quite different from her two brothers who were real tools. Having lived in Fordsville, Ryan and his family had known them all their lives but they had never met Georgia before. Where was she all her life?

"Why is he standing like a statue and staring at you?" Whisper asked Macy. Georgia dared not glance up at Ryan standing a few feet away. She could feel his hot gaze upon her like always and she had no idea what was going on in his mind. Why did he look at her that way? 

"I don't know, " Georgia whispered back.

"Maybe he wants to talk to you, all alone. Anyway, I need to go to the library. So see you later," said Macy with an amused grin.

"Please don't go," Georgia pleaded but Macy laughed. 

"Update me later, girl," she said with a wave, walking away towards the door. Georgia kept her eyes down, hooked to her mobile. She had no wish to talk to Ryan Wilson. There wasn't anything to talk about anyway. Ryan stood for sometime and then changed his mind and walked out of the classroom. Georgia heaved a sigh of relief after he left but she felt a strange curiosity in her heart which wouldn't go. What was that he had wanted to say to her?

The classes started as usual. Macy sat with Georgia and her day went a whole lot better than before. After college, Georgia walked toward the gate with Macy. The sky had a dismal look with chances of a downpour threatening them. It had suddenly become windy and cold. Georgia wrapped her arms around herself with nervousness. Her brother's car was nowhere in sight and neither was any cab available. 

"Are you sure that you don't want to come over to my house?" Asked Macy with concern. Georgia nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll take a cab and reach home in fifteen minutes," she told her friend. Macy ran home, eager to read before the rain started. Georgia tried to book a cab through her app but her mobile data wasn't working. She looked at the crowded bus leaving the bus stop nearby. She couldn't get into that. Standing under a tree she looked around for a cab when Ryan's car pulled up in front of her. He rolled down his window. 

"Can I drop you home, Georgia?" He asked with a worried look on his face.