Page 53 of Unstable

“Hadley,” I sigh. “Did you watch Hadley too?”

“No, not really. Couple times I made sure she had control of her horse, but she didn’t ever wander far, and seldom alone. So no. She did catch me watching you once though,” he gives a subdued laugh. “Snuck right up behind me, never heard her coming. You were rocking in the hammock, reading a book. Think that was a big hint for her on how I felt about you.”

“She never told me that either,” I whisper.

I understand her wanting me to “see the light” for myself, but neighbor guy spying on me? That, you tell your sister.

“You must’ve been about fifteen. She was probably already in the letting you figure it out phase,” he elaborates on what I hadn’t realized I’d spoken aloud.

“Maybe,” I mumble, somewhat disheartened to think my sister and I might not have been as close as I thought we were.

“Hen, stop it.” His hold on my thigh firms, as does his tone. “You two were as close as could be. The few things she kept to herself were because she loved you so much and knew her silence was in your best interest in the long run. You held onto a few secrets of your own too, right?”

“Yes,” I grumpily admit, thinking again about how I used the same strategy on her when it came to Justin.

“Alright then, you should understand why she did it, because you did the same for her. Now put it out of your head, we’re here.”

I look up and sure enough, I’d missed us pulling in front of the vet’s office.

“I’ll come around, can you get the door?”

I jump out and open the back door, stepping aside as Keaton reaches in and picks up Bourbon. “We’re gonna get ya fixed up, boy. Don’t you worry,” he tells both of us.

I pray he’s right.

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