Page 29 of The Tryst

Fuck.

I pull up the text exchange I’d had with Holland about fishing tonight.You do realize this cuts into our time together.

We’re not exclusive, remember?she replies, adding a smiling emoji, meaning she’s going to share time with my siblings. It’s the exact opposite of how we used to be when we were together and I don’t like it, but there’s nothing I can do.

Except… there is something I can do because I don’t have to abide by her rules. I reply,Oh, I remember. Be ready to go at 6. I’ll pick you up at your mom’s.

Her reply is quick:I can just meet you at the pond.

We’re not going to the pond.I smirk inwardly as I pocket my phone.

Her reply chimes and I ignore it. I can only imagine what it says. I’m sure she’s demanding to know where we’re going.

I’ll let her in on it later tonight.

“What’s that smile for?” Kat asks, eyes twinkling with curiosity.

I force my face to relax. “Just a running joke I have with a friend.”

“Gotcha. I’m off to do another lunge lesson. Catch you dorks later.”

“Later,” Wade and I echo as we turn toward the office.

Wade bumps his fist into my arm. “Sure you don’t want to come have beers with us tonight?”

“I’ll pass,” I reassure him.

Wade smirks. “Got a hot date, Trey?”

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Something like that.”

Looping his arm over my shoulders, he says, “We’re two peas in a pod, bro. We like our women loose and fast. And not ready to settle down with four kids.”

Laughing, I nod along with him, letting him think that we’re just alike. And maybe we were a week and a half ago, but things have changed now that Holland’s back.

At least for me.

Wade seems unaffected in all ways and that’s good. I wouldn’t want to have to compete with my brother for Holland’s affection.

Because I’ve already been down that road once.

Wade and I sat on hay bales in one of the quieter barns, each nursing our third beer. It was a Saturday night, and the dim light from a single bulb cast long shadows around us.

“Can’t believe Holland’s leaving for college on Monday,” Wade said, taking a swig of his beer.

“Yeah, it’s going to be weird without her around,” I replied, trying to keep my tone neutral. Internally, my heart cramped at the thought of her leaving, but I consoled myself with our plan. We were going to spill our secret to the family as we had planned to do. Tomorrow night… Sunday dinner… meatloaf, rice casserole and a serving of truth.

Wade stared at his beer, swirling the liquid around. “I’m really going to miss her.”

“Me too,” I said, my voice betraying more emotion than I intended. I quickly took a drink to cover it up.

Wade’s eyes flicked up to meet mine, a glimmer of something I couldn’t quite place. “She’s special, you know? Not just because she’s like family, but… she’s sweet, smart and so damn pretty.”

Oh, did I know. I knew because I felt all those things about Holland, but I couldn’t share that with Wade. Not yet. Not until tomorrow when we did it together. So I played it off. “Yup. Smart and pretty.”

“But it’s more than just that, right?” Wade leaned back against the wooden post and sighed.

“Mmm,” I agreed, hoping we could move on as this felt awkward. The more he talked about Holland, the guiltier I felt about my withholding the relationship.

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