Page 46 of Sunshine

The lie rolls easily off my tongue, and it must be all he needs to hear because he turns back toward the door and pushes through it.

Outside, the sun blinds me, and I throw a hand up to shield my eyes as I follow behind Wells. Kasey is already waiting by the truck, sipping on his own coffee. “Morning,” he says. “Ready to hitthe road?”

All I can do is nod as I climb silently into the truck.

The drive homeis mostly quiet, which only increases the anxiety churning in my chest. Wells keeps his focus out the passenger window, careful to keep his legs and arms from touching me despite being smashed together on the bench seat. Thankfully Kasey doesn’t seem to notice anything amiss; he’s been singing along with old Hank Jr. songs since we left Dallas.

Now that we’re approaching Saddlebrook Falls, my nerves have also ignited thoughts of my mother. I know she’s probably furious with me for skipping town and leaving her with nothing but a note—she’ll be even more outraged when she finds out that I spent a night in a motel with Wells and Kasey.

But when Kasey pulls up to the curb, I realize I might be having another stroke of luck—Mom’s car isn’t in the driveway.

Wells makes quick work of unbuckling himself and jumping out on the sidewalk, giving me room to scoot myself out. Just as I reach the edge of the seat, I turn around to look at Kasey. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”

He smiles. “Anytime, Layla. You’re always welcome.”

Warmth blooms in my chest at the unexpected words. I smile back at him, then jump down onto the cement where Wells waits with his hand on the frame of the door. His face is unreadable, and my chest cools at the reminder that I mightnotbe welcome anywhere withhim, as Kasey suggested.

I grind the toe of my shoes intothe ground and say, “So—” just as he says, “Thank you—” But it makes him smile as he nods for me to go first.

“So,” I start again, “for what it’s worth, I appreciate that you invited me to go with you guys. And I’m sorry I got emotional last night, but I really did love getting out of town for a bit.”

His earthy brown eyes stay focused on mine. “It’s no problem. Thank you for coming along, and don’t apologize for your emotions, Layla. There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

I want to press him further, ask him why he’s pushing me away then. But I know it’s probably not ideal with Kasey waiting patiently in the truck. So instead, I just say, “I’ll see you around,” and head up the front walkway, back to reality. I hear the car door shut behind me, and though I don’t look back, I still notice that Kasey doesn’t pull away until I get through the door.

Just as I turn around to peek from a safe vantage point behind the curtain, I’m startled to see Annie’s already there with her face glued to the window.

“Was that a horse trailer?” she asks curiously.

I clutch my chest as a laugh spills out of me. “Yeah.”

“Was there a horse inside?”

I smile at her. “Yep, a big beautiful white horse named Ghost.”

“Wow,” she breathes.

“Maybe I’ll take you to see him someday,” I say, though I regret the words as soon as they come out. Mom would never let Annie come with me to Bennett Ranch, and I’m not even sureI’mwelcome there after what happened this morning.

“Mom’s pretty upset with you,” Annie confides, looking up at me with worry splashed acrossher face.

I keep an easy smile plastered to mine—I don’t want Annie to worry about Mom and me. “I figured she would be,” I say. “I’m sorry I left like that, but I needed a little break from my own mind. And being here sometimes doesn’t help, you know?”

She considers this. “Where did you go?”

“To Dallas. For a rodeo.”

Her eyes light up like the Christmas tree behind her. “Arodeo?”

“Yes,” I laugh again. “Some of my friends are cowboys who work on a ranch. That was their horse.”

You should find someone to be there for you.

And I’m not sure that it should be me.

“Since when are you allowed to be home alone anyway?” I ask, forcing all thoughts regarding Wells Bennett from my mind.

“Since I turned thirteen,” she declares with pride. “But only for, like, an hour at a time. Mom just went to the grocery store.”

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