Page 18 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

“Delaney!” Trace shouted. “There’s a girl!”

“What?” someone shrieked, and I ducked down next to Cade.

“What’s happening right now?” I whispered dramatically.

Cade rolled his eyes before loudly whispering back to me, “My parents are so cringe.”

“I am not!” Trace gasped. “Take that back!”

“I call cringe when I see cringe,” Cade said back, crossing his arms as he stared his dad down.

I might not have had any idea what was happening, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out that this guy was Booker’s brother. He was obviously younger, and he wasn’t as heavily built as Booker, but apart from that, they looked so similar. It was like getting a glimpse of Booker from ten years ago.

Booker appeared on the porch of the ranch house, and I swore I heard him swear all the way from over by the barn before he stalked his way across the driveway.

“Oh, you’ve done it now. Hi, I’m Delaney!” she said as she stood at my side, and we all watched as Booker stormed closer.

“What is wrong with you two?” Booker snapped.

“Too cringe,” Cade and I said at the same time and then started to giggle.

Delaney looked at me and grinned. “I like you.” She turned to Booker. “I like her, Booker.”

“Someone call the papers,” he snarked. “Now stop traumatizing Reece. You’re supposed to be here for a riding lesson.”

Delaney shuddered, and Cade patted her arm in solidarity. She must be the one that thought horses wore murder shoes. Trace just snickered at her distress, and she threw him a dirty look before an evil grin came across her lips.

“That’s a fantastic idea,” she beamed before she linked her arm through mine. “You guys go and do that, and Reece can keep me company on the porch. You know, for emotional support.”

And then she tugged on my arm as she started walking toward the house.

I glanced back at Booker, who was scowling in our direction. This clearly wasn’t going how he wanted, but his family seemed really nice, and I couldn’t lie. It was kind of funny how much fun they were having messing with him.

“So,” Delaney said, as she led me over to some seats on the porch. “My son is about to get onto a death demon, and I need someone to distract me. Tell me all about you and how you caught the eye of my lovely soon-to-be brother-in-law.”

I laughed, watching as Cade was helped onto a horse that didn’t move even a fraction of an inch as he did. It stood completely still until it lowered its head to sniff Val sitting patiently at its feet.

“See!” Delaney hissed. “I don’t know if I can watch this.”

I turned to laugh at her, but when I saw how gray her face was, I realized she was actually being serious. She was terrified for her kid right now.

“Booker rescued me from the side of the road,” I blurted out, and she looked at me with wide eyes. “My car broke down, and I was freaking out about what to do and kind of didn’t realize that it was on fire. He knocked on my window and hauled me out of there.”

She blinked, her lips parting in surprise. “Wow, that’s…kind of dreamy,” she admitted, and I laughed.

“Yep, my real-life knight in shining armor.”

I looked across at Booker, who was giving Cade instructions on how to hold the reins. He looked different. More relaxed. Happier even.

“He’s a good guy, you know,” Delaney whispered, almost like she thought we’d be overheard. “He’s a grumpy ass sometimes, but it’s only because he’s too used to being alone.”

“Being alone isn’t so bad.”

“Don’t let one person break your view of the world.”

I looked across at Delaney, who was watching the guys. Booker had the horse walking, and Cade was chatting away from the saddle as Trace watched on proudly. He was clearly having the time of his life. She didn’t make any sign that she was talking about anything as serious as we were. I could appreciate that. Having control of my situation and how everyone dealt with it was something I needed, and she seemed to sense that.

“I won’t. I just need to get back to the me I was before all this happened.”

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