Page 35 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

He sagged back on the couch with a look of utter defeat on his face.

“She fell asleep, and I went to feed the horse, but when I came back, she was gone. And then…I freaked out, because she’d woken up alone, and?—”

“You’ve avoided her ever since,” Dex finished, and I nodded once, crossing my arms over my chest as I sank a little further into the panic that was building in my chest.

“Okay.” Dex sat up straighter on the couch like he was prepared to hash out a business deal rather than fix my stupid love life. “Okay, this isn’t too bad. We can work with this.”

“We can work with this?” I deadpanned, hoping he knew just how stupid he sounded.

“No. It’s okay. This is our fault really because we gave you step one and forgot that you don’t behave like a normal human being. There should have been at least twelve more steps for you to follow.” Dex nodded to himself as he steepled his hands in front of his face, tapping his fingers against the tip of his nose. “This is fixable. Right?”

“Why are you asking me that? You’re supposed to be telling me!”

Dex glanced at his watch. “Is it too early for beer?”

It was ten in the morning, so we both knew the answer to that.

“I’m so fucked,” I moaned, dropping my head down in my hands.

I felt Dex pat me on the back, but it didn’t make me feel any better. “I’ve never seen you like this before, Booker. You really like her, huh?”

I couldn’t explain it. Reece had been in my life for a week. It shouldn’t have been possible, especially for someone like me. I kept the world at arm’s length, and despite my high ambitions for the ranch and what it could do for people like me, I wasn’t really a people person. I was just a guy who liked horses.

“She’s…incredible.” I shrugged. There wasn’t much else I could add. I couldn’t explain it. Reece drew me in and fascinated me in a way that no other person had before.

She was strong and compassionate. Resilient and so goddamn sexy. You’d have to be a fool not to see it.

Dex sagged back on the couch, watching me carefully for a minute. “Well, this a pickle.”

I raised an eyebrow, and he shrugged again before we sank into a comfortable silence that I’d always been able to find with Dex at my side.

Dex bowled into my life on the heels of my brother Xander. They met at school one day when he moved to town to live with his grandparents, and Dex had announced them as best friends as soon as they met. He came from one of those families that gave a damn about each other, and yet he’d been inseparable from me and my brothers since that very first day. I always thought that Dex saw how terrible it was at our home, the complete lack of love and caring we had as kids, and decided to step up and fill the void with his friendship. He’d become an important person for all of my brothers, me included. I never could figure out what he got in return.

“What’s in these boxes that Delaney sent, anyway?” he asked after a little while, flipping the lid of the box that sat on the top.

The brown western-style hat stared at me like an accusation. An idea that had seemed like a good idea at the time. The metal badge with the word Stetson on the leather band glinted in the sun. It seemed so ridiculous now, but even now, I knew Reece would get a kick out of it. She needed something to keep the sun out of her eyes, but any old cap would have done. The other box had a pair of boots in it to hopefully make her life a bit easier out in the barn. It had driven me mad the other day, watching her sneakers slowly get wetter and wetter as we’d washed down the mare, knowing she didn’t have anything else to change into.

Dex looked at me, and then a laugh burst out of him. Usually, I’d have gone on the defensive and made some cutting remark to save my hurt feelings. I didn’t this time. It was ridiculous, and I deserved him telling me exactly that.

“Oh, this is amazing.” Dex grinned and picked up the hat, putting it on top of his own head despite it being far too small and making him look ridiculous. “Is this how you guys feel all the time? It’s so delicious I almost don’t want to say it.”

I cut a glare at him out the side of my eye. I hoped he was enjoying himself right now because there would be payback soon.

Dex shuffled in his seat, turning slightly so he was facing me head-on before he stretched out his arms like he was warming up for something. He cracked his head from side to side and then braced his hands on his knees. “Okay, I’m ready. Are you ready? I’m going to enjoy this more than Christmas.”

I could feel the glare deepening on my face but said nothing, regretting even thinking that this doofus could be the one to help me. I should have called Delaney. At least she wouldn’t have made fun of me.

Dex licked his lips and then said, “You idiot.” Grinning and nodding, he added, “Yep, just as good as I thought it would be.”

“What are you talking about?” I snapped, not able to take it anymore.

I snatched the hat off his head and brushed some imaginary dust off its rim, hating that Reece wasn’t the first one to try it on.

“This here,” Dex said, presenting the boxes with a flourish as he passed them to me. “Is the answer to all your problems.”

Okay, maybe that had me intrigued. I placed the hat back in the box and then took them, staring at them but not quite seeing the point Dex was trying to get to.

“I have to do everything.” He sighed, going to grab the hat again, only for me to slap his hand away. “You bought her a thoughtful gift. Go to her, give it to her, and then repeat these exact words to her. It’s important you get them in the right order, so listen carefully.” Dex waited a beat, and I gritted my teeth, trying to resist the urge to hit him again. “I’m. Sorry.” He stressed each word as if it was actually possible I’d be able to get them wrong.

---