Page 40 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

“Booker,” I started.

But then his finger pressed against my lips to stop me.

“I know. Let’s just agree to try. To see where it goes and just have fun. We don’t have to put a label on anything until we’re ready to do that.”

I nodded, a wave of relief flowing through me that just made me feel guilty. I couldn’t start anything with Booker without telling him my story. Not the part about my lonely childhood, the part that I ran from.

I could see myself building a life in Willowbrook. The cute small town in the middle of nowhere had a charm that made me never want to leave. And so what if Booker stood beside me in that picture? The guy I’d only met a week ago with a heart of gold he didn’t want anyone to know he had.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BOOKER

Iwould never hear the end of it from Dex that his advice about Reece had actually worked. The weirdest thing was that I didn’t even care. I’d live a life of his incessant teasing if it kept Reece by my side.

I saw the doubt in her eyes when I asked her out. It wasn’t that she didn’t want me. She was afraid. And I couldn’t blame her. It was hard enough to put your heart out there, and doubly so when someone had already abused it.

But I was okay with slow. Not that we’d really followed that advice up until now.

This thing between us burned with a fire I’d never experienced before.

That was how I knew. How I knew she was the one I wanted to fight for. The one that was worth the dance.

But right now, none of that helped me. Because here I was, sitting in my truck outside of my parents’ house, trying to work up the courage to go inside.

I hated this place. I rarely, if ever, came back if I could help it. In fact, I rarely, if ever, saw my parents, and they were just as okay with that as I was.

They had such high hopes for their eldest, and once I’d failed every single one of them, they’d cast me aside. It was possibly the nicest thing they’d ever done for me.

Now, we all did our best to pretend the other didn’t exist, and my parents tried their damndest to make sure no one else knew about it. I didn’t really give a damn about what the town thought. As long as they left me alone, and I could live my life however I wanted, I didn’t really care about any of it anymore.

Dex: The parts are here. Reece’s car will be done in a couple of days.

Me: You already told me that.

Dex: I know. I just wanted an excuse to text you so I could pretend I hadn’t been wondering all day if you asked Reece out.

Xander: Wait, you’re asking Reece out? When did this happen?

Trace: Damn, now I owe Delaney twenty bucks.

Xander: Do we like Reece?

Me: You don’t have to like her at all. I’m the one who’s going out with her.

Xander: Hey, I’m in this family too. I just want to know if she’s good enough for my big brother.

Trace: According to Delaney, she’s amazing and exactly what he needs.

Me: Why does that sound so insulting?

Trace: They’re all too good for us.

Me: I can’t think about Reece right now.

Dex: Oh, man. She said no?

Me: Of course she didn’t say no.

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