Page 43 of The Lies We Told Ourselves

“Please,” he said as he followed me down the steps.

I hesitated at the truck, turning back to him in a moment of weakness. “What?” I snapped.

“I didn’t…” His voice broke, and he turned to look off into the distance, clearing his throat before he could meet my gaze again. “If there’s anything I can do to help you locate Gage, let me know.”

“There’s nothing I need you for anymore.”

And I got into my truck and drove away, those words ringing through my head as I drove away.

I pulled the truck to a stop at the gate, pulling my cell from my pocket to fire off a text before I turned out onto the main road, swearing this was the last time.

Me: It’s done. I have the file.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

REECE

Iwas getting ready to feed the mare again when I heard the tires of Booker’s truck come to a skidding stop on the gravel.

I’d never heard him rush anywhere, and knowing he’d gone to his parents’ house this morning, I had a terrible feeling that it hadn’t gone well.

There was a part of me that felt like I shouldn’t get involved. Booker had touched on his childhood the other day when he was teaching me to ride. I knew he hadn’t told me the full story. I could understand needing to keep parts to yourself private until you’d processed them. Even then, sometimes your sad stories were such a big part of you that you weren’t ready to let them go.

I came out of the barn at the same time that he was slamming the door of his truck closed. It almost seemed like a black cloud hung over him as he dragged one hand through his hair and then put his hat back on his head.

A moment of doubt hit my mind, but I shook it off. Holding back now wasn’t what Booker needed. That was what everyone in his life had done, and I wanted to show him that there was a different way.

So before I could second guess myself, I strode out of the barn toward him. He caught sight of me as I approached, and I saw his lips twitch with happiness, even if it didn’t fully make it to the surface.

That was okay. These were baby steps we were taking.

I leaned up on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around Booker. It was like he didn’t quite know what to do at first, but then his arms slowly came around me, and his face burrowed against my neck.

We stood like that for a moment, Booker soaking up the affection he needed.

I needed it too. Maybe it was a selfish gesture, but there was so much I felt when Booker held me in his arms. Feelings I didn’t think I’d feel for another person for a very long time.

“Thank you,” he said as he pulled back.

I smiled. There was no need for thanks. I’d spend all day curled up on his lap if he wanted me to.

“Did you get the information you needed?”

Booker held up the file between us. “Come on. Let’s go get something to eat, and we can look at this.”

I hesitated for a second, not sure if this was something I should get involved with. It seemed really personal, and I didn’t want to insert myself where I didn’t belong. This thing between me and Booker was so new. We weren’t even at the stage of putting a label on it, and we’d only just decided that we wanted to see where it goes.

Booker glanced over his shoulder and hit me with one of his smiles. “Come on. I’m not making lunch all by myself.”

I shook my head and followed as my stomach growled loudly, transforming Booker’s smile into a full-on grin.

“Hungry?”

I looked him up and down, appreciating the way the denim cupped his ass. “You could say that.”

He laughed, jogging up the porch steps. “Be careful what you ask for,” he warned.

“Just so we’re clear, I’m definitely asking for wild, hot sex.”

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