Page 32 of A Cowboy's Twinkling Lights Lasso
“I don’t think this is the time or place,” my brother hisses louder, leaning between us.
“I think this is the perfect time and place,” Dani leans over her sister’s shoulder. “If he has nothing to hide—”
“I have nothing to hide,” I bark. “Let me make this as straightforward as a dirt road. I didn’t have sex with anyone else that summer. I didn’t see another girl. I didn’t even kiss another girl.”
The storm in her eyes melts away, and hints of sadness cloud her expression. “I saw you.”
“Saw me what?”
“It was a long time ago.” My brother grasps my shoulder hard enough to make it ache. “Walk away.”
I’m not fucking moving. I wait for her to talk.
“I saw you the night you rushed home because your dad got arrested again. I followed you and saw you leaving your dad’s rundown barn, shirtless, with a girl who was wearing your Stetson.”
“What?” It seems to be the only reply I can muster up.
“I saw you.”
Those three words pound in my ears as my mind races to recall what in good heavens she’s talking about.
A night my dad got arrested—hell, there had been too many to remember. A girl wearing my Stetson and leaving the barn. None of this rings any damn bells. I didn’t drag women into the barn for a quickie. All the years before Flora, I’d been too busy racing dirt bikes through the rugged terrain without a helmet, taking stolen cars on joyrides down rural backroads, and climbing abandoned grain silos. The list of stupid shit I’ve done is long, and I’m surprised I’m still alive. But the one person I didn’t want to turn into was my dad, who only got out of bed for alcohol and screwing gals in barns.
“A lot of shit went down at my dad’s parties,” Theo says. “Why don’t we leave the details in the past.”
“Theo, you’d remember the night.” Flora’s gaze passes mine. “You called my house to warn me he’d snuck into a barn with her.”
My stomach plummets.
Flora’s gaze meets mine. “That he snuck into the barn with a different girl every night.”
I stand frozen as the weight of my brother’s betrayal punches me in the gut.
FLORA
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“FLORA, I DIDN’T know. I’m so sorry.” My sister’s apology touches my ear, but the shift in Thorn’s expression holds me captive.
I should follow her gentle tug and retreat from this mess. I should count my blessings that I found the strength to confront him. But the way he stares straight through me, lost in a sea of flickering emotions, playing so raw and vividly on his face, keeps me grounded.
He pivots to Theo, slow and intentional. The space between them lies thick, like a heavy fog.
“I thought we had each other’s backs.” The anger manifested in Thorn’s growl vibrates through the floor.
Theo holds up his arms. “I was young and stupid.”
“You are my brother. You are my ride or die.” Thorn doesn’t raise his voice, but the sharp, cut-edge tone is chilling. “You straight up lied to her?”
“Wait? What?” Dani sounds as surprised as I feel. “What?”
“It wasn’t a straight-up lie.” Theo takes a step back. “You went into the barn with her and were shirtless. I just omitted a few details.”
Thorn grunts. “Omitted a few details? What details, Theo?”
His brother shrugs, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “You know, this and that.”
“Theo, I reckon you’re gonna start spillin’ details before I lose my cool.”
