Page 97 of A False Start
Nadia marches away, and neither of us makes a move to stop her. She turns around when she gets to her vehicle, gripping the top of her door until her knuckles go white. “You two Neanderthals are best friends. Don’t be stupid about this. I’ll see you both at family dinner tonight.”
With a disappointed shake of her head, she gets into her car, pulls a three-point turn, and burns out of the driveway. Leaving us both standing in a cloud of dust, staring at each other a little sheepishly.
Stefan breaks the ice. “I think my sister just gave us both a spanking at the same time.”
“She’s a force to be reckoned with,” I agree. Because she is. She takes no shit, not from anyone.
The two of us stare at each other, awkward silence swelling between us. “Listen, I should have told you.”
Stefan shakes his head and scrubs a hand over his face. “No. She’s right. It’s none of my business in the grand scheme of things. I’m just shocked. Surprised. Mira mentioned she could see there was a spark between the two of you, and I laughed it off. I couldn’t see it, but maybe I just wasn’t looking.”
I suck in a deep breath. “We actually met before I knew she was your sister. Two years ago, at Neighbor’s.”
“Well, shit.” He cups his hands behind his neck. “I had no idea.”
“Yeah.” It’s all I can think to say because Nadiaisright. We don’t owe him an explanation or any details. Most of this is between us.
“Well...I like you a lot better than that Tommy guy.”
“I fucking hate that kid,” I growl back. Just the mention of his name makes my jealousy levels spike.
Stefan chuckles, still regarding me like I’ve grown a second head or something. Like he can’t quite reconcile the whole thing. And really, who can blame him? It’s out of left field for someone who didn’t know.
“Listen. All I want for Nadia is the best. Love. Happiness. For every single one of her dreams to come true. We have a unique relationship, and I know I’ve made mistakes where she’s concerned, but I don’t want to make any now. If she loves you, and you love her? If you make her happy, and you can make all her dreams come true, well, I already love you like a brother, Griffin. It wouldn’t be hard to adjust to having you around. I want nothing but the best for both of you.”
“Fuck, Stefan.” I think that’s as close to my friend professing his love for me as I’m going to get.
“But...Griffin...” He hits me with a penetrating stare. There’s no cruelty, or challenge in his expression, just pure honesty. “If you think any of this shit”—he waves a hand behind himself at where Tonya stood and proclaimed she’s going to drag me through the mud—“is going to blow back on her, then that’s something you need to think about. I know you have your demons, and I know one of the most valuable things about our friendship is that we never pick on each other about those things. But that girl? She needs no more demons.”
What he says rings true. It’s painful to hear, but he’s not wrong. I struggle to find any words to respond. Words aren’t my strong suit at the best of times, and right here in this moment is not the best of times.
So, I just meet his thoughtful stare with a patient look of my own. A stony nod is all it takes for him to know I understand what he’s saying.
He claps me on the shoulder and strides away to his Jeep, peeling out of the driveway, leaving me standing alone.
Well, not alone. With my demons.
34
Nadia
I’m hidingout in Cowboy’s stall at Cascade Acres. He’s all tucked in tight for the evening. The swelling in his leg is all but gone. I’ve brushed him to a perfect shine, given him a massage, done the stretches with him that Griffin showed me, oiled his hooves, kissed his soft nose, and held his head as he snuggled up against me in a bid for even more cookies than I already spoiled him with.
I turn in toward him, nuzzling against his shoulder and wrapping my arms around his neck. He’s like the biggest, warmest, most comforting teddy bear. I told him everything that happened today as I worked on him. He sighed and let his long lashes fall shut. No judgment, no opinions, just a nuzzle against my pockets because he knows I am the ultimate bearer of treats.
Who knew this horse would become the friend and confidant I’ve never had? I mean, I’ve always liked the horses, but Cowboy is different. We’re kindred. Both discarded, both underestimated, both with so much potential and more to do.
My plan is to give him the next few months off while I start school and have Billie do some work with him. I’ll only be an hour down the road, but I know my days will be full with my courses and studying. I’ll still take a lesson every weekend. But hopefully by the time my spring semester wraps up, those riding lessons will be on Cowboy.
Maybe we’ll jump, maybe we’ll spend our lives doing trail rides. I don’t really know. I just know he and I are in it for the long haul. I’ll follow his lead.
Peeking down at my watch, I realize that I’m officially late. I’ve cooled off since earlier, but I’m still dreading facing everyone. After one more kiss pressed to my horse’s dark mahogany neck, I leave the stall, locking it behind me and trudging up the sloped driveway, straight to the chaos that is Sunday dinner.
Except tonight, I’ll be facing both men I spent the afternoon avoiding.
My mind flashes back to when Griffin told my brother he’s in love with me. My heart flutters at the memory, but my stomach drops like I’m being ripped in opposite directions. I want to explore whatever this is with Griffin. I want to be able to tell him I love him back. But I know—I know—the timing isn’t right.
I can still see the way my brother gaped at him right as my jaw fell open. It was one thing for him to whisper it against my skin, and another entirely for him to profess it to my brother in such plain terms.
