Page 29 of Wild Lies

I want to tell her to stay put, but that would look more suspicious than anything, so I simply nod. She loops her arm through mine as we weave our way to the restrooms at the back of the restaurant.

When we’re out of earshot of the table, she says, “I like him for you.”

“Who? Kade?” I ask, aiming for nonchalant but sounding much further from it than I intended.

“No. The server,” Rachel teases. “Yes, Kade. He’s really into you and you two look so good together. Like you were made for each other.”

“You think so?” I ask, walking into the ladies’ restroom with a flare of hope expanding in my chest.

I enter one of the stalls as Rachel leans against the basins.

“Yeah. Have you not seen the way he looks at you? It’s like you hung the moon and stars, Chlo. That’s the kind of love you don’t let go of. Trust me.”

Sitting on the toilet, I close my eyes, resting my head in my hands as I allow my body to relax. At least the pretending is working, I guess. If we’ve convinced Rachel that Kade is madly in love with me, then we’ve done our jobs, right?

God. I hate how conflicted I feel.

I hate that I’m lying to my sister. Lying to my parents is one thing, but Rachel has never judged me and I can’t help but feel like I should have been honest with her because there’s no way I can now.

I finish up and head out of the stall, contemplating coming clean to her before I catch sight of her on her phone and tension floods my body. I don’t know where it comes from, but something inside me screams to keep my mouth shut.

She holds up her phone, a sheepish look on her face. “Mom was just texting to ask how dinner is going.”

I nod. The reminder of how different Rachel’s relationship is to mine with our parents is enough to keep my lips sealed. My mom has a way of dragging things out of Rachel with a single look and although she’d no doubt try her best to keep my secret if I ask her to, it’s not a risk I want to take. Especially when I still have to get through dinner with them.

In the reflection of the mirror as I wash my hands, I watch her wage an internal war with herself as she considers her next words. “I know Mom can be a bit much, Chlo, and Dad’s, well, he’s Dad, but they only ever want the best for you.”

Her words linger in the air between us, the gentle jingle of music from the speakers the only noise as I dry my hands. When I’m finished, I crumple up the paper towel, throwing it in the trash can before inhaling a deep breath and facing Rachel.

“Please don’t ruin tonight by bringing them up. I just want to have dinner with my sister and her husband.”

She jerks her chin, and her features soften before she tucks her phone back into her purse and pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry. And your super-hot cowboy boyfriend.”

“Yeah, and him too,” I mutter.

Rachel leans back, studying my face before releasing me. “I don’t know how you even leave the house when you’re here. If Ollie was a macho cowboy, I’d have him wandering around the house shirtless all day every day. Hell, who am I kidding, I do that anyway.”

We break out into laughter, and just like that, the tension that had filled my body at the mention of my parents dissipates.

“Come on,” I say. “We’ve left our men out there by themselves for too long. Who knows what they’re getting up to.”

“Probably talking about how Kade can invest more into his ranch,” Rachel jokes.

We head back to the table, sitting down as Kade and Ollie talk about something to do with ranch investments. Rachel and I share another look before busting out into fits of giggles.

“What’s so funny?” Kade asks, narrowing his eyes at me.

I try to school my features, fluttering my lashes as I reach out to rest a hand on his arm. “Nothing, handsome.”

The rest of the night passes in a blur of good conversation, food, and company. I’m a little bit tipsy when we leave, leaning into Kade’s side like I belong there. He drops a kiss in my hair as we stand on the sidewalk watching Rachel and Ollie drive away.

“Rachel said you’re good for me.”

“She did?” Kade asks.

I lean back, resting a hand on his chest and feeling his warmth through the material of his shirt. “Yeah. And I think I agree.” The hand on my hip flexes before I continue, “I like spending time with you, Kade.”

“Right back at ya, buttercup. And this didn’t count as our date.”