Page 36 of Wild Lies

“Do you know if Gray has spoken to Trigg yet?” Reed asks, oblivious to my panic.

He doesn’t know. It’s okay. Holy shit. I can’t go on like this, living in constant fear that I’ll be outed. Either it has to end, or I have to come clean.

Just not yet.

After the finals in January. That’s when I’ll quit.

Clearing my throat, I force my body to relax, dragging in a lungful of warm air as I peel my fingers away from the fencing. The scent of hay fills my nostrils as everything bleeds back into focus. I return my attention back to Grayson and Wyatt.

“Umm, no, I don’t think he has, but you’ll wanna ask Wy about that. Gray handed it over because he’s taking Avery away when the talks are happening.”

Reed nods, lifting a foot to rest it on the bottom panel of the fence. “Okay. I’ll catch him when they’re finished.” He pauses before asking, “How’s Gracie? She didn’t answer her door last night when I popped by.”

It’s not unusual for Reed to turn up at Gracie’s place unannounced. They’ve spent more evenings together than apart—minus their college years—since they were old enough to hang out without our parents around. What is odd is Gracie not letting Reed in when I know for a fact that she was home last night.

I shrug. “She’s fine as far as I know. She was probably washing her hair or something and just didn’t hear the door.”

Reed’s stare burns into the side of my face, but I don’t acknowledge him. Whatever is going on with him and Gracie, they need to figure it out themselves. I’ve got enough of my own stuff on my plate to deal with.

“Has she said anything to you?”

I screw up my face and pinch the bridge of my nose before turning to face him. “No, nothing outside the usual. What would she have to say?”

He steps back, straightening his belt buckle. “Nothing, I guess.” He looks like he wants to say something else, but Grayson and Wyatt head toward us, and Reed shakes his head. “I’ll go see her tonight.”

“See who?” Wyatt asks.

Reed looks at me before answering, as if checking to make sure I won’t air his concern. We’ve been friends since elementary school, but Gracie is my sister and will always come first. Whatever reason she had for ignoring Reed is none of my business unless she brings it up.

“It’s nothing. I wanted to ask if you’d spoken to Trigg about the new account, and Kade said I should talk to you?”

Wyatt repositions his Stetson as Grayson walks with Beau and the horse they were running into the stable. “Yeah. Trigg couldn’t do any earlier, so I’m heading out first thing Saturday to figure out the logistics.”

Reed nods. “Okay, I’ll get you a report on his finances by Thursday. See you both at the office.” He heads off in the direction of the ATVs. It’s quicker to ride to our offices than head out on the main roads to drive there and it would take hours on foot.

“So,” Wyatt asks, “care to tell me why you looked like someone had stuck a hot poker up your ass earlier?”

My head rears back, and I push away from the fence. “Fucking hell, is everyone overanalyzing me today? I’m fine.”

“Is it Chloe? You guys have a fight?”

I give Wyatt what I hope is a stern look; one that tells him to leave it before replying, “We’re fine, great even. I’m great.”

He levels me with a stare, and I know he doesn’t buy it for a second, but for all my sins, he doesn’t push me on it. Instead, he heads out of the paddock and waves for me to follow him into the stable.

I don’t think I can make it until January. Saturday will be my last time.

I swear.

21

KADE

Grayson and Avery leave for their weekend away bright and early on Saturday morning, so family dinner this week is on Friday. Tonight, Autumn and Olivia are busy working, so it’s just the six of us. I’m the last to arrive after sitting in my car for far too long. Chloe is having dinner with her parents later on tonight, and I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I should be there for her. Especially given everything I’ve seen whenever her parents have been around.

Garlic butter assaults my nostrils when I walk into the kitchen. The table is laid, and my mom is filling a serving plate with green beans. Wyatt and Gracie are sitting at the table, picking at the bread rolls while darting sideways glances toward the kitchen island, where Grayson and Avery are helping Mom dish up.

Wyatt spots me first, teasingly calling, “Nice of you to join us, Kade.”