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CHAPTER 1
Grayson
Age Twenty-Four
“Dude, you need to fucking chill.”
I stop bouncing my leg even though my insides are vibrating. My brother’s tone makes it clear I’m a twitch away from him giving me a dead arm.
Damien’s always been pretty tolerant of my nervous energy. I’ve been this way since I was a kid, but I’ve been buzzing for an hour now. Even I’m sick of my shit.
“Kylie’s coming home for the weekend. She said she needed to talk to me about something.” I bite my thumbnail. My best friend rarely gets time off from college these days, but we FaceTime every week to catch up. These last few calls have been different though.
She’s been bursting at the seams to tell me something, and I hope to god it’s the same thing I’ve been dying to tell her since we were teens. I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to let her know her I’m in love with her, but it’s been years, and I still haven’t found the right time. I’m a fucking coward. I’m terrified of her response. The thought of her saying she only sees me as a friend might be worse than if I never say anything at all.
Damien swats my hand away from my mouth before he goes back to playing his video game. “Are you finally going to tell her how sickeningly in love with her you are?”
I drop my head against the back of the couch. The basement TV is loud with the sounds of whatever shooter game he’s playing. It’s grating on my nerves, but I suppose it’s better than silence. “I think so. She’s going into her last year of college in the fall. If we have any hope of making it, we’ll need a plan first.”
“And do you have one?” Damien’s a year older than me, but sometimes I feel like I’m the older brother. He’s never been responsible or a rule follower or ever given a shit about anything but himself. I’ve never met someone as good at shirking the blame as he is. Nothing is ever Damien’s fault.
He still lives with Mom and Dad at twenty-five because he can’t be fucked to find his own place—despite having plenty of money to move out. He’s a video game developer, and I’m worried he’s going to turn into that creepy single guy who lives in his parents’ basement. He still showers and works out every day, so at least he’s taking care of himself. I’ll know if he takes a turn for the worse when he stops doing those two things.
I’ve been working since I was a teenager. While my friends rode broncs in the rodeo, I was the one taking care of the horses. I love my job as a farrier, and I’ve been saving up to buy my own house. It’ll take me a few more years, but I’ll get there eventually. I’m living with my best friend, Knox, until I can afford it. Now that I think about it, maybe I’m not ahead of my brother.
I’ve only ever been outside of our hometown when we travel for the rodeo. It’s fun to see other places, but Pine Creek Falls, Colorado will always be my home. Kylie shares that same view. She wanted to experience life outside of our small town for a little while, but I know she wants to come back eventually.
“I’ve got the beginnings of a plan,” I finally respond to Damien. I need Kylie’s input on a few things. I’ve already found a stable closer to Denver where I can work. It’s not ideal, but it’ll be worth it in the short term while Kylie finishes her degree. We’ll need to find an apartment, which will be pricey, but I think I’ll be able to swing it so she can focus on school. I’ll get a second job if I have to.
A text buzzes on my phone.
Kylie
I’m finally on my way! I’ll have the obligatory dinner with my parents first, but then I’ll be able to sneak out.
Gray
I can’t wait to see you! I’ve got something I want to talk to you about too.
Kylie
Ooh. Mysterious. Meet me at our spot at eight?
Gray
I’ll be there.
Her parents live just down the road from mine, and there’s a pond on the backside of their land that connects to ours. It’s been our spot since we were little. We’d sit on the dock and watch sunsets out there every day during the summer. Then we’d reluctantly go home because we weren’t allowed to be out there after dark.
Despite her being three years younger than me, I’ve always felt like Kylie and I were the same age. A lot of people thought we’d either date or stop being friends once we were in high school. Neither ever happened, even if I wanted her to see me as more than her best friend. I can’t exactly blame her though. I’ve had so many opportunities to tell her how I felt. I just never found the bravery to put it all on the line. I’m finally going to do it tonight.
The next few hours drag on forever. I barely eat the dinner Mom made. My stomach is in too many knots to tolerate food.
When it’s finally time to meet Kylie, I snag the six-pack I bought earlier and walk out the back door. I can already see the pond from the back of the house—the moon’s bright enough to light the way. When we were kids, it felt like we were miles away from home, but it really isn’t far.
As I get closer, Kylie’s silhouette comes into view. Her dark hair hangs in waves down her back. The ends brush the top of her jean shorts, where a sliver of skin shows.
She looks over her shoulder at the sound of my footsteps. My heart stops for half a second. Her megawatt smile is directed right at me. She’s so fucking beautiful. I’ve always thought so, but the years in college have matured her in the best ways.
