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“Yes, I’m in the dark, Dev. Apparently in more ways than one.”
“What does that mean?”
He winced. “Nothing.” Schooling his features, he shifted to flip on the light, then arched his brows at his brother. “What are you doing here?”
“Dinner with the Diamonds.”
“Hmm.” He rose and swiped up his empty bottle to go toss it in the recycle. “Want a beer?”
Dev shut the door and raised his hand in a staying gesture. “No, thanks. We’re heading home soon. I saw the lights off and the jeep here, and thought I’d check in.”
Reyes moved forward to brace his palms on the island. “You’ve checked. All good.”
His brother walked over to face him across the counter. “Or somewhat better, it would appear.”
“Sure.”
“Except I got a call from Dad earlier. He said you’ve been burying yourself in work. Like when you first got home.”
So Dad sent Dev.
He wanted to be annoyed. Instead, his chest tightened at the fact they cared. Not that he ever doubted they did.
“Thing is,” Dev continued, “unless you’ve started seeing a therapist about your PTSD, the only thing different I’m aware of in the past month is a certain Diamond up here for training.”
Reyes dipped his head, staring at the counter as he traced his finger along one of the black veins in the marble-like top. He didn’t want to admit his stupidity, but it was going to come out sooner than later.
“She told me she loved me.”
“And?”
He glanced up. “And I sent her home.”
“That much is obvious. I meant, and how do you feel about her?”
“I love her.”
“Then why send her away?”
“She was going to stop competing. Give up her dream of riding in the Olympics. I couldn’t let her do that. She would’ve come to hate me.”
Dev nodded. “Maybe. So why didn’t you go with her?”
“I didn’t think it was an option.” He gave a wry smile. “At the time anyway.”
“And now?”
“It’s definitely an option.”
His brother smiled. “Good.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, typed a message, and then reached to put it away again. “I’ll take that beer after all. Let’s sit down and figure this out.”
One week later, Reyes followed Shelby and Dev into the arena complex in New York. A myriad of people milled about near concessions on the right, and through a wide opening front and center, he caught a glimpse of sand and jumps. Riders trotted and cantered past as they warmed up their mounts.
“Uncle Matt said he’d meet us by the left side—there he is.”
Reyes had already spotted the signature Diamond dark hair. His brother’s hand landed on his shoulder for a quick squeeze. “Good luck.”
He gave them a nervous smile, then strode over to where Raine’s father waited. The man’s expression tightened when he made eye contact, and his whole body stiffened.
