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“She won’t be alone. I’m going to go with her,” Chris interjects, setting his glass in the sink. “What do you say, sis? Meet you at the barn in twenty?”
“Sounds good.” I give him the most unphased smile I can muster before quickly turning and exiting the house.
—-
“So, are you going totell me or are you going to make me drag it out of you?” Chris waits until we’ve ridden a good fifteen minutes from the house before saying anything.
“I’m not really sure what you think I should be saying.” I keep my focus forward as he rides next to me.
“Look, you don’t want to admit to anything, and that’s fine. But that doesn’t make what’s happening between you and Thad any less real. Because something is happening. That I’m sure of.”
“I’m not sure if that’s any of your business either way.”
“Since when do we keep secrets from each other?” he questions, a hint of hurt in his voice.
“I love you, big brother, but this part of my life is off limits. I’m not going to trade sex stories with you.” I crinkle my nose, throwing him a pointed look.
“So you’re sleeping together.” He nods. “At least you’re willing to confirm that much.”
“Remind me again why the hell you care.”
“Normally I wouldn’t, but as your brother I feel obligated to discuss something with you before whatever is going on with you two goes any further.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning there’s a lot about Thad you don’t know. A lot I’m assuming he hasn’t told you.”
“Like?” I gesture impatiently for him to continue.
“I need you to promise me you won’t tell him I told you. No one knows except for Mom and Dad, and me of course. The others were told what I’m sure they told you. Thad was having trouble finding a job. Dad did his dad a favor by hooking him up with an income and a place to stay to boot.”
“So there is more.” I nod, having known from the beginning that there was more to the story.
“You knew?”
“I suspected. Though I have no idea why he’s actually here.”
“Promise me you’ll keep this between us. We’ve done our best to keep it out of conversation for a reason. I can’t have you run back there and lay his shit out in the open. It’s important that you don’t.”
“Of course I won’t,” I assure him, growing more curious by the second.
Chris pulls his horse to a stop and I immediately follow suit, guiding Cocoa directly next to him.
“Thad’s an addict,” he says, his tone apologetic, although I’m unsure why.
“What do you mean he’s anaddict?” I say, needing much more information than just a blanket statement.
“Opioids. Heroin. Who knows what else?”
“He’s a drug addict?” My head starts to spin, a buzzing deep in my ears.
“Was. I guess recovering addict is the better term. He’s been clean for about a year now.”
“He’s a drug addict,” I say again, trying to wrap my head around it.
Chris nods before continuing. “I guess it’s something he got into in high school. Got in with the wrong crowd and it spiraled from there. He was in and out of jail and rehab several times in his late teens and early twenties. At some point he got busted with a pretty substantial amount of drugs and ended up serving six months. He did a court ordered rehab after he nearly died of an overdose two months after his release. His father arranged for him to come to the ranch the day after he completed the ninety day program. Thad agreed that leaving the city was the only way he was going to stay clean so he went along with his father’s plan. He’s been here ever since.”
“Wow.” I shake my head, still not really sure what the hell to say.
