“Don’t worry, I told her the bet you won was in her favor, and that now I had a free trip for me and a friend to New Zealand, but I didn’t tell her what exactly the bet was. She asked who I would bring, and I told her I didn’t know—that I didn’t have that many friends. So she said that she and her friend Summer had always talked about going there but never had the chance, and that if I was stuck, she would come,” she says softly, matching Levi’s gaze, looking out at the mountains as if they hold all of life’s secrets.
Fuck. I’ve been slacking on my brotherly duties, focusing all my energy on Hannah. She looks so dejected.
“Why wouldn’t you bring Taylor?” I ask. Those two have been joined at the hip for the past four years, ever since Taylor started taking horseback riding lessons at the ranch.
“She quit riding. She’d ratherhave a social life,as she put it,” Sadie says on a deep exhale, looking up so the tears I see in her eyes don’t fall. Fuck. “She said there’s more to life than riding horses and the ranch.” Fuck, I think to myself tightening my hand around my beer bottle. I was really hoping this wouldn’t happen to her. This is what happens when you find a passion. When you find something that makes the stars brighter, that keeps you up at night and that gives you a high like nothing else. I knew there was a chance that was going to happen. She’s a weapon on a horse. Nobody can ride like my baby sister. I might be biased but the wall of ribbons and trophies in our living room doesn’t lie. She is what’s called a once-in-a-generation talent. The same thing happened to me. The only difference is I had nineteen other guys going through the same thing at the same time as me. She’s all alone.
“How do you feel about that?” I ask softly.
“I get it but I don’t,” she answers honestly. “I get that I should be more interested in shopping, getting my hair done and boys, but I don’t want to. I like who I am, I like getting up at five a.m. to make sure the horses are fed, and spending my weekends at horse shows. Honestly, I don’t want to change who I am. So it looks like it’s just me and my horses,” she says with a small smile, no more tears in her eyes. I made the same choice.
“I’m proud of you. You’ll find friends that have the same passion,” I say, throwing an arm around her and giving her a kiss on top of the head. “How about I take you out some time this week and get you a new pair of riding boots?”
“Too late,” she says, making me turn towards her, confused.
“What do you mean too late?”
“Well, when I told Hannah that I didn’t know who I would bring to New Zealand with me, she asked me why,” she starts with a small blush, clearly embarrassed. “I told her just because. She said she didn’t believe me, that she was once a sixteen-year-old girl. Then she said you promised her a deal with your credit card, and she said why not make it a two-for-one. We get to hang out and spend your money. She’s picking me up Tuesday.”
Well fuck me sideways. If I wasn’t already in love with her . . .
“I hope that’s okay?” Sadie asks with a frown marking her eyebrows.
“Of course it is!” I answer without missing a beat. Nothing makes me happier than the girl who owns my heart making sure the first girl who’s ever stolen my heart feels confident, spoiled, and loved. There’s nothing harder than being a teenager completely dedicated to their art, to their sport.
“Good! In return I told her I’d teach her how to barrel race!”
“You know you don’t owe anyone for being nice to you, right?” I ask a little concerned, which earns me an eye roll.
“I know that! I’m not stupid!” And the teenager sass is back out to play. “I actually like her. Plus, I think I should get to know my new sister-in-law. And I can’t let you marry a woman who doesn’t know how to do barrels.”
“And who said I was marrying said woman?” I ask.
“No one had too, your face says it all, Ian,” she says getting up to go join Hannah and our mom.
Apparently I don’t hide my love for her as much as I thought. I wonder if she knows.
Chapter 30
After spending another day with mopey Levi at Ian’s family ranch, I decided enough was enough. I was going to talk to Lacey. Levi won’t tell me because it’s between him and Lacey, and at first I thought it was cute. Now? It’s the most annoying thing I’ve ever heard of. My baby brother is hurting, and it’s one of my best friends doing the hurting. I will never look at siblings’ best friends’ romances the same again. Thanks for ruining the trope.
And turns out I’m not the only one who’s annoyed, I got a group text sent to Ellie, JJ, Ian, and me, from Lacey telling us to meet her at her apartment and that she had some news for us.
“Do you know why Levi wasn’t invited?” Ian asks as we pull into the parking lot of Lacey’s apartment complex.
“I have no idea, and I didn’t want to tell him we were meeting her here, or that she called a meeting without him,” I tell him honestly.
“Well let’s hope this clears up whatever the hell is going on,” Ian agrees as he knocks on the door, which is quickly opened by a teary-eyed Ellie.
This is not what I was expecting. Turning to look at Ian, he shrugs his shoulders looking just as confused as me. I’m even more confused once we walk in and I notice the place is empty. Everything is in boxes.
“What’s going on?” I ask once my eyes land on Lacey.
“I’m moving,” she says with determination in her eyes. I know that determination. I’ve seen it staring back at me in the mirror. It’s the determination of a woman scorned. It’s the look of a woman taking control of her life. The minute my eyes lock with hers, all anger leaves my body. I know how important it is for her to leave right now. With a head nod, and hopefully an understanding look, I simply say, “Okay,” giving her what she needs. That last little push of her friend understanding what she’s doing and, more importantly, why she’s doing it.
“Where are you moving to?” Ian asks softly, making her blush.
“That depends . . . on you, actually,” she says to Ian. “A few months ago I got accepted into a special program at Florida Tech. I would get to fast-track my masters. I can do my masters in Astronomy in eighteen months instead of twenty-four. It’s a really competitive program—only ten students get accepted every session. That being said, I was wondering if I could stay in your house in Florida?” Letting that hang in the air, I look at JJ. He has the look of a scared but proud older brother, and I see it. She’s tired of living in his shadow. What the hell did Levi do? Why is she now deciding to accept the opportunity of a lifetime, but didn’t when she first got the offer?
