Page 18 of Burning for the Truth

He turns and grabs a flashlight for me. “You better check in as soon as you find your girl,” he says as he hands me the light and takes another walkie off its charger to communicate with me.

I don’t correct him about her being my girl. In my heart, she’ll always be my girl, even if she won’t evertrulybe. I simply nod as I dig my heels in and Gypsy glides out of the stables. I can’t help but remember another night almost identical to this one. I feel even more guilt settle in my soul. I broke her heart then, and I’ve broken her heart now.

And like I always do, I’m chasing after her, hoping I can somehow fix what I know can never be restored. If only my love for her was enough to seal every crack and glue every piece back together.

Gypsy and I move together easily like we’ve done this a million times. I switch on the light searching for any sign of Briella and Whiskey. I finally reach a hilltop which, in the moonlight, allows me to see the silhouette of them both. She’s still sitting on Whiskey’s back with her face turned up to the sky.

I gently guide Gypsy to where they are and I’m beside her, taking her in, every inch—her pain, her beauty, her chaos, her fire. I know she thinks it’s burned out, but I still see it.

Tears sparkle on her cheeks in the moonlight as my heart twists painfully in my chest at the sight. I take her hand in mine, and to my surprise, she doesn’t pull away. She squeezes my fingers.

I squeeze back and tell her,“Hold on, Briella. Don’t let go.”

She lowers her face back down and stares out over the hills cloaked in silvery darkness before looking at me. And when her brown eyes find mine, they’re almost golden brown, glowing in the moonlight.

It’s in this instant, I know I’m in trouble. Her eyes see right through me, and they’re the only eyes I want to stare into. I might’ve thought I had feelings for her before, but right now, there’s no thinking involved. I know with absolute certainty I love Briella Brigg with all I am, and I guess I always have. And there’s not a damn thing I’ll ever be able to do about it, not only because of Drew’s memory, but she’s Sterling’s little sister, and I have no intention of losing the only best friend I have left.

We make our way back to the stables slowly. Once there, she leads Whiskey back to her stall and closes her in while I do the same with Gypsy after removing her saddle. Once the saddle is put away, I find Briella nose to nose with Whiskey.

I walk over to her and stand so close I can feel the heat radiating from her body. I’m unsure if I should touch her, but I take the chance and turn her to me. Her brown eyes are focused on my chest until I tip her chin up with my fist, making her meet my stare.

Her gaze flicks to my lips, and mine follows suit. I notice her lips part and I’m about to lean in despite all the warning bells in my head, when I hear Tate’s voice. “Bree, what the hell do you think you’re doing…” He trails off at the sight of us.

I step back and release her quickly. She looks at me with too many emotions to decipher warring in her dark brown eyes. Where moments ago she was being vulnerable and…honest, the opposite is true now. She’s put her ironclad walls back in place and locked me out.

“Briella, I—” I begin, but she cuts me off faster than changing a channel on TV.

“Don’t.” She stares me down so intensely I’m doubting she doesn’t hate me now. I’d say she does. I can’t win with her. She rolls her shoulders back and faces Tate. “Tate, you know better than to tell me what to do. If I want to ride a horse, I will. Now if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time for me to leave.”

She moves away from me and walks up to Tate, stopping in front of him. His hard stare falls on me before it softens when he looks at her. “Bree, I’m only watching out for you. You don’t know what it was like to not know where you were when you got hurt as a kid. If Dean hadn’t found you…” He shakes his head as if shaking off the memory of the night we all remember too well. A frantic and helpless memory.

She puts her slim hands on each side of his face and stands on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. “I’m fine, Tater. Always have been and always will be. You know me,” she says as she drops back down on her feet.

He pulls her in a hug. “Yeah, I do, and it both makes me feel better and worries me.”

She huffs playfully. “Go back to the party and have fun with Lucy. Love you, Tater.”

He releases her and she exits the stable. He stands stock-still for a moment as if deciding whether to hit me or not. I wouldn’t blame him if he did. Instead, he walks to where I’m still standing.

His gaze allows no room for argument. “Don’t you dare, Dean. I don’t know what the hell you’re thinking, but don’t go there. You can’t.” His lips press in on themselves as he waits for me to respond.

“I didn’t mean to. We were talking and—” He cuts me off with a finger in my face.

“Damn it, Dean!” he whisper-shouts before taking a step back. “I know you haven’t seen her because she’s avoided you, but we’ve had to watch her break a million different ways over the last six months. And there’s nothing we could do to help her. I won’t let you hurt her by getting in her head while she’s still vulnerable,” he tells me through clenched teeth.

“Tate, do you really think I’mthat guy? I’d never hurt her. I…” I trail off before I say too much. Tate had been pacing in front of me but stops suddenly.

“You what, Dean?” He stares at me as realization dawns on him. He lets out a breath and shakes his head. When he looks back at me, he runs his hand down his mouth. “You have feelings for her.” He doesn’t ask; it’s a statement.

I don’t deny it—I can’t. What’s the point in trying? But it doesn’t matter, he’s right. She’s vulnerable, and if she didn’t hate me before, she does now.

“Wow. I had no idea. Maybe I thought it when we were kids, but y’all have always fought like siblings, and then Drew. Shit, Dean. How long have you had feelings for her?” he asks sympathetically.

“It doesn’t matter. Nothing will ever come of it. I’m going to take care of her like I promised Drew I would. She’s my best friend’s little sister, which is all she can ever be. You interrupting us was fate stepping in and reminding me of my place,” I tell him matter-of-factly.

Tate studies me for a minute. Hawk steps in before another word is spoken. “Did you find your girl?”

I glance from Tate to him. “I’ll always find her. It’s my job to protect her, but she’s not mine and she’ll never be.” I start walking away as Hawk steps out of the doorway, allowing me room to exit and I hear Tate. “Dean, wait.”

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