Page 65 of Growing Into Love

“Oh really,” he says. “Enlighten me.”

“You’re afraid to let her go,” I say.

“Go? Go where? I let her go to bloody America, didn’t I?”

“Do you even hear yourself, Dec? That wasn’t up to you! You are not in charge of her life choices. Besides that’s not what I’m talking about.”

Declan huffs. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to hate what you’re about to say.”

My mouth quirks into a grin. “Because you’re a stubborn git who hates change.”

He growls again.

“Look, Dec, Cass is a grown woman now. She’s not the little girl you had to take care of all those years. I get it—you practically raised her. You feel responsible for her. But you did a terrific job. Look at her, Declan! Look at what she’s accomplished. Look at all shewantsto accomplish. Did you ever think you were part of that? Did you ever think maybe you inspired her? And now you’re trying to stifle that spark because you’re afraid.”

“What am I meant to be afraid of?” Declan says gruffly.

“Maybe you think she won’t listen to you anymore—but she’s never really listened to you anyway. She’s a Wright, after all. Maybe you think she won’t need you, but she will. She’ll need your support, Dec. But not your permission. You aren’t her father. Be her brother—be a friend to her.”

“She’ll bring every old, infirm horse in the country to this sanctuary if I let her,” Declan growls.

“Exactly!” I cry. “What’s so wrong with that? You act like it’s the worst thing in the world, her desire to take care of animals no one else wants, when it’s one of the best things about her. And you won’t belettingher do anything because it will behersanctuary. She’ll be running it. Paying for it. Caring for the horses. You think she can’t handle that? She’s so much more capable than you’re giving her credit for. You’re being unfair, Dec. Worse than that, you’re being a complete arse.”

“Since when did you become such a staunch defender of my sister?”

My stomach swoops. “Maybe I’ve been doing some hard thinking too. Maybe I let the past cloud my vision of Cass. I may have been holding on to who she used to be just as much as you. But I won’t anymore. She deserves better from us, Dec.”

I hear a tiny gasp and turn to see Cass standing in the doorway of the balcony. Her hand is pressed over her mouth and tears sparkle in her eyes.

“Look, I’ve got to go,” I say quickly. “Training and all. Speak soon.”

Then I hang up.

“Was that Declan?” Cass asks.

“Yeah,” I say, standing and shoving my phone in my pocket.

She stares at me, her eyes endless and deep, like the summer sea. I feel myself drowning in her gaze. She presses her top teeth into her lower lip. Then she runs over and flings her arms around me.

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

I hold her close and press my cheek to her hair. I want to kiss her so badly it hurts.

“I only said what’s true,” I murmur back. “It’s time Declan comes around to it.” My heart beats too fast. I want to run my thumb over the curve of her lip, touch the freckle beneath her eye. I want to taste the dip at her collarbone.

Then I remember David.

I release her, stepping back to put some space between us. Don’t want her thinking I’m being inappropriate. “Shall we?” I ask.

She nods.

We leave the room together and I’m closing the door to lock it when the door next to ours opens and Nigella comes out, wearing her riding gear. Her eyes pop at the sight of us.

“Wow,” she says. She rubs her hands together, a gleeful expression on her face. “Wow,” she says again.

“What?” Cass says.

Nigella grins in a way that makes me uneasy. “I was really hoping to beat you at the Grand Prix, Cass, but it looks like I won’t get the chance.”

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