Page 35 of Wild Horses

“Oh, that’s so cool! I always wanted siblings, but it wasn’t in the cards. You guys must be close.”

Pain flickers across War’s face. “We’ve gotten closer in the past few months.”

I cock my head, giving him wait time. He pushes the last few bites of his breakfast around his plate, looking everywhere but at me.

“Is this more of a third-date conversation?” I ask, giving him an out if he wants it.

He rewards me with a half-smile. “No. It’s just, well, it doesn’t paint me in the best light.”

Reaching across the table, I wrap my fingers around his bare wrist. “Does it have anything to do with your missing watch? Or how the heck you ended up in Lubbock? Or why you sold your apart—” I snap my mouth shut.

War hums and lifts his eyebrows. “We’ll circle back to how you know I sold my apartment.” The teasing tone fades as he goes on. “There’s a lot to it; some of it isn’t mine to share, but my family is…”

“Complicated?”

“Shitty.”

His wry reply pulls an unexpected laugh from me that I try to stifle as I signal for the check. I catch his scowl and put my hands up in surrender. “Not paying, just thought maybe you’d want to have this conversation somewhere else? You can hang out with Xpresso and me while I get her ready.”

“Won’t I be in the way?”

“Not if you listen to me.” Butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth; I’m so sweet.

“T-r-o-u-b-l-e. With a capital T.” There’s no heat in hiswords, and he’s pressing his lips together, concealing his smile. “Alright. You win.”

He makes quick work of the check and great time back to the arena. I flash my credentials and hook my arm with War’s, leading him to the staging area. It’s my favorite kind of chaos back here. Riders, handlers, event officials, vets, and staff mingle, weaving around rough stock and thoroughbred horses that cost as much as a car.

It feeds my energy and my nerves.

Together, we pick our way toward the stalls where Xpresso waits. Her ears prick, and she lets out a nicker when she senses me.

“Hey, X. I brought a friend.”

As if sizing him up, X sniffs War’s extended arm. Then she gives a soft snort and nuzzles against him.

“Oh, she likes you.”

“She does?” War sounds years younger.

“Yep. There’s this asshole rider, Cyrus McClain, the first time he met Xpresso—uninvited, by the way—she nipped him good and then let out this squeal that I swear could’ve busted windows.”

I guide War’s hand to her withers and mirror how to stroke her. It isn’t long before her eyes drift closed, and she leans into his touch.Yeah, I feel ya, girl.

With War enraptured by Xpresso, I work on prepping her for the day, leaving him to talk.

“So, you were saying things with your family are complicated?”

War chuffs. “I said shitty. But yeah. We aren’t winning Family of the Year anytime soon.” He pauses. “Though my mom would be all about that if it existed.”

I quirk a brow, encouraging him to go on. X nudges him as well.

“Tuesday—my sister—and I… I’m sure you know the kind of family we grew up in.”

“Yeah, one that can afford one of my dad’s horses.”

“With that came a lot of trappings and expectations. Impossible ones for Tuesday and almost impossible for me.”

Squatting, I check X’s hooves. “What do you mean?”

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