Page 18 of Always Mine

“Always am, ma’am.” He lays on the southern charm so thick, making me want to gag.

“Such a good boy.” She sighs dreamily. “Keep this one close. You don’t want anyone to snatch him from you.” Damn it, between her and Ember I don’t know who’s worse.

Good God, maybe she reallyhasgone senile. “Bye, Nana,” I cut in, grabbing his arm and tugging him away. “Let’s go, you.”

I hear the soft mumbles of their voices when we’re almost out of earshot, knowing good and well that they’re talking about us.

Great! Just what I need.

SEVEN

Paxton

After spending yesterday with Lily, I thought she’d be tired of me, but nope. She’s determined to make up for the last three years on my first few days home.

We had a really good day yesterday, despite how apprehensive I was at first. We didn’t do anything crazy, just spent time in the stables. I got reintroduced to the horses and she showed me some new show jumping tricks. It’s crazy to see how far she’s come. Mom texts me videos sometimes, and I see them on Lily’s Instagram, but it’s not the same as seeing it in person.

Today is a different story. I’m currently riding shotgun, clutching the door handle as Lily drives us to town. My stomach is going topsy-turvy at the thought of running into Wyatt, but also from her driving. If Ma is worried about anyone taking years off her life, it should be Lily. Her driving is terrifying.

“Watch out for the—”

Too late.

Lily knocks the curb while pulling into a parking spot. I could almost kiss the sidewalk when she takes the keys out of the ignition and I do thank the universe for letting us make it here alive.

I hold out my hand, prepared to take the keys. “Give me the key, I’m driving us home. No way am I suffering through that again.”

“Nope. Ma told me not to let you because of your medicine. So suck it up.”

There’s no way Ma has ever ridden with her. I don’t believe that.

I stare at her in disbelief, because there’s no way in hell that’s true. “Has she ever ridden with you? If so, she’d know my driving would be the safer option, prescription pills or not.”

“I could always leave you here,” she taunts, putting the keys into her pocket before sliding out from the truck.

I count to five, doing a sweep of the area, relieved to see the streets aren’t very busy, despite it being Saturday. I wonder if I could get away with just sitting here while Lily runs whatever errands she needs. I mean, what does a sixteen-year-old girl need in town anyway?

The rapping of knuckles against the window causes my gaze to jerk up, my heart practically leaping from my chest. Of course, it’s just my aggravating sister again. Pushing open the door, I stagger onto the road, glaring at her. “Jesus, are you trying to kill me?”

“Oh, please, you’re so dramatic. What were you going to do? Hide out in the truck?” I don’t say anything, dropping my gaze to the ground to ignore her smirk. “You so were. Jesus, what’s the matter with you?”

“Nothing. I just feel weird.”

“Because of Wyatt?” she questions, though her face is all-knowing.

The name causes me to physically jerk and I look back up at her with wide eyes. “What makes you think that?” I can’t be that transparent, can I?

Rolling her eyes, she folds her arms over her chest, giving me an assessing look. “I’m sixteen, not six, and clearly more receptive than you think I am.”

Lily was thirteen when Wyatt and I broke up, and I wonder how much she knows about what happened with us. If, at such a young age, she could understand how much he meant to me. I mean, I’m sure she could. I was around that age when I asked Wyatt to be my boyfriend. We were barely into middle school, but it didn’t change the fact that I knew I had feelings for him. Deeper ones than I had for my other friends.

I try to come up with what to say, but I’ve got nothing. Talking about Wyatt out in the open like this makes me feel vulnerable.

“It’s complicated.”

“You were together forever, you broke up and went to college. Now you’re back, he’s here, and you still love him… how complicated can it be?”

If only it was as easy as she makes it seem.

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