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“That’s right,” Jenni says. “I couldn’t help but fall for him after that.” She snuggles into me.
She’s good at this. I can barely tell she’s acting, and it’s taking my breath away to have her so close.
“Look at the two of you together!” Mom is ecstatic, and guilt creeps up at the web of lies we’re spinning. Jenni and I haven’t really talked through the logistics of how we’re going to end this thing. I don’t like the idea of toying with my mom’s emotions. “Why don’t the two of you come over for dinner tonight?”
That means we’re going to have to continue this little act of ours. “Sure, Mom. What time?”
“Six o’clock.”
Jenni smiles and looks up at me with an adoring look. “We’ll be there.”
I know none of this is real, but it’s strange to see Jenni looking at me like that, and I’m not sure I know how I feel about it.
* * *
“Your relationship with Jenni had better be the fake one you were talking about.” Ronnie storms into the barn where I’m rewarding Thunder with an apple for a job well done. He may not have won, but he came in second place, which is still impressive.
“Keep your voice down,” I say, glancing around to see who might have overheard us. When I don’t see anyone, I’m able to breathe a bit easier.
“You don’t have the best track record for being loyal, so excuse me if I’m a little concerned about my sister’s heart getting broken.”
“Ronnie, that was a long time ago. How many times do I have to tell you I’m sorry?” Maybe he’s still hung up on Amanda.
He rubs the back of his neck and grimaces. “Once my trust is broken, it’s hard to win it back.”
“I’m well aware of that.” I tug down on the cowboy hat I’m wearing. I’ve had it for a lot of years, and it’s in surprisingly good condition. I have a large collection of cowboy hats, but I usually wear this one because it’s my favorite. It’s just stood the test of time.
“You and Jenni looked a little too cozy after the race.”
“I told you it’s fake. Jenni still can’t stand me, if you want to know.”
Ronnie leans against one of the stalls. “I’m not sure that’s actually true.”
My heart does a little flip flop in my chest at his words. “Why do you say that?” I keep my voice neutral, but my pulse has picked up.
“I think she’s had a thing for you for a long time. And vice versa.”
“What?” I scoff. “Hardly. She barely tolerates me.”
Ronnie narrows his eyes. “But you two have chemistry, and I don’t like it. Never have.”
“Because you think I’ll hurt her?”
Ronnie crosses his arms. “Look, if you could betray me like that, what’s keeping you from betraying her too?”
“I would never hurt Jenni.”
His voice grows menacing. “You’d better not.”
It’s nice to see that he wants to protect his sister, but does he have to turn that protectiveness onto me?
“There’s nothing going on between us, so you have nothing to worry about.”
Ronnie’s shoulders relax a bit, but not completely. “And if there is, you’ll have to answer to me.”
* * *
When I get to my parents’ historical home, Jenni is already there in the living room, playing the piano. She’s very talented. I don’t have a musical bone in my body, but I can appreciate it like the best of them.