Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“My thorn this week was…” Dean puts a finger on his chin and ponders this for a minute. “Probably not being able to cowboy enough. School takes up so much of my time.”
“Quite the pickle,” Lainey says with a smile.
“But you do love school,” I say.
“Yeah, I love school. I just love to be a cowboy too.”
Nash shakes his head. “The struggle is real, bro.”
“Bro, I know.” Dean turns to Lainey. “Then my rose was meeting Lainey. She’s really nice and super pretty, and we are going to draw with markers together and also play with my LEGO bricks.”
“Aw, thank you, Dean,” Lainey says with a laugh, her cheeks turning pink. “You’re very kind to say that. I can’t wait to hang out more.”
He wiggles in his chair as he munches on a carrot. “Maybe tomorrow?”
“You have school tomorrow, buddy,” Billie replies. “It’s Monday, remember?”
“Maybe another day, then,” Lainey says.
“Fine.” Dean’s glum little face makes my chest contract. “Can you go next, Lainey?”
Because she’s back to being annoyingly perfect, Lainey doesn’t miss a beat. She wipes her mouth on her napkin and clears her throat. “Sure. My thorn…hm.” Her head swivels in my direction. “My thorn would be the storms that come barreling through here without warning. Y’all have some wild weather around here.”
“So does Dallas,” I reply.
“I wouldn’t know, because I’m not from Dallas.”
“She’s from heaven,” Dean says dreamily. “Stop teasing her, Dad. Gosh.”
I do not blush. But for the first time in…a long-ass time, I feel heat creeping up my neck into my face.
Nothing like being shamed by your six-year-old son.
I also wonder if Lainey feels sorry for Dean. Is that why she’s being so kind to him, because she somehow found out his mom is gone? Or is she just…genuinely like this? Warm and friendly and generous?
I have a hard time believing that, though. I hate this girl for a reason. I just gotta wait for her to prove me right. Because chances are Lainey isn’t different from the bullshitters I’ve encountered. She’s just smoother. Better at faking it.
“Anyway.” Lainey clears her throat. “My rose was definitely getting to meet all of you. Oh! And petting Big Brother.”
“You got to pet Big Brother?” Dean cries. “Do you know I named him?”
Lainey lifts her brows. “You did?”
“Yup. My mom is in heaven—that’s where you’re from, remember?—so my dad can’t give me any more brothers or sisters. I figured I’d make the horses my brothers instead. Big Brother was born first, and he’s my dad’s horse. Little Brother was born second, and he’s my horse. That way, we have our own family. It’s not as big as Dad’s, but at least I get to pretend like I have real brothers. It’s pretty cool.”
Lainey blinks and blinks again. The table is quiet for a full beat.
Abby’s been gone for three years, but I don’t think any of us knows how to talk about her death yet. I know I tiptoe around it because I don’t want to upset Dean.
“That’s very sweet,” Lainey says at last. “And clever. Bet your mom is so proud of you and looking down from heaven.”
A catch in my chest. Lainey is saying the right things. What takes me off guard, though, is how earnestly she says them. This is no bullshit bless your heart. This is heartfelt.
Wait, is she different?
Is she for real?
Because there’s this sadness in her eyes as she looks at Dean…
I don’t know. It makes me wonder what the deal is with her own family. Her relationships at the very least. Which seems kind of random, but I get the feeling that there’s something not great happening there.
Stop thinking about Lainey’s family.
Stop thinking about Lainey, period.
“Yup. Mom is proud of me,” Dean says. “I know, because I saw her in the sunrise this morning.”
I gulp my water for a different reason this time.
Lainey’s eyes are on me again. My face burns. I don’t want her sympathy. Or her judgment. I want to get the fuck out of here as quickly as possible.
Why is there this funny, warm feeling inside my chest? Is that burning too? No, this feeling… It’s kinda good. And weird. And so foreign I can’t name it.
I certainly don’t trust it.
Supper lasts forever. I breathe out a sigh of relief when Mom gets up from the table, signaling the meal is over.
Lainey gets up too and immediately starts to gather up plates and silverware.
Mom stops her with a hand on her arm and shakes her head. “Whoever helps cook doesn’t clean up.”
Lainey’s brows pop up. “Really? But I’m happy to help—”
“I’m sure you are.” Dad takes the pile of dishes out of her hands. “And we appreciate that. But this is one rule we insist you follow. Now go relax.”
Lainey stares at him like he has two heads. “Can I at least—”