More Than Lies (More Than #1)(100)

I look to the other bed. It’s been slept in, but no one is in it now. I assume it was Preston since his stuff is on the floor next to the bunk.

Remembering why I came in here, I walk to my bed and duck underneath, pulling my stuff to the edge. From my bag I gather a clean pair of panties, a sports bra, and socks, then turn and head toward the closet to grab my riding pants and one of my riding jerseys.

“Mase. Matt. Come on guys, get up. We leave in five minutes.” We won’t be leaving that soon, but if I tell the guys to be ready in thirty minutes, they won’t get out of bed. And then it’ll be an hour before we get out of the house.

I hear them grumble as I leave the room.

The light in the hall bathroom is on. Figuring that’s probably where Preston is, I go into the laundry room to change.

After I strip down, I toss my dirty clothes in the baskets then pull on a clean pair of panties and my dark riding pants. Once I have the straps fastened, I put on my sports bra. As I’m pulling the zipper up, closing up my girls, I hear a voice behind me.

“Where have you been?” It’s Preston. I twist at the waist, turning to eye him critically and wondering how long he’s been standing there as I’ve been dressing. The way he is looking me up and down would have made me uncomfortable in my own skin yesterday. Not after last night, though. This is an uncomfortable situation, but not because I care how he’s looking at me; I’d just rather him not view me at all. Quickly, I grab my jersey and pull it over my head, covering the top half of my body.

“I just woke up.” It’s none of his business where I was. “We’ll be leaving soon. Do you want to come riding with us or stick around here?” Please stay here.

“I’ll come, I guess.” He doesn’t sound excited. “What’s the plan? Putt around on an ATV for a few hours?” Not even close, dude. I clamp down on my bottom lip to suppress a laugh. He’s in for a treat if he thinks all we do is “putt around,” as he calls it.

“The only time we’re going less than twenty miles an hour is when we’re going through a high traffic zone that has speed limits . . . or when stopping.” I grab my socks from the top of the dryer and start to walk past him. I won’t put on my boots and other gear until everyone is ready to leave. “It’s a blast being out on the trails.”

“Guess I’ll find out soon enough.” Yes, he will.

“You should probably change, though. The Georgia clay here will ruin those jeans and that shirt.” I know the look of designer jeans, and those came straight out of the Buckle. I turn, facing him, but still walking backwards. “Did you by chance bring anything that you don’t mind getting messed up and extremely dirty?”

“No. Why would a little dirt ruin my clothes?” He can either take my word for it or find out for himself. Either way, I really don’t give a rat’s behind.

“It’s not just a little dirt. Look, I’m not telling you what to do. Wear what you want. It was just a suggestion.” After what I heard him say about me last night, I should let him ruin his stuff.

I turn back around, running smack into a hard chest, a bare chest. I look up to find a set of blue-green eyes looking down at me.

“Sorry, precious.” Shane laughs. That tells me he was going to let me run into him on purpose.

“No, you’re not.” I smile. “Shane, this is Preston.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder in the direction behind me. With that, I walk around Shane and head toward the kitchen.

When I walk in, Shawn’s back is to me. He’s packing drinks into a cooler. He’s dressed in a pair of black riding pants, but lacks the jersey. His beautiful inked back is on display for me to admire. So I do. I prop up against the door frame and watch him.

Man, he is freakin’ fine. Too fine.

“I can feel your eyes on me.” Busted. He peeks over his shoulder. A smile forms on his lips then falls away seconds later as his eyes move past me. I look over as Preston walks up next to me.

Remembering Shawn’s promise from last night, I’m on alert. It’s not that I care if Shawn beats the crap out of him, but I don’t want to deal with my parents over it. Pushing myself away from the door, I walk toward him and slowly shake my head. When he doesn’t look like he’s going to mellow anytime soon, I mouth, “Play nice.” That only causes him to breathe hard.

“Why don’t you finish getting dressed and go kick Mase and Matt out of bed while you’re at it? I’ll take care of this.” I place my hand on the cooler. He looks at me for a moment and then nods. Seconds later, he exits the kitchen.

“What’s that guy’s problem? He doesn’t seem to like me.” Preston nears me, but doesn’t bother to help me place any of the water or Gatorades into the cooler.

Lazy bastard!

“Nothing. He’s like that with everyone.” Oh, please let today end without any fights.

I don’t say anything else. Instead, I finish packing the drinks and load snacks and pre-made sandwiches into another cooler. We’ll eat lunch somewhere on the trail and come in at dusk for dinner.





It’s been three hours. Three mother effin’ hours of being bombarded by everyone with non-stop complaining from Preston. Taralynn, slow down. You almost hit that tree. You’re going to get us killed. I know what I’m doing. No one is going to die. Why did he have to come and ruin my fun? Then there are the guys. Shawn especially has been yelling constantly and demanding that I pull over and stop.