More Than Lies (More Than #1)(48)

“Thanks, Ky.” She replies as she gets up from the table, taking her own empty plate to the sink. I mirror her actions, moving from my spot at the high-top counter.

“I’ll second that,” Trent chimes in.

My parents left an hour ago heading back to Mississippi. The eight of us remain and won’t be leaving until Sunday morning. I’ve been looking forward to riding my four-wheeler since the last time I was here nearly three months ago.

“Now I’m not so sure if it’s a good idea for you to move in with us. You’ll make me fat if you’re living there, too.” Kylie laughs, but the room goes quiet. My thoughts of riding vanish.

I am standing directly behind Tara, waiting to place my dishes into the sink.

“What’s she talking about?” Tara’s body stills at the heat laced in my voice. My tone is harder than it should be for a casual conversation, but at the moment I don’t care. Tara can’t move to Jackson. I don’t give a fuck if it’s only a two-hour drive away. Less the way I drive. Why would she even want to live in that cramped three-bedroom house anyway? It is half the size of my house. It’s tiny for the three adults that live there now.

She doesn’t move or turn around to face me. Trent pipes up though.

“I asked my sister to move in with us when she graduates in June.” His voice is cool, but I didn’t miss the unsaid words coming from Tara’s brother. I jerk my head toward where he’s still seated at the table. Trent’s smirk has me wanting to wipe it off with my fist.

Turning to look at the back of Tara’s head as she tries to scoot out of my way, I grab her hip with my free hand. Leaning forward, I place my dirty dishes on top of hers in the sink, whispering into her ear as I do it, “Are you?”

“I haven’t thought about it much.” Her voice is also a whisper with a hint of sadness. “I don’t know yet.” She presses into my palm so I release her and she moves away from me.

“God, grad is still a half a year away.” Mason groans. “I don’t want to think about becoming an adult in that short amount of time, so let’s go get dirty.”

“You’re already an adult, loser.” That is Layla. She’s the middle sibling between Kylie and Mase. She lives in New York and is only down for the holiday. Layla’s an actress that performs on Broadway, though I’ve never seen one of her plays. I don’t intend to. I’m sure she is good, but it’s not my thing.

“Yeah, maybe in years, but he is most certainly not an adult, are you little brother?” Kylie asks. Mason and Layla fight like cats and dogs way too often, so it’s a good thing they live far away from each other. On the other hand, Kylie adores Mason and will do anything for him. Maybe it’s being the youngest, I don’t know, but he has her wrapped tight around his finger.

“You know it, sis.”

“Are we going to chat all day or ride, people?” Matt asks the room, his question addressed to no one in particular and everyone at the same time.

“Ride. I need a break from you motherfuckers.” Shane stands. “Taralynn, breakfast was great as always, sweetness. I’m going to gear up. See y’all outside in a few.” With that, my brother leaves the room and everyone follows suit.

Even though we’ll all be riding together, but on separate machines, we each have a device inside our helmet that allows us to talk to each other when we want. We don’t talk much, though. Being free, out in the open on dirt and lost inside our own heads is what this is all about.

“I’ll never understand my sister’s infatuation with . . . you.” Here we go again. Wonk, wonk, wonk. This speech was old when I heard it back in high school.

Only Trent and I remain in the kitchen. The others followed Shane’s lead and are prepping to ride.

“That makes two of us,” I reply flatly. I don’t get it. Tara should want someone good, deserving; someone like her, and someone that fits.

“I get why you want her.”

“I don’t want her,” I snap back.

“Lie to someone that hasn’t known you since you were still pissing the bed.” He spent the night with my brother numerous times when I was a little kid. Only once did he witness that accident.

“I was five, fucker.” Asshole.

“Like I was saying, I get why you like Taralynn. Everything about her is good, kind, loving; unlike all the little pieces of trash you wet your dick with.”

“Just because I’m not still fucking the same chick I lost my virginity to doesn’t mean everyone I screw is trash. I’m sure a lot of them are plenty nice. I just don’t care to find out.” What would be the point? Pussy is a dime a dozen. There are always women willing and ready to be screwed.

“She won’t always be waiting for you to wake up, you know.”

“I’m done with this topic. See ya outside.” And with that I leave the kitchen to change into my riding gear. The sooner I get onto my four-wheeler, the sooner I’ll have a clear head. Last night’s close encounter with Tara needs to cease from existing in my mind.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN





TARALYNN





It’s the week before Christmas, and all of my finals for the semester are complete. Thank God. One more semester to go, and then I’ll officially be an adult. At least that’s the way I see it. No more school, and the real world will begin.