Another cover design by my talented brother!

Katie
After meeting with Wyatt, I left school and drove to the barn, my happy place.

I didn't have time to ride so I lunged Ripley over some trot poles. When I finished I looked at my phone and saw three texts from Izzy. I forgot to call her after school.

Whoops.

"Katie! You didn't call me," Izzy whines.

"I know, I know but I'm calling you now."

I have her on speaker phone so I can put my phone in my pocket while I untack Ripley.

"Let me guess you're at the barn that's why you forgot to call me," Izzy says dryly.

I roll my eyes even though she can't see me.

"We're else would I be?"

"Hey, while you're there can you throw Remi's blanket on it's going to get cold."

"Sure thing honey. What would you do without me?" I reply with my sweetest voice.

Remi is Izzy's horse, we both board them at the same barn. We even keep them in the same pasture, it's nice because it's a lot cheaper.

"Katie, if I didn't have you then I would spend a lot of money on gas. So tell me, how did it go today?"

I'm dreading telling her because saying that I'm dating Wyatt out loud makes it feel real then I get nervous, which makes me nauseous.
I know I have problems.

She'll never let up till I tell her, so I do, I tell her the whole story.

"Okay, Izzy I'm home I'll see you tomorrow at school."

"Alright love you bye!"

I walk into the kitchen and my brother is at the table eating who knows what.

"Hey, Gracie." Ugh, I always hated that
nickname. Before I was born Derek wanted my name to be Gracie, but my parents didn't like it so they compromised by making my middle name Grace.

Derek didn't like the name Katie and he refused to call me that. Ever since I was born he's called me Gracie.

"Hey, wheels. Make any sales today or did sleeping take up to much time?"

He glares at me. "Well smarty, I had online classes most of the day then I worked on a paper that's due in a week."

Derek is a freshman in college, he got in on a full-ride scholarship.

He played some defensive position in football. In his last high school game of the year, he tore two ligaments in his leg. I can't remember all the surgery's he's had.

The college told him he could do his freshman year online and then move to the campus to play for them his sophomore year.

For the past two and a half months he's been in a wheelchair, hence why I call him Wheels.

"You did even try to make a sale today?" I ask.

"If you don't practice you'll never get better." 

Since school started he's been working as a phone salesman that he can do from home.

"Gracie I'm a good salesman I was busy today." I roll my eyes as I take my frozen pizza out of the microwave.

My phone buzzes on the table. I move to grab it, but I'm too slow.

"Who's Wyatt and why is he texting you?" Derek asks smugly.

I snatch my phone from him. "He's just a friend."

Derek rolls his eyes. "Sure he is, you're just not admitting it."

Seriously my brother sees a guy's name on my phone that's not his or Tyler's and he immediately jumps on the He's your boyfriend train.

Only this time he's sort of right.

I'm not going to explain everything to him because he'll never listen. So I do the only thing I can think of.

And if he found out he might kill Wyatt after he takes me to the doctor for bleeding ears caused by his lecture that I will no doubt receive.

Pretending to date a guy is stupid in Derek's eyes.

"Derek, I swear if you tell Dad I'm dating someone, even though I'm not, I will tell him about Ava."

He narrows his eyes. "You wouldn't."

"Watch me," I say with as much cockiness as I can possess, and go to my room with my pizza.

Ava is a girl Derek met at physical therapy and is secretly seeing. The only reason I know is I came home early one day after school and caught them watching a movie in the living room. He made me swear not to tell Dad.

I'll tell them both tomorrow after school once I figure everything out.

Not the pretend dating part the, "Wyatt is my boyfriend" part.

Wyatt
After my talk with Katie, I had to go grocery shopping. Ever since my dad died Mom started working double the hours she used to at the hospital. (She's an ER nurse)

I know money is tight since Dad died, but now that she works so much she comes home tired.

I've taken on most of the house chores like cleaning, vacuuming, and groceries shopping. I feel like like I rarely see her.

I'm waiting in the checkout line when I get a text from Ryan.

Ry-man: So you and Katie huh?

Then another text.

Ry-man: Where you ever going to tell me?

I hated to lie to him but he can never keep a secret.

Me: Yeah man sorry I didn't tell you. We just didn't want to make it a big deal.

Ry-man: Oh well I understand. You're going to have to fill me in at school tomorrow, Gloria wants all the details. 🙄

Gloria is his girlfriend, she's on the cheerleading team with Stacy, but unlike Stacy, she's really sweet. Besides Ryan, I'm her next favorite person and she'll want to know everything.

Me: Sure thing man. 👍🏼

When I get home I put the groceries away and clean up the house. Afterward, I fix three hot pockets for dinner.

I plop down on our couch to watch tv while I wait for them to cool.

I go to Instagram and see that Katie posted to her story. It's a video of her horse. Just thinking about sitting on one makes me sick to my stomach. The only reason I agreed was the prize money; with it, I could fix Mom's car so she will never have to worry about it.

"Hey Wy, I'm home!" I see my mom walk through the door.

"Hey, Mom how was work?"

"Okay. I didn't get thrown up on so I guess it was good."

She opens up the fridge. "Awe Wy, you went to the store." She walks over and kisses me on the forehead. "You're the best son ever!

"Want to watch that true crime show I recorded?"

"Sorry, Mom I can't I have some homework I need to finish."

She makes a pouty face. "Alright. Thank you again for going to the store."

I grab my bag and walk upstairs to my room.

After I finish my homework I take a shower.

Im walking into my room when I remember I need to text Katie.

Me: What up?

While I wait for her to respond I run downstairs and grab two oranges.

Mom's still watching her murder show. I felt a shiver run down my back. I tried watching it with her, but it scared me to death.

When I get back to my room my phone buzzes.

Kate: Just got home and currently eating dinner.

Kate: Oh and by the way it's What's up not what up.

Wow, it was 7:30 and she is just now eating dinner. What was she doing?

Me: Um? 😬
What were you doing to get home so late?

Me: I know it's What's Up but What Up seems so much cooler.

I start peeling the skin off my oranges while waiting for her to respond.

Kate: Well Nosey Nelly, I had some things at the barn that needed to be done. I had to pick up some items from the store.

Kate: I did have to wait thirty mins for someone after school.

I laugh.

Me: I'm sure whoever you had to wait for is very sorry. ☺️🙏🏻.

Kate: 🤣🙄

Me: Hey since we're dating now I should drive you to school.

Me: Unless you have other plans.

I didn't want to seem too pushy.

She takes a few mins to respond. By the time she does, I've already eaten both of my oranges.

Kate: Are you sure? I don't want you to have to go out of your way.

Seriously, this girl.

Me: 🙄. Yes, I'm sure! It's no problem. I'll be at your house by 7:30.

Kate: Okay I'll see you then.

She sends me her address.

Wow, she lives two streets over from me I'm surprised we've never run into each other.