Bring it on, horse boy.
“Hey, hot stuff. Long time since you’ve come around here.” Faith steps out from the barn, a few feet away from where I’m standing. She drops a bucket and blanket on the ground then glances toward the doghouse. When she turns back, her eyes are twinkling. “As you can see, no one’s been pining in your absence.”
Okay, I deserve that. It doesn’t make hearing the truth any easier, but I get it. Once upon a time, Faith and I used to be sort of friends. We hung out at the front desk whenever Peyton was out back bathing a dog—occasionally I’d help out with training, but washing and grooming mutts wasn’t my thing. Faith would talk my ear off about her vlog, I’d pretend to follow along, and once, she even got me to read off the season’s fashion trends. She still owed me for that one. But with all that behind us, I expected a warmer welcome. Then again, that was all before I screwed everything up so royally.
Swallowing my pride, I shove my hands deep into my pockets. “You let her go out with that spineless weasel?” I ask, nodding back toward where Cade and Peyton are now talking heatedly. It’s almost enough to put the smile back on my face. “What kind of best friend are you?”
It might not look like it, what with me insulting her, but I know what I’m doing. Getting the best friend on my side, buttering her up, is crucial… and to play the game right, you have to know the other players.
Faith is an original. Snarky, with a true heart of gold. Fiercely loyal and protective of Peyton, but also the devilish voice in her ear, whispering to let loose and be spontaneous. She was my biggest ally when Peyton and I were together, and I’m counting on that support again. But first, she has to know that I want in.
Faith sizes me up and answers, “The kind that watched you destroy her three years ago.”
That knocks me for a bit of a loop, just as she knew it would.
“It’s not what you think,” I tell her, taking a step closer. “I messed up and I’m not denying that, but I did what I did to protect her. I let her believe the worst but I promise you, I didn’t cheat. Not really.”
Faith scoffs and glances over her shoulder again where Peyton and Cade appear to be getting into it. “Don’t go pulling some crap about Diamond Dolls not counting or being in different zip codes—”
“I never touched her.”
I can’t say it any clearer than that and I need her to know the truth. I need at least one person on my side.
Faith pins me with a, “do you think I was born yesterday?” look, and I shrug.
“Not then, at least. Look, Lauren and I hooked up, but not until junior year. I never said I was a saint. Just…” I shove my hand through my hair and squeeze the back of my neck. “Just not a cheater. I did what I did because I thought it was best.” I hesitate before adding, “For everyone.”
I don’t know how much Peyton shared with her best friend. If Faith doesn’t know everything that went down back then, it sure as hell isn’t my place to spill. Besides, it’ll only make Peyton run faster.
My hands slap against my thighs as I growl in frustration. This is fucking pointless. The evidence was damning—I should know, I planned it to be that way. And hell, I did hook up with Lauren eventually. Maybe this whole plan is doomed for failure. Maybe I should let Peyton go. Let her be happy with Cade.
Even the thought tastes like bile on my tongue.
Looking past Faith, I watch my girl slowly make her way toward me. She and Cade evidently sorted out their shit, and now confusion and anger battle it out with something else in her eyes. Something that dares to give me hope.
“For her sake, I hope you’re not shitting me,” Faith mumbles. Before I can wonder if she noticed that same expression, she turns back, pinning her gaze to mine. “Look, I know what happened back then—everything that happened—and the last thing that girl needs is you swooping back in to break her heart again.” She tips up the brim of her rhinestone cowboy hat, targeting me with an intense stare as she lowers her voice. “You’re a master bull-shitter, Justin, and you can’t kid a kidder. But for some reason, I believe you.”
That flicker of hope? It blazes into a damn forest fire.
Faith looks back and then lowers her voice even more. “I never really believed you cheated. I didn’t doubt my girl, but I figured there was more to the story. I saw you with her, I saw the two of you together, and you suddenly pulling that kind of crap didn’t sit right. But here’s the deal—you should’ve come back sooner. You should’ve fought for her or fixed the mess you made. Cade’s my boy, and he’s been here a hell of a lot longer than you have. He was the one here when things went to shit, he’s done his time. He’s good for her.”