Page 1 of Heartstrings & Horseshoes

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“Are you going to tell her?”

“Shhhhh, Connor, oh my god, now is not the time or place. Can we please not do this right now?” Delilah begs.

“If not now, when? Shit’s gone too far, and you need to tell your sister,” I counter.

It’s not like I’m trying to be quiet, so it comes as no surprise when Izzy, the world’s nosiest sister, materializes and wraps her arms around Delilah from behind. She’s laser-focused on me, eyes narrowed in suspicion and mischief, as she asks, “What’s going on, twinie?”

“Nothing!” Delilah answers too quickly.

“Go on Delilah, tell your sister what Ivy did.”

I'm fucking pissed. And I know for a goddamn fact how much she hides from her sister, because she confides in me instead.

Delilah blushes red, and regret jolts through me for embarrassing her. I hate pushing her like this, but I’m sick and tired of her dealing with this shit on her own. Delilah’s always been the quiet sister. The observant, careful to act, soft spoken sister. Whereas Izzy’s always been more gregarious and risk-taking.

The girls are Irish twins, Delilah only eleven months younger than Isabelle, but they couldn’t be more different. Izzy left town to get away from her demons. I don’t blame her for starting over. I do, however, blame her for leaving Delilah to deal with their piece of shit mother all on her own.

Izzy moved home a year ago and I could breathe again, knowing there was someone in that fucking trailer who cared about Delilah. I wish neither girl had ever been subjected to the abuse from their parents, but at least when Izzy’s home, she takes some of the burden off Delilah.

Well, that was short-lived because Izzy fell in love and got engaged to Reid Andersen and moved out of the trailer.

Again.

Izzy’s reasons don’t matter to me. What matters is regardless of how happy Izzy is, living her little fairy tale life, Delilah was left alone.

Again.

I’ve put Delilah in a shit position, but she needs to be the one to tell her sister what the fuck happened.

She turns to her sister, and says in a rush, “Mom must’ve gotten into some gambling trouble again, because last night, some really scary guys came to the trailer and there was yelling, and things were breaking. I was terrified, and I didn’t want to leave Mom there, but I snuck out my window and called Connor while I ran to the streetlight off Main.”

Shock and hurt crosses Isabelle’s face. Delilah stopped relying on her for support years ago and I was more than happy to fill that void. It isn’t Isabelle’s job to protect Delilah anymore. It’s mine. And sometimes, protecting someone means pushing them to move on from a toxic relationship. It’s unfair the toxic relationship is with her own mom, her mom’s bad decisions, and the bottle.

“She was fucking frozen when I found her, Iz. She’s not going back to that fucking trailer. I don’t care that she’s your mom. Ivy can take care of herself. You’ve enabled her for too long.”

Delilah rears back like I slapped her. Fuck, I meant both sisters have been enabling their mom, but it sure as hell came out like I’m putting all the blame on Delilah.

I open my mouth to correct my mistake when Reid interjects. “Delilah, I’ve offered before, but now I’m insisting. Come live in the guest house at the ranch. You won’t have to pay rent and you’ll always be welcome to eat with me and Isabelle, or with my folks at the main house.”

“Please, Lilah, I can’t stand you living in that trailer. Come stay at the ranch,” Izzy pleads.

Ever since Izzy moved to the Andersen’s ranch, she’s been trying to convince Delilah to come live with them. Anything to get her out of that godforsaken hellhole. Delilah’s declined the offer every time, but last night, she might’ve been pushed too far and might say yes.

Panic floods my system like ice. I’m a selfish bastard. If I only cared about Delilah’s safety, I would’ve moved her out to the ranch myself months ago. Instead, I’ve tried to keep her out of the trailer, busy with me, her sister, or their best friend, Olivia.

But the sun always sets, and she sleeps in that tin can, avoiding her egg donor. Living in that trailer isn’t an option. But I can’t bear her being even farther away from me, living out of town on the ranch.

There’s no way in hell I’ll stand for another man taking care of Delilah.

I take care of Delilah.

My heart hijacks control of my mouth, telling my brain to stay out of it, and I release one of my deepest desires from my vault of secrets.

“No. With all due respect, Andersen, Delilah will be coming home with me.”

Today is the one-year anniversary of one of the worst days of my life. But today, Delilah agreed to move in with me, making it one of the best days of my life.