After a moment of silence, his brother glanced over. “You know what it sounds like?”
His solemn, sympathetic tone had Reyes nodding. Neither one of them needed to say post traumatic stress out loud. They both dealt with their own demons enough to recognize someone else’s.
“Has she talked to a professional yet?”
“I didn’t ask, but I doubt it.” She couldn’t even admit her fear, so yeah, he highly doubted she’d gone to therapy for it.
“And how about you?”
“I’m good.” He felt his brother’s intense gaze and shot him a quick glance while insisting, “Really, I’ve been feeling much better.”
“I didn’t ask if you were good, I asked if you’ve talked to anyone yet.”
“I’m talking to you.” At his brother’s rough sigh, he met his gaze. “Listen, man, I’m living my therapy. Working with the horses. Finding them homes with Janine. Riding out here in the woods. It’s been helping more than you know.” And it was mostly true.
“You still sleeping with the lights on?”
Reyes tensed, and Taz gave a little lurch forward. He tightened his grip on the reins and brought the thoroughbred back to a walk.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Dev said dryly.
He shrugged, but remained silent. Talking to his brother helped sometimes, and other times, not so much. It left him feeling like a fraud. So what if he had trouble sleeping if it was completely dark? Big whoop if he spent a buck or two more in electricity each month. It wasn’t like he’d nearly lost his leg like Dev. Or lost his life like Cory Neider the day the bomb had exploded.
The little flicker of resentment that accompanied those thoughts was immediately squashed. While he knew PTSD didn’t have to be extreme to be legitimate, and everyone’s threshold was different, he also wasn’t going to wallow in self-pity when his physical issues had resolved themselves, and his only visible reminder was a thin white scar mostly hidden by the goatee he kept neatly trimmed. He hadn’t been left with years of recovery and endless hours of physical therapy like so many others.
At times he almost wished he had been.
Almost.
Dev reined Stimpy closer, gaining his attention. “So, what’s your plan with Raine?”
He never thought he’d see the day, but Reyes welcomed the return subject of his new challenge so he could focus on the therapy of the ride.
To answer his brother’s question, he said, “First I’ve got to get her to talk. Then I’m going to get her over that jump.”
6
“It’s still a little unreal to see you and Dev together.” Raine handed Shelby a bottle of iced tea as they stepped out onto the guest house patio. “I’m really happy for you.”
“Thanks.” She twisted the cap off her drink. “Sometimes I still can’t believe it myself.”
“Well, you guys seem great together.”
“We are. Don’t get me wrong, it was bumpy at first, but now things are really good.”
Shelby’s soft smile was so sappy, Raine’s chest thumped with envy. She smiled as her cousin kicked off her sandals and sat on the edge of the pool. Having changed into a lycra sport tank and yoga capris for her workout, she dropped down beside her, facing the mountains as they swished their feet in the warm water.
“Remember that summer we were fifteen, and we spent the day at the pool with everyone up by the main house when he was home on leave? We were a couple of giggling idiots.”
Shelby laughed. “Oh my God, I know. But then again, who could blame us? The Torrez brothers were as hot then as they are now.”
Ignoring the plural, she gave a dramatic sigh. “No more drooling over Dev for me.”
Shelby snorted and leaned to nudge her with her shoulder. “You don’t fool me, Cuz.”
“What?”
“Don’t what me. You played it cool, but we both know you were teasing the shit out of Reyes back then.”