This was not what was supposed to happen. I had it all planned.
Growling in frustration, I stomped my foot, the sound of my bare sole slapping on the wood loud in the quiet of the farmyard. Stone looked up, his eyes catching mine as he frowned. “You need somethin’, little bit?”
At his words, Silas broke away from the sucker fish and looked up, surprise on his face as he finally caught sight of me.
But I couldn’t speak. I was afraid if I opened my mouth, angry words would come out. Dad always said that angry words should never be the first ones you say, so I swallowed hard and shook my head.
Silas released the girl, dropping her to the ground but keeping her tucked under his arm, like he didn’t want to let her go.
“She’s not coming with us, is she?” Sucker Fish asked.
“Nah,” Silas answered, his words coming out long and slow, the way most people spoke here in Texas. “This is Stone’s kid sister, Daisy.”
“Daphne!” I squeaked, then immediately ground my teeth at how childish the single word had sounded.
“Oh,” Silas said, his face confused. “Sorry. Daphne. Right.”
Broken. My heart was completely broken.
He didn’t remember me.
I had spent years thinking about him, dreaming about the moment we would see each other again, and he didn’t even remember my name?
I released the post, retreating slowly until my back was pressed against the wooden siding of the house. Sliding down the wall, I landed on my butt and hugged my knees to my chest, staring at my toes.
There was some quiet talking, but I couldn’t work out who was speaking or what was being said. I didn’t even look up until a pair of boots appeared in front of me, their dusty tops pressed almost right against my bare toes.
Hope flared in my chest, but when I raised my eyes a little higher, it was denim jeans that I saw, not black cargo pants.
Stone.
“Hey, little bit. What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
Everything.
“I’m sorry I’m heading out again. How about tomorrow when I get back, you and me go riding? Just the two of us.”
Tomorrow. I had forgotten that they would be out all night. My stomach twisted again when I pictured Silas and Sucker Fish sticking their tongues in each other’s mouths until the sun came up.
I didn’t want to think about it anymore.
“Sure,” I said with a pathetic sniff. So much for feeling grown up.
I watched, my throat tight, as the two girls climbed back into their car, but not before one more sloppy kiss was exchanged. As they drove away, the dust blowing across the porch and sticking to my tears, I could hear the clicking of my sister’s ridiculous heels as she walked toward me.
“Told you so,” she sneered. “He’ll never pick you, Daphne. If I were you, I’d get used to disappointment.”
I hated that she was right.