Chapter 3

I froze for a few seconds. Then I realized how ridiculous my own question was.

That day on Fifth Avenue, I'd only stepped around the corner to grab a coffee. When I came back, all three of them were gone.

So while I was wandering unfamiliar streets for hours, texting and calling and getting no reply from any of them, they were at a private club helping Irene pick out riding outfits.

It wasn't that they didn't see my messages.

They just didn't think of me.

Victor finally realized he'd said too much. His hand froze mid-scroll, and for the first time, he looked uncomfortable.

"Wait, no. I'm mixing things up."

"You weren't there that day."

Like he was afraid I'd keep asking, he quickly added: "I was gonna call you, but that place was mostly for Irene to try stuff on. Figured you wouldn't care."

I looked at him quietly.

In that moment, I didn't even know what I was hoping for.

For him to realize he'd made a mistake?

Or for him to suddenly remember that maybe I'd want to go shopping with them too?

Victor reached out to ruffle my hair. I turned my face away.

His hand hung in the air. "You're upset?"

"I'll take you next time. Just us."

"Anything you want, it's yours."

I looked down at my phone. Didn't answer.

She must have waited too long, because Irene video-called me directly from the group chat.

I didn't pick up.

Victor answered for me and immediately held the phone in front of my face.

On screen, Irene was holding up two riding outfits, grinning with anticipation.

"Lilith, come on! Just pick one for me!"

"Which one's better for tomorrow?"

Victor leaned in and whispered. "Just pick."

"If you don't, she's gonna overthink it and be up all night."

I heard that and almost wanted to laugh.

How strange. I was the one who got left behind.

Not a single person asked if I was scared.

But now everyone was worried that she might feel bad because I wasn't talking.

I looked at the screen and said softly: "They both look great."

"Just go with whatever you want."

Irene immediately complained that I was being too lazy about it.

I couldn't be bothered to explain.

The next day, the family's private horse ranch officially opened.

When we met at the entrance, Irene was wearing the silver-grey riding outfit Alex had picked for her.

She stood out in the crowd like a spotlight was on her.

The silver-grey fit hugged her figure. Her hair was pulled back. She looked sharp, polished, beautiful.

Alex clearly paused when he saw her. Victor's gaze lingered on her for a beat too.

Irene just smiled and did a little spin. "How do I look?"

They both nodded at almost the exact same time.

In that moment, something heavy pressed down on my chest.

The two people who'd spent all of yesterday arguing over which outfit suited her best were now perfectly in sync. Like they'd rehearsed it.

Irene didn't seem to notice a thing. She hooked her arm through mine and shooed Victor and Alex away to check the horses.

"Let them deal with that. We'll take our time."

She leaned her head on my shoulder, completely unguarded.

"Knew you wouldn't stay mad at me."

"We're best friends."

I smiled too. I just didn't tell her that I wasn't sure I could believe that anymore.

The horses were ready in the center of the ranch.

Irene picked a brown warmblood. The second she walked over, Alex was right behind her checking the saddle. Victor stood beside them inspecting the reins and gear.

Then the two of them started arguing again about who would teach her to ride.

Alex glanced at the field. "You're her brother. Go ride with Lilith."

Victor, cold-faced: "It's Irene's first time. I should be the one with her."

They argued right there in front of everyone.

The line behind them got longer. People started getting restless.

"You guys riding or what?"

"Take it somewhere else if you're gonna fight. You're holding everyone up!"

In the end, both of them said the same thing at the exact same time.

"I'm not going with him."

But a few minutes later, they were both flanking Irene on her horse anyway.

The reason: this way it's easier to look after her.

And me? I was left on the other side.

Alone. With a black horse and no one beside me.

Irene sat on her horse, turned back, and smiled at me.

"Lilith, you're so lucky! You get a whole lane to yourself."

"I've got these two breathing down my neck. Can't even ride in peace."

I didn't feel like responding to that.

But the girl standing behind me couldn't help whispering to her boyfriend. "She calls that jealousy?"

"Because that sounded a lot more like showing off to me."

The boy whispered back. "What do you mean?"

The girl gave him a look.

"Seriously? If you still can't see it, I don't know what to do with you."

"She's not jealous of the girl named Lilith."

"She's making sure everyone sees that both those guys are fighting over her."

My grip on the reins tightened hard.

The horse must have felt it. It tossed its head, uneasy.

But I just lowered my eyes and slowly stroked its mane.

So that's how obvious it looked to everyone else. And I was the last one to see it.

I always thought they hovered over me because of my sense of direction. That they were worried I'd get lost.

I always told myself they kept Irene in the middle because she was new to our world and needed extra care.

But standing on the outside looking in, I finally saw it.

All those reasons were just excuses I'd made up for them.

They weren't worried about Irene getting lost.

They just wanted to walk with her.

They weren't afraid she'd get hurt.

They just couldn't stand the thought of her being alone.

And me? Even if I actually fell off the horse, no one would turn around first.

The wind swept over the field and blew my hair loose.

I swung onto the horse, gripped the reins, and rode out fast.

The wind roared past my ears. Hooves hit the grass. And the weight that had been sitting on my chest for so long finally started to lift.

At least right now, I didn't need anyone beside me.